Little green fingers have been transforming a Beddau school into an eco-friendly paradise thanks to £47,895 lottery funding after winning the highest number of public votes on a TV show.
Llwyncrwn Primary School received the highest ever vote in Wales in ITV Wales’s People’s million competition with a staggering 8,814 votes.
Now the pupils have embarked on their many activities to develop and sustain an eco-sensory community ground. The funding has been sued to pay for landscaping, gardening tools, equipment, plants, seating a shelter, sandpit, compost, recycling bins and safety surfacing.
Working closely with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Services For Young People, the eco project will benefit both the school and the wider community of Beddau as it strengthens the partnership with community groups and provides a focal point for the area. The first of three phases to the transformation has now been completed and everyone is overjoyed with the work so far.
The Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning Cllr Eudine Hanagan said: “Llwyncrwn’s exemplary work has made all the effort of winning the funding bid worthwhile. We were behind their project every step of the way and overjoyed when it was announced they had received the highest number of votes of all.
“Now the real work has taken place and together they have already transformed a huge area into an eco-friendly allotment and garden area. This is a cross-community project which has involved so many people who may have no connection with the school itself, which makes the scheme even more special in the eyes of local residents.”
The brainchild of Kimberley McKenzie, the Council’s Services For Young People’s cluster worker based at neighbouring Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School, the project is also supported by officers based at Beddau Police Station.
The environmental plans include the development of a nature area, a safe water area, a quiet reflective zone, an organic allotment and a cultivating centre. There will also be a sensory garden for the hearing impaired unit.
With the support of parents, teachers, children, caretakers and members of the community, a massive effort has taken place already to transform the area with large quantities of earth moved, extra seating being put in place and plenty of seeds and bulbs already planted.
Headteacher of Llwyncrwn Primary School Simon Phillips said: “The work already undertaken is incredible and I personally want to thank Huw Richards, Graham Jones and Mike Spry who have created a magnificent allotment for the children to enjoy.
“I also want to thank Dave Stead, Tom Pritchard Plant Hire and William Tudor and Hugh Pritchard of Country Timbers for their support.
“The allotment is testimony to the community pulling together, giving time and resources to create an area that we at Llwyncrwn are very proud of. I also want to thank Mrs Stallard, Mrs McDonald and Mrs Arnold for their work designing and painting the wooden vegetables on the walls with the children they teach.
