Swansea Rural Development Partnership are pleased to announce their support of the project Growing Community through Forest Gardening delivered by Down to Earth. The Partnership has successfully allocated £29,750 of funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
Hamish Osborn, of Natural Resources Wales and Chair of Swansea Rural Development Partnership said,
“Growing Community through Forest Gardening project promises to be a fantastic opportunity for local residents to engage with the project to learn about the developing cultural landscape of Swansea through a progressive approach to gardening that will support understanding and increase biodiversity.”
Growing Community through Forest Gardening project will grow strong community ties with residents in Bishopston and Gower, and the asylum seeker and refugee community from across the county, through helping to create a forest garden at Murton, Gower. The forest garden will be sharing amazing organic food and methods for how to grow food sustainably. The project will also increase the health and wellbeing of those volunteering at the forest garden.
The project will contribute to the aims of Swansea Local Delivery Strategy by improving health and well-being, maintaining and enhance biodiversity; steps to reducing their carbon footprint; growing food that is sustainably produced; improving land management skills and the reduction and reuse of waste.
Chris Dow, project manager at Down to Earth commented:
“We are delighted to get our Forest Garden volunteer project funded. Through this project we want to support the local community, building health and wellbeing through growing food sustainably on our beautiful site on Gower.”
For further information on Swansea Rural Development Partnership and associated projects or funding support, please contact the Swansea RDP Team by emailing rdpleader@swansea.gov.uk