Image: Green Squirrel

Residents invited in as Splott garden project reaches halfway point

A coffee morning in February will allow locals to learn more about the £460,000 Railway Gardens project

THE Railway Gardens Project is holding a community coffee morning next month to show residents what has been happening and let them find out more about the site and its future.

A limited number of free fruit trees will also be given out to celebrate the progress the project has made towards completion and other community partners will be there to share information on other activities available locally.

The National Lottery Community Fund Welsh Director, John Rose, highlighted the ‘Railway Gardens Project’ in part of his New Year’s message.

In spring 2021, the project was awarded £460,000 by the National Lottery Community Fund to create a unique indoor and outdoor space for the people of Splott. 

Green Squirrel are a project development company who are the driving force behind the Railway Gardens Project which is located just behind Railway Street. What started as a disused overgrown space is now being completely transformed. 

Construction is on schedule and has all gone to plan. Image: Green Squirrel

Hannah Garcia, director at Green Squirrel, said: “We will be asking everyone what activities and events they would like to see happen on the site when it opens in June.”

The project was granted planning permission in 2020. The plans include a community growing space, business pods and an area for events and markets. 

Ed Stubbs, councillor for Splott, said: “This is such a great project and I know everyone is watching developments with excitement. As councillors we have backed it from the start and we’re delighted to be able to support the them in securing the land use from the council.

“Well done to everyone at Railway Gardens for their hard work.”

The project will continue to build on Splott’s already impressive range of community organisations from the StarGarAllot gardening association to Oasis and Splo-Down Food Coop. 

Projected site map, due to open in June. Image: Green Squirrel

Camilla Lovelace, treasurer at StarGarAllot, said in May 2021 that: “The Railway Gardens project would support both of our main objectives, by providing more gardening space and activities such as local accessible training venues and workshops.

“It will also provide great opportunities to provide gardening themed events for our communities such as seed, plant and produce swaps, food markets and community food preservation systems.” 

Jane Henshaw, also a councillor for Splott, said: “It’s very exciting to see this project taking shape. I’m very proud of the Railway Gardens team. As councillors we have always been happy to support them. 

“We are aware of our responsibility to respond to climate change.”

The community coffee morning will be happening on February 19th and if you want to stay up to date with the project you can sign up to the Railway Gardens newsletter or follow the project on Twitter.