Rhondda Cynon Taff Council has secured funding from the Welsh Government, to meet the growing demand for allotments.
Rhondda Cynon Taff Council has been awarded funding from the Welsh Government, to meet the growing demand for allotments.
The support package from Welsh Government is designed to increase allotments and food growing spaces, in areas of Wales where they are most needed.
This year’s projects are based over two sites in the Rhondda Valley.
RCT will be repurposing unused land at the old Ynyscynon Park Paddling pool, to create a brand-new allotment site which is planned to accommodate 10 full size plots.
Work has already commenced on the derelict Arfyn Terrace site in Tylorstown, where there will be space for 2 x families to grow in the local area, we are working on this site as a priority to get them up and running for this season.
The Ynyscynon project aims to be completed by March 2025, in readiness for the new growing season next year.
Funding has been prioritised this year towards:
- Bringing derelict plots back into use
- Creating new allotment sites
Other elements which were considered are:
- Improving accessibility
- Improving site security
- Improving site management
- Increase recycling / renewability
- Increase biodiversity / pollinators
As part of this process, we took account the ecological interest of each site and carried out an assessment prior to any works commencing. This entailed assessing trees, scrub and grassed areas. Any evidence of the presence of wildlife would have been identified and appropriate measures taken to ensure their safety and the preservation of their habitats. During the course of the works commencing, regular visual inspection will also be carried out to make sure no wildlife will be disturbed in the process.
While allotment gardens are typically used for growing crops, flowers or as a place for leisure, cultivating the land can have a positive impact on the health and well being of individuals living in the area and meet the demand for further allotment growing space; it can also create a refuge for our urban wildlife by providing a food source/ nesting & breeding habitat for a range of pollinating insects, birds, hedgehogs, small mammals as well as reptiles and amphibians.
Research by Social Farms & Gardens was also carried out on waiting lists for allotments, including the numbers of people on them and the length of time people may be waiting. The research revealed a number of sites in Wales where there are large numbers of people on a list, with some waiting years to access a plot. This funding is aimed to target those areas first.
This funding, supporting the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, aim to enable positive change that leads to a more resilient, secure and healthy Wales by increasing allotment provision in Wales, is being delivered through a co-ordinated approach.
If anyone has any queries regarding the planned projects, please contact our Allotments team on 01443 562 243 or by emailing allotments@rctcbc.gov.uk
“Get your hands dirty and grow your own”