National Trust Cymru and partners come together to establish a community garden at Powis Castle and Garden

Originally started in 2021 to combat isolation after the Covid-19 Pandemic, the community garden is visited weekly by Ponthafren, a Mental Health & Wellbeing Charity who support individuals across Powys.

Ponthafren provides a wrap around service that promotes positive mental health and implements the five ways to well-being. The garden is a place to gather, grow vegetables, fruit, and flowers, learn new skills, and spend time in nature.

Last week, Ponthafren and their service users were joined by a tutor from Tir Coed, a charity that connects people with land and woods by delivering outdoor training, learning and wellbeing programmes across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys, to develop the area.

With wood donated by local timber company, Lowfield Timber Frames Limited, the groups came together to build a new raised bed that will house vegetables, herbs and other plants cultivated by the garden’s users. Plants and compost were donated by Debbie Gates, Community Champion from Morrisons, Welshpool. Plants grown by Powis Castle’s Garden Team were also used to fill the new beds.

Ponthafren plan to sell food grown in the garden to members of the local community to raise funds for further improvements to the garden.

Alison Dunne, National Trust Cymru’s Senior Volunteering & Community Officer at Powis Castle and Garden said:

“The National Trust was established for everyone, for ever, and we’re delighted to be supporting the wellbeing of our local community, and working to ensure everyone feels welcome and can benefit from this special place.

“It’s fantastic to see the garden being enjoyed by so many people and I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who’s been involved in breathing new life into the space, particularly Ponthafren, their service users and Tir Coed. We’re really looking forward to seeing it grow from strength to strength.”

Katie Jones, Inclusion Facilitator at Ponthafren said:

“Our service users really appreciate the space Powis Castle have given to the group. It’s great to be working with National Trust Cymru to provide a place for local people that supports positive mental health and well-being, and we’re very grateful to other local charities and organisations for their support and donations.

“For the group, meeting weekly not only gives them the chance to work in the garden and spend time in nature, but also provides them with a space to socialise together, develop new friendships, and support each other. This gardening group, and our sister group in Newtown, always welcome new members so we’d encourage anyone interested in getting involved to get in touch.”

Ponthafren’s gardening groups in both Welshpool and Newtown welcome new members. To join either group, please contact Ponthafren on 01686 621586 or admin@ponthafren.org.uk.