Community rallies for Flintshire gardens open day in Bagillt

Love for the Bagillt Community Garden was evident in spades at their recent open day, which showcased the work done and provided plenty to see and do.

The two-acre site was taken on by charity group Community Heart Productions in February 2021, spearheaded by manager Lyn Wakefield.

Community Heart Productions are a small but committed group of third sector professionals, with decades of community project management experience.

Bug hotel at Bagillt Community Garden.

The charity helps disadvantaged or socially excluded individuals, groups or communities to address issues that concern them.

They seek to work with socially excluded children, young people and adults via the arts, volunteering and environmental projects. Most of the work takes place alongside the

Community Heart were given space in Bagillt Community Garden, owned by Bagillt Heritage Society, to develop an educational food growing zone for the community, called 'Growing Together'.

They have since moved on to develop a successful Allotment School for children.

Bagillt Community Garden collect rainwater for the plants at the site.

Lyn said: "What we're going for is to be able to open more, to be available to the community.

"And it's good for the community as a whole - the social and health benefits, gaining skills and resilience.

"We're seeing children who wouldn't normally touch a vegetable, filling their basket, excited to try new things.

"It's so rewarding to come in and see people learn, grow and achieve."

Bagillt Community Garden.

The open day allowed the community to come and see for themselves just what goes on and the work done.

After a successful 18 months of working at the community garden, the achievements of Community Heart have been significant.

The charity have cleared the overgrown, rebuilt 10 raised beds, added 20 more, improved pathways, resurfaced the ground, built a shed, a greenhouse and introduced multiple features.

As well as giving away produce grown at the site, visitors could try their hand at circus skills, get creative with crafts, enjoys ice cream or have a ride on one of the donkeys. Youngsters also had the chance to do some planting.

Sister Pearl Pilkington and members of Walkabout Flintshire with the memorial bench at Bagillt Community Garden, in memory of Tony Parkinson.

The open day was also the opportunity for members of a local walking group to unveil a memorial bench to a lost member, Tony Parkinson, who himself had been a big part in the Bagillt community.

Members of Flintshire Walkabout and some of Tony's family, including sister Pearl Pilkington were in attendance.

Group leader Buddug Neal said: "We've had the bench since 2019 but then covid happened. So we're very happy to finally have it here.

"We wanted it in Bagillt because Tony lived here, he was well known, a friend to everybody. He was such a gentleman"

Pearl added: "It's beautiful here, Tony would have loved this bench, he would have been so proud."

Bagillt Community Garden.

Community Heart have run community events, activity days and twice weekly supported volunteer sessions, with Hft Hwb Dyffryn.

During consultation the charity found that food poverty was a growing issue.

Lyn Wakefield said: "Getting people growing is more sustainable, better for the environment and productive for health, skills development and self-esteem.

"We thank Bagillt Heritage Society and Hft Hwb Dyffryn for helping to make this happen.

"We are so lucky to have such a great staff team and eager young members."

The charity plans to develop its food growing programmes with young people as well as continuing with its two kids clubs, both of which have an environmental focus.

For more details, email commheartproductions@gmail.com