Skewen Community Garden
Chair’s Report
September 2024 – August 2025
Grant Funding
• 4TheRegion
We had funding of £400 and bought tomato planter bags, 2 x water butts, wildflower seeds and compost. The items purchased have enabled us to establish another nodig bed as planned and our growing capacity is increased for the coming season.
The extra water butts help our project to maintain a sustainable water supply.
The wildflower seed will enable the wildflower area to be replenished.
• Biodiversity - local places for nature grant scheme
Just over £305 was received in funding which funding enabled the construction of wildlife boxes for hedgehogs, bats, birds and bees. Through distribution of these items in the local community, we hope to encourage wildlife and support habitats encompassing a wider area.
We have constructed 6 hedgehog boxes, 20 bird boxes, and 24 bat boxes.
These boxes have been distributed to Neath Abbey Primary School, Coedffranc Junior School, YMCA Neath, Skewen Cricket Club, Coedffranc Town Council, and people in the local community. Local residents were very enthusiastic as they felt a part of a wider community in supporting local wildlife, giving the natural world a helping hand.
The local schools also received wildlife boxes, again with enthusiasm, making good subject matter for forest school projects.
Events
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We held our annual Pumpkin Carving in October 2024, with a successful attendance.
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We also held our annual Wreath Making event in December 2024, with middling success, due to the weather.
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Hope church again held their Church At The Park event in June 2025.
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Finally, we hosted Dan Evans from Red Media, who kindly made a short video package of the garden, including interviews
Volunteering initiative
In June 2025, we began our volunteering initiative, by having posters made calling for volunteers, as well as creating a post on our Facebook page. We also started to open the garden during the week, which currently consists if Tuesdays, and Fridays, along side out regular opening day on Sundays. As of the end of August, we have had 2 new regular volunteers to the garden, with the aim of recruiting more, so that we can open on more days during the week
Growing season/Relationship with The Rock and Fountain
We have started to grow produce from seed at the garden, which includes salad veg such as lettuce, and beets. We are also growing vegetables for The Rock and Fountain pub, for their free Christmas dinners, as an ongoing partnership with them. They have also placed volunteering posters around the pub, as well as holding a charity collection bucket to raise money for the garden. We hope to continue this in the future by potentially hosting a barbecue in the garden or at the establishment, to further boost exposure for the garden
Garden structures
We have connected the final 2 small water butts together, to increase collection of rain water. We have also converted one of the raised beds into a veg bed for the more deep rooted plants, and created a second no-dig structure
Ongoing issue with trees
We are still currently having an issue from the local town council regarding the trees that are planted within the garden grounds, which we hope to set-up a meeting soon and have this matter resolved.
Skewen Community Garden Income and Expenditure Report
| September 2024 to August 2025 | September 2024 to August 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 24 to August 25 | ||||
| Income | Expenditure | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Bal b/f | £1,725.06 | Public Liability Insurance (Ladbrokes) | £125.79 | |
| For the | ||||
| Region Grant | £400.00 | For the Region Expenditure | £406.04 | |
| Xmas Wreath | ||||
| income | £100.00 | Xmas Wreath expenses | £65.85 | |
| Local Places | ||||
| for Nature | Local Places for Nature Grant Scheme | |||
| Grant Scheme | £305.35 | Expenditure | £305.35 | |
| Zoar’s Ark Seeds | £11.40 | |||
| Misc. | ||||
| donatons | £20.00 | |||
| Total Income | £2,550.41 | Total Expenditure | £914.43 | |
| Bal c/f | £1,635.98 | |||
| Bank | Details: Lloyds Treasurer’s Account | |||
| 30-99-50 12226683 | ||||
| Prepared by: | Teresa Hillier 15th September 2025 |