Fairoaks’ Garden Receives Makeover

An initial request by a resident of Fairoaks Sheltered Housing, followed by some hard work by the residents, the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Housing Team, Keep Wales Tidy, and children from the local school, led to the garden at Fairoaks becoming an inviting, relaxing space where residents can meet and socialise. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Nestled in Dinas Powys, Fairoaks is a sheltered complex with a range of bungalows and flats in its vicinity. Built in 1971, Fairoaks houses residents aged 60 years and over. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

One of those residents, Renee Gannon, who is part of the Youldon House Residents Association, contacted a member of the Vale of Glamorgan’s Community Investment and Involvement team, outlining how she thought the piece of land at the back of Fairoaks could be transformed into a community garden. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Vale’s Community Investment and Involvement Officer investigated whether the Vale of Glamorgan Council could provide help through funding, which would go towards the completion of the patio and path, aiding disabled access. The Environmental Budget, and Community Investment Budget, helped Renee get Fairoaks’ garden closer to the ‘community garden’ she wanted, and work was underway. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr & Mrs Jones, and Mr & Mrs Pierce, all residents at Fairoaks, were instrumental in the development of the plot, working tirelessly to dig and prepare the garden for the planting of flowers and vegetables. The surrounding community also helped, with local children arriving on the scene to plant sunflowers, and help others with the development of the vegetable plots and flower beds. The flowering beds and vegetable plots will allow residents to grow their own fresh vegetables long into the future. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Keep Wales Tidy, whose aim is to “Make Wales a better place to live”, donated £500 to the cause.
Miles Punter, the Vale of Glamorgan’s Director for Environment and Housing Services, said: “This is a great example of community spirit, and how, when a community works together, we can bring about results to make our county a better place to live in. The new garden at Fairoaks looks fantastic, and I hope Renee, and her fellow residents at Fairoaks, enjoy it through the summer and far into the future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​