A nature garden buzzing with community spirit

An abandoned, litter-strewn patch of land in Aberdare has become a refuge for nature where bees and other wildlife can thrive – all thanks to the efforts of local volunteers. What’s more, the garden is now a valuable social hub for the community.

Cwmdare4Cwmdare have turned the space into a valuable home for nature, with a bird house, bird feeders and a hedgehog house to encourage and protect resident species. There’s a wildflower area to attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators, which helped the garden earn its Bee Friendly status from the Wales Biodiversity Partnership in 2022.

The group kickstarted the project with financial support from Pen Y Cymoedd Wind Farm Community Fund. The volunteers also received a wildlife garden starter package from the Local Places for Nature scheme, managed by Keep Wales Tidy.

This kit contained bulbs, habitat boxes, shrubs, climbing plants, compost and a trellis, as well as a useful handbook and gardening equipment such as gloves and a watering can.

Owen Derbyshire, CEO of Keep Wales Tidy, says: “The pack is designed to provide communities with the tools and resources they need to start and manage their projects independently. Our handbook provides ideas, and our advisors can share support when needed.” 

Rewilding projects like the Cwmdare4Cwmdare Bee Friendly Garden are vital ways to protect and revitalise our natural environment. Habitat loss is a major threat to biodiversity, with animals disappearing as the places where they once lived are destroyed. It’s an urgent issue: in Wales, one in six species is at risk of extinction.

A place for everyone

As well as giving biodiversity a boost, the volunteers have created a space for the whole community. Cwmdare4Cwmdare has installed raised beds where people can grow seasonal fruit and vegetables, and installed benches where visitors can meet, socialise and enjoy the beautiful views over the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons).

Future plans include an accessible seating area, ensuring even more people will be able to benefit from spending time in the garden.

The project helped bring together the people of Cwmdare. Ann Crimmings says: “From schoolchildren who planted sunflowers to older members of the village, the regeneration has become a project for the whole community. Everyone has come together to help – and we’ve created a space for all to use and enjoy.”

How you can help

Projects like the bee garden are a great example of how small ideas can bloom into community initiatives, benefiting our natural environment and enriching our lives. And it’s surprisingly easy to get your own project off the ground, thanks to schemes like Local Places for Nature.

There are plenty more ways to support nature in Wales. Find out about local conservation projects, or become a volunteer with Biodiversity Wales. You can also help scientists by joining the global iNaturalist community, and downloading an app to record sightings of plants and animals in your local area.

Climate change is an urgent threat to our plants and wildlife – but together we can make a difference.