Posted on: Thursday 9 June 2022
A flower garden for unpaid carers in Torfaen has become the latest site where wildflowers are encouraged to grow in the borough.
The native flowers, including Foxgloves and Red Campion, have been planted at the garden at Cwmbran Boating Lake, as part of this year's Carers Week.
There are also plans to install a bench and artwork created by Torfaen's Young Carers later in the year, and the adult social care team is also hoping to set up a Carers Gardening Club.
Louise Hook, Torfaen Council's Torfaen Council's Carer Support Worker, said: "The garden is a fantastic opportunity for carers and their loved ones to enjoy the outdoors, while helping the environment.
"We're also hoping any green-fingered carers out there will help to set up a gardening club to meet fellow carers and help maintain the area."
There are around 150 sites in Torfaen where grass and wildflowers are allowed to grow in parks, verges and other green spaces during spring and summer, with cuttings then taken in autumn to encourage more wildflowers for the following season.
The aim is to increase biodiversity, carbon storage and reduce flooding risks.
Veronika Brannovic, from the Local Nature Partnership Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen, which has provided the flowers thanks to the Welsh Government's Local Places for Nature, said: "We've chosen to use wildflowers in the garden because they are sustainable as well as beautiful. This garden is part of a growing network of wildflower areas in Torfaen which are helping to support biodiversity."
Councillor David Daniels, Executive Member for Adult Services and Housing, said: "Our theme for this year's Carers Week has been supporting unpaid carers concerned about the rising cost of living.
"But it's also important that carers get chance to look after their physical and emotional wellbeing. We hope this garden will eventually become a hub for unpaid carers across Torfaen to enjoy with their loved ones."
The flower garden is situated between the boating lake and the railway line. Anyone interested in forming a gardening club is asked to contact Louise Hook at louise.hook@torfaen.gov.uk or on 01495 762200.
You can find out more about how wildflower and meadowland areas are helping communities to #NurtureNatureTorfaen and #CutTheCarbonTorfaen on our website.
If you are an unpaid carer concerned about the cost of living, our final Carers Week Roadshow will be at Blaenavon Medical Practice, Middle Coed Cae Road, Blaenavon, this Friday, between 10am and 4pm.
Carers who were in receipt of a Carers Allowance on 31 March 2022 can apply for a one-off £500 payment from the Welsh Government. To apply, visit our website.
For information about other support for unpaid adult carers in Torfaen, contact louise.hook@torfaen.gov.uk, or follow the Torfaen Adult Carers Facebook page.
For details of support available for young carers, contact rebecca.elver@torfaen.gov.uk, or follow Torfaen Young Carers on Facebook.