Woodland Gets Spruced Up!

A woodland area near the heart of Haverfordwest has been transformed – thanks to a community initiative.

The enhanced Bluebell Wood – adjacent to Fleming Crescent – was opened last Monday (March 23rd).

The initiative has transformed the woodland area into a community asset for the town and is open to all.

Access and infrastructure has been improved, while two nearby paddocks have been turned into a fruit and nut orchard.odland area into a community asset for the town and is open to all.

“This whole project has been a wonderful example of multi-agency working,” said the Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, Councillor Tom Richards at Monday’s opening.

“It’s down to the hard work and enthusiasm of all involved that this project has been so successful,” he said.

“I’d like to thank everyone involved. They should be proud of the work they have achieved to benefit the wider community.”

Located in the Communities First Garth Ward area of Haverfordwest, Bluebell Wood is owned by Pembrokeshire County Council.

Following the success of a Welsh Government Tidy Towns Grant bid, almost £24,000 has been spent on sprucing up the woodland infrastructure and establishing the new orchard.

Included in the work is a new access bridge installed by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, while social enterprise company Greenlinks has worked with local schools to put up bird and bat boxes and install benches and a woodland interpretive panel.

Orchard Mawr – part of Transition Haverfordwest – has planted 120 fruit and nut trees in the paddocks to create a visually attractive urban green space.
The orchard will run alongside a raised bed area established by The Hive Youth and Community Centre for a Grow it, Cook it, Eat it project.

Monday’s opening was attended by representatives from all the organisations involved while Fenton School pupils, who will use the area as an outdoor classroom, planted scores of wildflower plugs around the trees.