This lovely gazebo means residents at Woodland Court retirement scheme in Croesyceiliog can enjoy stunning views up towards the mountain. It was made by experts at Blaen Bran Community Woodland which as an added bonus is part of the view when you sit on it and look into the distance.

The seat is just one of the many improvements made over the last year thanks to a £5,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund.
Residents have been inspired by the project and now plan more work to transform their outside space.

I popped over and met Howard and Tamara Moffatt who took me on a tour of what’s been done and the ideas they and their neighbours have put together for the future.

The couple said the work has pulled the residents together into a closer community.

Howard said: “As the garden becomes more established we are aiming to hold Open Garden Days and would like to apply to open as part of the ‘National Gardens Scheme‘. We are planning to hold a plant sale linked to National Gardening Week in April where visitors will be able to see the work in progress.

“This is a multi-stage project as it is so ambitious. Each part of the gardens will have a different use. We will have a courtyard, an area for growing vegetables and places to relax. We are looking at obtaining furniture for events like summer BBQs. The grounds are about three-quarters of an acre and were mostly laid to grass which made them unsightly, uninteresting and a maintenance nightmare.

“We held several meetings in the residents’ lounge and this produced enthusiastic support for the garden design and a newly formed constituted club. Bron Afon approved our ideas and now we have spent the Big Lottery Fund cash we are planning the next steps.”

Tamara said: “A spin-off from the enthusiasm and support of residents was the organising of a garden tea party which was a phenomenal success with lots of everyone’s relatives coming along. We will now be writing to local stores to ask for sponsorship and freebies like end-of-season stock.”

One side of the garden overlooks Croesyceiliog RFC. Future phases of the garden include planting the large bank that slopes down towards the pitch with shrubs and herbaceous plants which should look stunning to the many dog walkers and joggers who use the nearby fields.