Nick Thomas-Symonds joined volunteers at the formal opening of the ConneXions Community Garden in Fairhill Methodist Church in Cwmbran this weekend (Saturday 7th May).
The project has been running for a number of years, and includes several raised beds of flowers, a wildflower meadow, and an area to grow fruit and vegetables to share with the community. Local schools recently became involved, and the Federation school choir sang at the formal opening with Cerdd Torfaen Music.
Fairhill Methodist Church has been one of many organisations in Torfaen to receive money donated by Comic Relief alongside their own fundraising to set the Community Garden up.
Speaking on the opening of the Community Garden, Nick Thomas-Symonds said: ‘I was delighted to attend the formal opening of the Community Garden at Fairhill Methodist Church. This will be a valuable community asset for local people.
I would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to make this fantastic community project a reality, and it was great to listen to the school-children singing at the opening too.’
Jan Jackson, Secretary of Fairhill Methodist Church commented: “We are really happy that our vision of a multipurpose area that can be used by all the community has finally been realised.
We named it ‘ConneXions’ community garden because this is what we want to have happen – people to connect with each other, with nature, for adults, and particularly children, with growing food that can be shared.
We are at the church on Tuesday mornings between 10-11.30am and weather permitting we will be in the garden. We hope our community will make our vision complete, to come, sow, grow, pick, or just sit and enjoy the garden maybe enjoying a cuppa!”