Community spirit transforms garden at Augusta House
Augusta House, a learning disability respite service in Victoria Park, Blaenau Gwent, received the garden makeover through a community project led by volunteers, schools, and organisations.
The project was designed to create a welcoming and stimulating outdoor environment for residents and their families.
Cllr Helen Cunningham, cabinet member for adults and communities, said: "The Augusta House Gardening Project is a shining example of how community spirit and collaboration can create meaningful change.
Dozens volunteered (Image: Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council)
"Seeing volunteers, local schools and organisations come together to transform this space is truly inspiring.
"This garden will become a lasting legacy for residents to cherish and I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed their time, energy and resources to make it happen."
The project involved volunteers from British Gas, Pen-y-Cwm School, St Mary's RC Primary School, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, and the Friends of Augusta group.
British Gas provided decorative metal panels, while Able Touch Joinery in Tredegar donated planters and wind chimes.
Helen Beecham, service manager at Augusta House, said: "We are truly overwhelmed by the generosity, kindness and community spirit shown by everyone who contributed to the Augusta House Gardening Project.
"Seeing volunteers, schools and local organisations come together to create such a beautiful space has been incredibly uplifting."
The Council's Neighbourhood Services Team delivered a truckload of compost and chippings from its green waste project at Silent Valley.
The sensory garden has also been designed to support wildlife, with insect hotels, solitary bee homes, and bird and bat boxes, all donated by the council's biodiversity team.
Cheryl Jones and Suzanne Cadwallader from Friends of Augusta said: "We couldn't thank you all enough.
"It's truly been overwhelming to see so many stepping forward to help us achieve the vision we set out for our garden.
"I think we have surpassed all expectation on how fantastic it's turned out.
"It looks so vibrant and welcoming.
"We are blessed to have such thoughtful and generous people in our community."
Augusta House staff provided volunteers with a buffet lunch and bottled water on the day of the makeover.
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South Wales Argus
a day ago
- South Wales Argus
Community spirit transforms garden at Augusta House
Augusta House, a learning disability respite service in Victoria Park, Blaenau Gwent, received the garden makeover through a community project led by volunteers, schools, and organisations. The project was designed to create a welcoming and stimulating outdoor environment for residents and their families. Cllr Helen Cunningham, cabinet member for adults and communities, said: "The Augusta House Gardening Project is a shining example of how community spirit and collaboration can create meaningful change. Dozens volunteered (Image: Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council) "Seeing volunteers, local schools and organisations come together to transform this space is truly inspiring. "This garden will become a lasting legacy for residents to cherish and I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed their time, energy and resources to make it happen." The project involved volunteers from British Gas, Pen-y-Cwm School, St Mary's RC Primary School, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, and the Friends of Augusta group. British Gas provided decorative metal panels, while Able Touch Joinery in Tredegar donated planters and wind chimes. Helen Beecham, service manager at Augusta House, said: "We are truly overwhelmed by the generosity, kindness and community spirit shown by everyone who contributed to the Augusta House Gardening Project. "Seeing volunteers, schools and local organisations come together to create such a beautiful space has been incredibly uplifting." The Council's Neighbourhood Services Team delivered a truckload of compost and chippings from its green waste project at Silent Valley. The sensory garden has also been designed to support wildlife, with insect hotels, solitary bee homes, and bird and bat boxes, all donated by the council's biodiversity team. Cheryl Jones and Suzanne Cadwallader from Friends of Augusta said: "We couldn't thank you all enough. "It's truly been overwhelming to see so many stepping forward to help us achieve the vision we set out for our garden. "I think we have surpassed all expectation on how fantastic it's turned out. "It looks so vibrant and welcoming. "We are blessed to have such thoughtful and generous people in our community." Augusta House staff provided volunteers with a buffet lunch and bottled water on the day of the makeover.
