Antur Waunfawr is helping to reverse nature’s decline thanks to a new garden scheme from environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy.

‘Local Places for Nature’ is offering communities free packages that include all the plants, tools and materials needed to create small gardens.

Antur Waunfawr provides work and health and wellbeing opportunities for adults with learning disabilities in their community. Individuals and staff have been busy planting a fruit growing garden at the Warws Werdd, Caernarfon. Warws Werdd is a furniture and clothes reuse and recycling workshop, with a shop on site where people can purchase second hand items, and ultimately reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.

Dorothy Howarth, administration officer at Warws Werdd, who organised the application for the fruit garden, said: “We are very grateful to have received a Local Places for Nature package from Keep Wales Tidy, it has meant we’ve been able to transform the bland grass area next to our car park into a fruit and herb garden.

“We have been using recycled painted tyres as planters to transform the area, so this fruit garden is a brilliant addition to all the work we have been doing recently. The individuals have really enjoyed the afternoon gardening sessions, and the garden will give them the opportunity to learn abut growing and harvesting fruit and herbs, which we can hopefully use in some homemade recipes in the future!”

The new fruit garden will be integrated into Antur Waunfawr’s new development on the site, the Green Shed project. A grant of £ 300,000 has been received from the Welsh Government to develop a Green Shed in partnership with Gwynedd Council, in order to improve infrastructure and increase the tonnage of recycling and reuse in the county. The gardening project will provide individuals with wider opportunities to learn about sustainability and environmental protection.

Deputy Chief Executive for Keep Wales Tidy, Louise Tambini said: “More than ever, people are recognising the value of nature to the health and well-being of our communities. We are delighted that groups, like Antur Waunfawr, now have the opportunity to make a real difference through Local Places for Nature. We know there are many other areas that could benefit from the scheme and we’re urging people to get involved while there are still free packages available.”

The initiative is part of a wider £5m Welsh Government ‘Local Places for Nature’ fund committed to acquiring, restoring and enhancing nature ‘on your doorstep’.

Packages are still available to community groups and organisations. To apply for Local Places for Nature, visit www.keepwalestidy.cymru/nature