Here's your Friday update, covering: Cogan Gardens re-opens following improvements; award win for Cardiff allotments; Continuing the National Walking Month celebrations; and Palace Party recognition for Food & Fun success.

Cogan Gardens re-opens following improvement works

Cogan Gardens, a small green space at the heart of the Cathays community has officially re-opened to the public following some big improvements.

Children from Cardiff Muslim Primary School joined local ward councillors, and Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke, last Friday (12thMay), to celebrate the completion of works, which are part of an ongoing £3.2 million programme of investment in parks and play areas across Cardiff.

Improvements to the park, developed in consultation with the local community, include:

• a new play area.
• outdoor exercise equipment.
• a chess table and chairs.
• new bins, picnic and park benches.
• new lawn, shrub and meadow planting.
• new paths and walking loop.
• protection and retention of all mature lime trees.
• refurbishment of the boundary railings.

Cllr Burke, said: "It was great to see so many happy faces enjoying the improvements to Cogan Gardens. Local parks and play areas are incredibly important, they can make a real difference to people's quality of life, which is why we're continuing to invest in them in communities across Cardiff."

Cardiff allotments win ‘Community Transformation' award

The transformation of a Cardiff allotment site, that two years ago was almost completely hidden behind a wall of brambles and is now home to newly created ‘starter gardens,' accessible plots, a community garden, orchard, and education space, has won a ‘Community Transformation' award.

Back in 2021, plot holders at Pengam Pavilion allotments on Rover Way took it upon themselves to clear an area of the site that had become so overgrown with brambles that according to allotment association member John Cook, as he points to a large oak tree standing tall amongst 21 newly created ‘starter gardens' designed to encourage gardeners who may have struggled with a larger standard plot due to health or mobility issues, "you couldn't even tell there was a tree there."

"It was an eyesore from the road," confirmed site secretary Tracey Woodberry, "and we just wanted to do something with it, so bit by bit we started cutting away."

With the clearance work completed, the association invited Cardiff Council to see the work they'd done and share their plans for the site, which is in one of the top 10% most deprived areas in Wales. "They were so impressed," said Tracey, "I don't think they could believe it."

At that point the Council put the association's plans forward for a grant from the Travis Perkins Legacy Fund, which was established as part of social value commitments secured by the Council as part of a contract awarded to the firm to supply and deliver building materials.

Martyn Piper, Account Manager for Travis Perkins, said: "The project looked great on paper, but it's when you start talking to people and you get a sense of their passion and enthusiasm, that's when you really get an understanding of how much it could mean to the community."

The end result was a £25,000 donation of building materials, equipment and labour that coupled with the hard work of the volunteers, and support from the Council, helped the transform the previously unused space.

"It's lovely to think you've done something to benefit the community," Martyn added, "and to know that months on from our donation, the journey continues and the project is getting the recognition it deserves."

That recognition came in the form of a nomination for a Tidy Wales Award but, despite the efforts of the allotment association, sitting at a table at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama as the results were read out, they still had no idea they were about to be ‘Community Transformation Award Winners 2023.'

Read more here

Continue the National Walking Month celebrations at our free event

Now is the perfect time to explore the great outdoors on foot, with beautiful green spaces and top trails to discover. With spring in full swing and lighter evenings, there's no better way to make the most of the city's parks and green spaces. Check out  our Outdoor Cardiff website  to find a walking route near you.

Celebrate National Walking Month with a free Pollinator Guided Walk.

Join Buglife Cymru on Wednesday, 24th May at 10.30am-1pm for a walk around Forest Farm. Learn about pollinating insects in the UK and how to identify them. Don't miss this chance to connect with nature and learn about these important insects.

For more info and tickets,  visit here.

Bryn Celyn Primary's Janet Dawe gets royal recognition for Food & Fun success

Janet Dawe, a member of staff from Bryn Celyn Primary School in Pentwyn has attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace in recognition for her hard work in coordinating the Food and Fun project at the school.

Food and Fun is Cardiff's multi award winning holiday enrichment programme that provides food and nutrition education, physical activity, enrichment sessions and healthy meals during the school summer holidays, to those children who need it most.

Janet Dawe has been the Food and Fun Coordinator at the school for a number of years. Cardiff Council and the school would like to say a huge thank you to Jan and all her team of hard-working staff for ensuring the programme is such a success. 

Cardiff's Food and Fun programme is to be delivered to more than 30 schools across the city this summer.

You can find out more about the scheme  here.