BBC News
24-05-2025
- BBC News
Gas lamps still burn in unique area of England
It is almost 200 years since they were originally installed, but the gas lamps in a unique area of England are still Park in Nottingham is thought to be the largest residential estate to still use this traditional Gas has now taken over the care of the lamps and residents hope this will preserve them for years to Liesche, who chairs the Nottingham Park Estate board and also lives there, said residents were "very proud" to still have this atmospheric type of lighting. "It just enhances the character of the estate," he said. "A lot of what we see in the estate is the very traditional, original construction, and it would have been illuminated all those years ago in very much the same way."It's a very quiet area to live, and of course the lighting gives that real characteristic of almost being in the countryside, despite being only a stone's throw from the city centre."David Moody, operational heritage manager for British Gas, said "it was a massive boost" to be asked to take over the gas lamps."We've looked after the lamps in London for over 200 years, since they were first put in, so it's a privilege and an honour to be asked to take over Nottingham Park Estate," he added."The gas lamps were the start of the gas industry, and that's where British Gas evolved from, from the Gas Light and Coke Company." Walking around the Park Estate feels like going back in time. Apart from the modern cars, much of it still looks as it would have done when the houses were private residential estate is situated to the west of Nottingham Castle and was formerly its deer the first parcels of land began to be sold off in about 1800-1810 and homes were built from about 1830 onwards."The gas lighting, which is one of the largest networks in the UK and Europe, followed shortly afterwards," said Mr Liesche."So originally they would have been installed for horses and carriages."When the Park Estate was first created there were no cars, so it would have been horse-drawn carriages being pulled around the estate and the gas lighting was a means to allow them to navigate the area." While the horses and carriages have long gone, the gas lamps have estate's 3,000 residents - who have a say over how the area is run - feel it is important to preserve the historic lighting."There was a period when the gas lights were neglected in the 1970s, and prior to that as well, and there was a very positive drive to try to reinstate them and bring them back to their original use and beauty," said Mr he said the lighting was not just there to look nice."One purpose is to make sure that the streets are appropriately illuminated, so that it's safe to walk around The Park," he said."What we want to do, without compromising anybody's safety, is make sure that The Park remains illuminated through its traditional means." Mr Moody said most of the UK's gas lamps were in London, but Nottingham was unique."Nottingham has got the largest residential estate that we're aware of, with 237," he said."There's some at the Black Country Living Museum, there's some in York around the cathedral, we've got some in Oldham we look after, a little estate in Norwich we look after."There's loads of little pockets everywhere. Europe's still got quite a lot; there are hundreds of them in Prague all around the main square, and Berlin."Some of London's gas lamps have been under threat in recent years, as Westminster Council drew up plans to convert them to electric a group called the London Gasketeers has been campaigning to save them, and some have received Grade II-listed Moody said that while some people worry about the carbon footprint of gas lamps, light pollution from electric street lighting has been found to harm wildlife."We work really closely with Royal Parks down in London, and they have said since the London [gas] lamps have been brought back to how good they are now, they've seen an increase in bats and moths," he said. Mr Moody said about 100 of the Nottingham gas lamps were still the originals."A lot of these lamps will be from the 1800s, and the others were later on, so 1900s up to 1950s they were still installing them," he what does caring for the lamps involve?Mr Moody said they need regular servicing, as well as cleaning and repairing."The biggest threat for us is people knocking them over; lorries driving round that knock them over," he said. "It's quite common in London for us to lose a lamp." Ryan Stanton, a technical repair engineer for British Gas, has been trained to repair and maintain the Nottingham lamps."It's a new qualification I've had to do, and I've had some on-site training with some of the lamp lighters that have come up from London," he said."I visit the estate a couple of times a week and during that time the on-site team will report any issues."I will go round and resolve those issues, and if there's no issues then I'll just do a service on the lights and make sure they're all in good working order."Mr Moody believes the lamps are in safe hands for the future."Heritage is my job and we want to keep our history going," he said.
Pembrokeshire Herald
12-05-2025
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Fishguard marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day
THE TOWN of Fishguard marked the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day with a series of poignant events honouring those who served in the Second World War. As night fell on Thursday, May 8, a beacon was lit high above the coastline, casting its glow across the sea as a symbol of peace and remembrance. Organised with the support of the Royal British Legion's Fishguard and Goodwick Branch, the ceremony featured the branch standard proudly displayed beside the flaming beacon, which bore the inscription 'British Gas' and 'Prydain' (Wales/Britain in Welsh). Earlier in the day, local dignitaries, veterans, schoolchildren and residents gathered at Fishguard town centre and later at a memorial site for a formal wreath-laying ceremony. Among those in attendance were the town's mayor, representatives of the armed forces, and members of the clergy. Several red poppy wreaths were laid, and a respectful silence was observed as the community reflected on the sacrifices made during the war. A second gathering at the memorial brought together representatives of the Royal British Legion, town council, sea cadets, and civic leaders, who stood together in a show of solidarity. Hymns and prayers were shared as the flag was raised in memory of the fallen. VE Day 80 marks eight decades since the end of conflict in Europe during World War Two, and the events in Fishguard formed part of a nationwide tribute to the bravery, resilience and sacrifice of a generation.
