Church wins Wales award for Covid garden project
A church’s plan to create a garden of tranquility to remember victims of the Covid pandemic has reached the final of a UK competition.
Holy Trinity Church, Penrhyndeudraeth in Gwynedd, won £1,500 as the Wales Regional Finalist in the Ecclesiastical Insurance company Good News competition to kickstart the garden project. It will now feature with four other regions of the UK in the final in London in May, with a chance to win a further £6,000.
The garden will contain raised, wheelchair accessible, beds of flowers and vegetables, an eco-conservation area for education, and benches to sit and enjoy the views of the Dwyryd Estuary. There will be scented and tactile plants to attract insects, and a small child-safe pond for newts and frogs.
The small coastal town of Penrhyndeudraeth in Bangor Diocese was badly affected by the pandemic. It depends heavily on tourism and the loss of that had a huge impact on its economy.
“We are thrilled that our project has reached the final," says Angela Swann, Church Secretary. "The idea of a garden in the busy town where everyone can visit to rest and reflect on the past two years and remember those family and friends lost during the pandemic was considered some time ago. It just took the opportunity to apply to this competition and the support of Ramblers Association and Community Payback Scheme, businesses and residents of the town to realise this first stage.”
People are being invited to vote for their favourite UK project to help the judges choose the finalist.