A team of enthusiastic volunteers has transformed a patch of waste ground in Goytre into an attractive community garden.

Their efforts earned them a Green Flag award from Keep Wales Tidy in July and more recently a runner-up slot in the Sustainable Futures category at the Tidy Towns awards held in Cardiff.

Goytre Community Garden is being developed on land behind Capel Ed Presbyterian Church.

The idea of tidying up what was then an overgrown, disused piece of land attached to the chapel was first suggested by a few members of the congregation in June 2014.

In April 2015, following a public meeting, more than twenty local volunteers, with help from Keep Wales Tidy, rolled up their sleeves and got stuck into constructing six raised beds on the site.

The beds were planted with herbs and vegetables with help from pupils at the local primary school.

Since then the volunteers have built a composting area and dug a sensory area and two flower borders. They have also developed a seating area with two benches.

More recently they have planted eight fruit trees and a bank of wild flowers and they

are currently developing a children’s area, where they have already constructed a bug hotel.

The site is managed by a committee which meets monthly - currently comprising three people from the chapel and seven from the wider community.

Future plans include putting in a pond. They have also started to prepare mini-plots for individual members of the community to cultivate.

Chairperson Janet Robins explained, “The garden is made up of two bits of land, which together make up about half an acre.

“The mini-plots are just 9ft by 6ft but it’s amazing what you can fit in that space.

“The aim is to continue to build on and develop links in the community and make the garden an area that everyone can access and enjoy.

“Initially the chapel gave us some money to get the project off the ground, but since then the community council has given us funding for the seats, and we’ve received grants from the Waitrose ‘green token’ scheme, Bryn y Cwm Forum (for the sensory beds) and New Grove Trust (for a pond for the children’s area and for developing the mini plots).

“A lot of people are interested in the project and are helping out - but anyone can come along and simply enjoy the garden over a cuppa! We have a Meet and Greet on the first Saturday of the month between 2pm and 4pm.

“We’re amazed how the scheme has grown. Some members are out looking after the plot in all weathers.

“I liked gardening when I first got involved - but I like it even more now! It’s been a real success story.”

To keep up to date with activities log onto goytrecommunitygarden.org.uk