The Mayor of Knighton, Chris Branford, joined a team of volunteers at a community garden last month.

Cllr Branford was on hand to help volunteers at Knighton Community Centre on January 25, and plant rowan tree on site.

The tree will join a variety of other trees and shrubs in the new Wildlfe and Sensory Garden, which will soon spring to life as two thousand bulbs have been put in and wildflower seeds will follow.

The Wildlife and Sensory Garden, funded with a grant from the Welsh Government, is an exciting new initiative created for the whole community.

Cllr Branford said: “I think this is wonderful - I can’t wait till it all comes out, all the daffodils and the bulbs.”

Designed by Michelle Brinkhurst, the garden will have good access and raised beds that can be reached by those in wheelchairs. Planters, benches, a new shed, a greenhouse, and a pergola are also in preparation,

The newly-plantedrowan tree will have a plaque to explain that the community garden is being built with a substantial grant from the Welsh Government Local Places for Nature Fund. As well as this, two commemorative benches that were first put there 50 years ago, will be also restored.

There is already interest in the garden and plans for a gardening club.

The children’s science and nature group will use the garden from March, as well as the local Stay and Play group.

People visiting the library at the community centre on Tuesdays or Thursdays will be able to look up and see the garden in flower, perhaps getting a coffee from the café to sit on a new bench and enjoy it more.

Some of the volunteer gardeners are looking forward to helping once the planting is all finished. The garden will become a lovely place for celebrations, and already four wedding receptions are booked in this summer.

In 2018, three raised beds, funded by the Teme Valley Environmental Group, were built behind the community centre to encourage people to grow their own.

The committee began to explore the idea of a wildlife and sensory garden, taking inspiration and support from Sue Strickland site in Newtown, Ashfield in Howey, Llandrindod Wells and City Farms.

Ceri Brown, Centre Manager at Knighton Comm, and Chris Martin from Stay & Play and the Comm Family Centre were involved in the bid to the Welsh government in 2020 and are keen to see it finished.

“We envisage this as a place that the community can come down, take a minute, gather thought and relax,” said Ceri. “But if they want to dig in and get gardening and gain inspiration to grow their own they are more than welcome!”