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Green Town Project, Blaenau Ffestiniog

Date started: 
1 August 2006
Public Launch date: 
1 June 2007
Number of People Involved: 
6
Geographic region : 
East Midlands
Geographic region : 
England
Geographic region : 
United Kingdom
Last updated: Wednesday, 22 June 2011
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Project Aim

The aim of the allotment group is to get allotments in Blaenau and to help people to get involved in growing their own food. They are also planning a skilling project that will include learning food growing skills. Also to raise awareness about the importance of shopping locally

Further details

The Green Town Project (Y Dref Werdd) was established under the wing of Bowydd and Rhiw Communities First, to enable the people of Blaenau Ffestiniog to use their local environment as a resource. During our first year we facilitated community planning processes and actions to bring people together who were interested in particular areas. The allotment group came about through this process.

The allotment group, took part in the Green week activities and is now planning their own specific raising awareness campaign that will get people to a meeting to put their name down for allotments (once we get the land!).

 

Outcomes so far

In order to raise awareness and get people involved The Green Town Project sent two ‘How to get involved’ sheets/newsletters to every house and business in the town, we organised the high profile Green Week and practical events throughout the year, and took part in other community events, and spoke to almost every group, business and institution in the Town. We held a speaker night with speakers from Cardiff Allotments and from the Association of Community Gardens. We sold 1000 Jute bags with relevant slogans on them.

Obstacles, and how we overcame them

Time! As yet no specific problems to my knowledge – no more than the usual forming, storming and norming process.

Lessons Learned

So far the funding has been very useful – it means that we have been able to make things more high profile. Also (the groups may not agree with me!!) but I believe it helps having someone as a facilitator who is trained in getting people to get on with it, and someone who’s job it is to keep an eye on potential strategic opportunities. It has also helped enourmously having our desk in the Communities First Office because we’re always in the loop as to what’s going on in the community in general and have been able to form partnerships on all levels more quickly. Of course the groups, who see the process from a different perspective may offer different or extra advice.

Links and Partnerships

Green Town Project – very many, between all levels of local government, and civil service, community groups and institutions, national organisations and members of the community.

Gynaladwy, and beginning to form one with the Town Council and County Council.

Allotments – partnership with Sustainable Gwynedd

Sources of Funding

The Green Town project received funding from the National Parks Sustainability Fund (CAE), and from Communites First.

This year we are also receiving funding from the CCW. Also during Green Week we managed to raise about £1500 of our own money. The grant money pays for me as a part time facilitator of the project and to support the groups to form and achieve their aims and objectives and also provides some funding for activities.

Sources of materials

Info that NSALG sent to us and on their website was very useful.

Contacts

Primary point of contact: 
Sara Ashton
Themes: 
Food

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