A FREE community allotment offering residents the chance to learn how to grow their own fruit and vegetables has recently won a special award for their work, and has plans to celebrate.

Caerphilly County Borough Council and the UK Government have funded a local community project being delivered by the Parent Network, at Ynys Hywel Farm in Cwmfelinfach.

It’s a growing project that incorporates wellbeing in an outdoor environment aimed at families and the wider community.

The community have got stuck into the activities available at Ynys Hywel Farm over the last yearThe community have got stuck into the activities available at Ynys Hywel Farm over the last year (Image: Supplied)  The project recently won a Green Flag Award and the Parent Network team are holding a celebration event on Wednesday, October, 2 at Ynys Hywel Farm between 12.30pm-2.30pm.

The project engages the community by teaching new skills to promote healthy living and growing their own produce, mental health and wellbeing, tackles the food crisis, environmental impact and how we farm effects our success, access to training and workshops and much more.

The site originally opened in May 2023, when they were just starting out, and now head of the Parent Network Theresa Heal, has been celebrating the recent success in winning the coveted Green Flag Award.

She said: “We’ve seen the project expand exponentially one year later and how the community has come together, grown and been successful.

“It’s been brilliant to see how much we’ve expanded and how we’ve been rewarded for our efforts.

“We’d like to thank the countryside department in CCBC made this possible by allowing us at the Parent Network to use this space for the community.”

There's something for everyone to learn at Ynys Hywel Farm's allotmentsThere's something for everyone to learn at Ynys Hywel Farm's allotments (Image: Supplied)

Caerphilly County Borough Council has put £5,000 into the allotment project. This has gone towards a shed and a greenhouse, in addition to compost, sleepers, seeds, shovels, trowels, rakes, wheelbarrows, and forks.

Ynysddu councillor Janine Reed said: "I absolutely agree that Ynys Hywel Community Allotment deserves to celebrate the award. 

"The site is such a fantastic facility within this valley and well deserves its recent Green Flag status.

“I’d like to say a very well done to all involved.”