GREEN-fingered Penygroes residents have been busy working on their community garden project during lockdown.

The garden, on Spien Road, was the idea of local resident Carol Rio who, with the help of council funding, was able to transform an unused piece of land into garden beds.

Fellow residents have been helping Carol by donating compost and plants, as well as support from local businesses.

Young children on Spien road have become budding gardeners during the coronavirus pandemic and have been helping out by selling posies of flowers, with proceeds fed back into the scheme.

Carol said: "As we were on lockdown I have been doing the physical work myself but other residents have been helping by donating compost and horse manure and buying some of the plants.

"Leekes, Cross Hands and Wilko's have been very generous by donating seeds, vouchers to buy bulbs and Ammanford Evangelical church donated a Christmas tree with lights.

"Together with the young girls on the estate we have been selling posies of flowers and proceeds are going back in to the garden to buy compost and feed, although we are making our own feed from nettles to keep costs down.

"The girls also help me on a regular basis with watering."

Commenting on the project, Penygroes Councillor David Thomas, said: “My thanks to Carol and her helpers for all the hard work in setting up this garden.

"Thanks are also due to Carmarthenshire County Council and to the businesses and organisations that have donated plants and equipment."

Allotments and community gardens are said to benefit both people's health and the environment by getting people outdoors, attracting wildlife and reducing carbon footprints. They also help reduce waste through the use of composting.