Green Town Project, Blaenau Ffestiniog

Posted Wed, 01/04/2009 - 15:14 by Jon Walker
Project Aim: 
The aim of the allotment group is to get allotments in Blaenau and to help people to get involved in growing their own food. They are also planning a skilling project that will include learning food growing skills. Also to raise awareness about the importance of shopping locally
Date started: 
Tue, 01/08/2006
Public Launch date: 
Fri, 01/06/2007
Project Description: 

The Green Town Project (Y Dref Werdd) was established under the wing of Bowydd and Rhiw Communities First, to enable the people of Blaenau Ffestiniog to use their local environment as a resource. During our first year we facilitated community planning processes and actions to bring people together who were interested in particular areas. The allotment group came about through this process.

The allotment group, took part in the Green week activities and is now planning their own specific raising awareness campaign that will get people to a meeting to put their name down for allotments (once we get the land!).

Outcomes so far: 
In order to raise awareness and get people involved The Green Town Project sent two ‘How to get involved’ sheets/newsletters to every house and business in the town, we organised the high profile Green Week and practical events throughout the year, and took part in other community events, and spoke to almost every group, business and institution in the Town. We held a speaker night with speakers from Cardiff Allotments and from the Association of Community Gardens. We sold 1000 Jute bags with relevant slogans on them.
Obstacles, and how we overcame them: 
Time! As yet no specific problems to my knowledge – no more than the usual forming, storming and norming process.
Lessons Learned: 

So far the funding has been very useful – it means that
we have been able to make things more high profile. Also
(the groups may not agree with me!!) but I believe it
helps having someone as a facilitator who is trained in
getting people to get on with it, and someone who’s job
it is to keep an eye on potential strategic
opportunities. It has also helped enourmously having our
desk in the Communities First Office because we’re always
in the loop as to what’s going on in the community in
general and have been able to form partnerships on all
levels more quickly. Of course the groups, who see the
process from a different perspective may offer different
or extra advice.

Contact email: 
saraashton@gwynedd.gov.uk
Resources
Number of People Involved: 
6
Links and Partnerships: 

Green Town Project – very many, between all levels of
local government, and civil service, community groups and
institutions, national organisations and members of the
community.

Gynaladwy, and beginning to form one with the Town
Council and County Council.

Allotments – partnership with Sustainable Gwynedd

Sources of Funding: 
The Green Town project received funding from the National Parks Sustainability Fund (CAE), and from Communites First. This year we are also receiving funding from the CCW. Also during Green Week we managed to raise about £1500 of our own money. The grant money pays for me as a part time facilitator of the project and to support the groups to form and achieve their aims and objectives and also provides some funding for activities.
Sources of materials: 
Info that NSALG sent to us and on their website was very useful.