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Porthcawl Allotment wins Two Awards
The Wilderness Allotment Association, Porthcawl has been recognised for its work in the community with two awards at a couple of presentation ceremonies. The events were chaired by Ken Whyte, Chairman of the Wales Allotment Society, and one of the founding members of Bridgend County Allotment Association (BCAA).
The National Allotment Society (NAS) nominated the Wilderness for a prestigious international allotment award issued by the Council of Europe (COE) which comprises 47 countries across the continent (not the same as the EU, which thankfully meant Brexit was never mentioned once at the event!). The COE is behind the International Court of Human Rights and each year it organises a pan-European week of events on the theme of local democracy. The citation for the Wilderness acknowledges the allotment’s ‘Engagement in community life’. Cllr. Pam Davies, Mayor of Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC), accepted the European Award on behalf of the Wilderness from Mike Thurlow, Gardening Consultant for the NAS. In addition, the Wilderness Allotment Association achieved yet another Green Flag Community Award from Keep Wales Tidy for being a ‘Quality green space’. Cllr. Norah Clarke, Deputy Mayor of Porthcawl Town Council, accepted the Green Flag Community Award from Lucy Prisk of Keep Wales Tidy. Both local dignitaries congratulated the Wilderness Committee and felt the awards reflected well
Cllr. Norah Clarke, Porthcawl Deputy Mayor and Lucy Prisk, Keep Wales Tidy
on Wilderness Allotments, Porthcawl Town and Bridgend County Borough. Ken Whyte added that it was the second time that one of BCAA’s sites had won a European Award (the first was Bronfair in Maesteg some years ago), and that getting two European awards in Bridgend County says much about the BCAA/BCBC allotment partnership. He went on to say that it is quite an achievement
in itself, when one considers that the population of the 47 COE countries is about 800 million and there are many projects from which the judges could choose.
A second presentation was attended by Rt. Hon Carwyn Jones AM, First Minister of Wales, at which pupils from Porthcawl Comprehensive’s History Club described their WW1 Allotment Project based at
the Wilderness. The pupils hope to grow
a selection of vegetables and then cook them up into a ‘Trench Stew’ at an event to commemorate this year’s 100th anniversary of the Armistice that ended WW1. On the back of this project one of the allotment committee, who served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, has kindly offered to share his experience of visiting some of the
wartime battlefields with the pupils. It’s just another example of how one initiative can lead naturally to others to the benefit of the community.
During the Awards’ presentations, brief descriptions were given of some of the Wilderness’ many voluntary projects. These include:
• Porthcawl Museum (WW2 VE, VJ & Peace Garden, and WW1 Somme Commemorative Display)
• The Wilderness Lakes (coppicing, hurdle-making, bird boxes)
• Bridgend College (gardening for young people with autism)
• Heritage & Natural Environment
Interpretation with local poet & artist
Dan Lock
• Collaboration with artist & educator
Siobhan Grice on the unveiling of a chainsaw sculpture - ‘Ceidwad Y Llyn’ / Keeper of the Lake
• Allotment produce cookery for 1st Porthcawl Scouts Christmas Fayre
• Porthcawl Comprehensive (WW1 history project as already mentioned)
The first project dates back to 2012
with the creation of a community/disabled plot with grant-funding from BCBC, BCAA and Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations (BAVO), to the most recent initiative where the Wilderness has been invited by BCBC to help create a dementia- friendly garden in a residential care home.
Despite these successes, the Wilderness has also had its share of disappointment with a devastating arson attack on its disabled plot in Christmas 2014. However, in true community spirit folk rallied round to assist and the facility was restored through an appeal launched with the invaluable help of local media (http://www.walesonline. co.uk/news/local-news/porthcawl-allotment- rises-ashes-thanks-9275364).
The allotment’s next step is to build
a disabled toilet for which Planning Permission has been obtained. In keeping with its innovative approach, the allotment committee is working closely with Sustainable Wales (an Environmental Charity) on minimising the carbon footprint of the disabled toilet by re-using materials and energy-saving features such as harvesting
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Cllr. Pam Davies, BCBC Mayor and Mike Thurlow, National Allotment Society