Six Powys community projects have been recognised at the 2026 Community Management Awards Cymru, celebrating the remarkable work volunteers are doing to create and maintain green spaces across the county.

The awards, run by Social Farms & Gardens’ Community Land Advisory Service, highlight the achievements of community groups in securing access to land, managing public and private spaces, and providing opportunities for socialising, learning, and connecting with nature. This year, 19 projects across Wales received accolades in a pre-recorded online ceremony, with each project presented with a plaque and certificate on site.

The Powys awardees include projects near Brecon, Newtown, Llandrindod Wells and Clyro, reflecting the county’s growing network of community-managed green spaces. Each project offers something unique, from supporting children to creating inclusive opportunities for adults with learning disabilities.

The six Powys awardees are:

• Our Tiny Veg Growers, based at Woodlands Avenue Community Garden in Talgarth, runs a weekly gardening club for children. Volunteers help young people learn where their food comes from while encouraging a hands-on connection with nature.

“The work of the volunteers at the On The Verge sub-group ‘Our Tiny Veg Growers’ is utterly extraordinary,” said Lucie Taylor, CLAS Cymru Coordinator. “The children clearly love coming to the garden every week, learning about where their food is from and gardening in harmony with nature.”

She added: “The young people involved have gained ownership of what is grown in the garden, and it really is an exemplary project for others to follow in communities throughout Wales.”

• Brecon Green Minds, an eco-therapy group based in the grounds of Brecon Cathedral, offers participants the chance to garden and engage with the natural environment in a supportive and therapeutic setting.

• In Clyro, the Dan Y Castell Community Garden has transformed a space for vegetables, flowers, and wildlife. Improvements such as a lower entrance, raised beds, a wildlife pond, a compost toilet, and a shelter allow people of all abilities to enjoy the garden.

“This garden is a product of what can be achieved when a small community comes together to create a space for wellbeing and nature to thrive,” said Ms Taylor.

• Rooted Together at Coed Isaf focuses on helping people with learning and other disabilities connect with nature. Participants grow local food and enjoy structured gardening sessions.

• In Tregynon, Newtown, the Maes Y Parson community garden was created on land that had lain derelict for years, with permission from the Church in Wales. Volunteers have transformed it into a welcoming space for all, encouraging social interaction, horticulture, and community cohesion.

• Ashfield Howey Community Land Trust, near Llandrindod Wells, operates a 7.5-acre site, growing and selling fruit, vegetables, plants and herbs while engaging the community. The project is community-owned, and the land purchase itself is regarded as a major achievement.

Each awardee received a plaque made from reclaimed oak pews from Newport Cathedral, alongside a certificate and a personalised Wellbeing Pledge Poster demonstrating how their activities contribute to the goals of the Wellbeing and Future Generations Act 2015.