New community garden opened

A former water-logged piece of land at the Castell-y-Dail smallholding near the Mochdre Industrial Park in Newtown has been transformed into a community garden, with the aim of becoming of a haven for wildlife.

The Castell Community Garden has been designed for people of all abilities with wheelchair accessible pathways, as well as a wildlife garden with raised beds, a pond designed to attract wildlife, and a willow lined bridge and boardwalk, and an outdoor classroom area.

The community garden has been developed and introduced by Powys County Council. The site was transformed from a water-logged piece of land to a biodiversity site thanks to funding secured by the council's countryside services team.

The garden will form a wonderful addition to Castell Y Dial - a council run day centre for adults with learning difficulties that is located on the same site. The service users have already made and donated bird boxes and the garden sign.

Cllr Melanie Davies, Cabinet Member responsible for Adult Social Care, said: "We are delighted to have this new addition to our facilities at Castell Y Dial.

"The community garden has been designed with a lot of thought and we hope that the community, as well as our service users, will enjoy the new facilities for many years to come."

Caption: Cllr Melanie Davies, Powys County Council's Cabinet Member responsible for Adult Social Care (right) officially opens the Castell Community Garden.  Also pictured are (from left to right) Angela Simpson, Castell Y Dail's Day Services Manager; Phil Stallard, the council's Countryside Access Volunteer Co-ordinator and Violet McLellan, Castell Y Dail's Assistant Day Services Manager Newtown.