Tenby’s Edible Community Garden has been handed a Green Flag Award, given to gardens that are run by volunteers for being an outstanding example of a community run space by Keep Wales Tidy.

The aim of the Community Garden located at the town’s Sutton Street, is to grow food which will be freely available to the whole community, and that anyone who wishes too is involved in the growing.

This project began in 2020, and grew out of the wishes of several local residents to have access to a community space to grow food, with Pembrokeshire County Council kindly allowing the park to be used for this purpose.

For the Green Award, sites need to be freely accessible by the public, and are judged on being: A welcoming place; Healthy, safe and secure; Well maintained and clean; Environmental management; Biodiversity, landscape and heritage; Community involvement; Marketing and communication.

The Mayor of Tenby, Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall was on hand over the weekend to unveil a plaque to celebrated the award.

“It was a privilege and an honour to official present this wonderful award on Sunday,” she said.

“Anne and her team of helpers have all worked extremely hard on the garden since November 2020.

“This area not only encourages people to come and grow their veg, herbs and flowers as a gardening space they may not have at home, it is also so important for people’s well being and enable those to meet, talk and work together, encouraging all sorts of other events like the ‘poetry in the park’ and picnics.

“This is what community spirit is about and should be encouraged in the town - community at its best!” added the Mayor.

Anne Draper one of those behind establishing the Edible Garden said: “The award is very much down to the work of all the volunteers who do lots of different bits and pieces to keep it looking well and able to be enjoyed by all.

“Anyone can come along to help with the gardening if they want, but more especially to pick any vegetables that are ready before they go to seed.”

The Edible Garden is completely dependent on the kindness of local businesses and the wider community to donate seeds, plants, tools and other materials such as wood paint or fertiliser, as well as to volunteer their time to look after the garden.

Any food not harvested which needs using, is taken to the Tenby Community Fridge based in the Community Café at The Old Chapel, on Lower Frog Street.

The aim of the community fridge is to reduce food waste by enabling the people of Tenby to use up any surplus food from local businesses or other residents.

You can head to the ‘Edible Community Garden, Tenby’ Facebook page to find out more.