Betws Community Council will celebrate the completion of the new nature garden in Betws Park with a lunchtime opening ceremony on Friday March 17.

The project to transform 2,000 square metres of old tennis courts has been the beneficiary of a £87,000 grant from the Local Places for Nature Fund programme.

The grant programme is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with the Welsh Government.

“Thanks to National Lottery players and the Local Places for Nature Fund we have been able to create a wilder habitat for nature and its inhabitants whilst contributing to dealing with climate change issues through the planting of in excess of 120 broadleaf native trees and saplings.

"Work started in April last year, with contractors working alongside local volunteers to realise the vision,” said a spokesperson for the project.

The nature garden includes a sensory garden and is planted with a range of native plants, including a fruit orchard.

The area includes a range of different habitats to support native wildlife and encourage biodiversity, including woodland, wetlands and meadows.

Childfriendly bug-hotels are a feature of the education area.

A community garden includes areas where local volunteers work alongside children from Betws School and young people from Coleg Sir Gar to get hands-on in growing their own vegetables.

New footpaths have made the park more accessible, and the development reflects the ambitions of the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act.

Community volunteers who have supported the park over recent years will be in attendance, along with local school children, councillors and representatives of the many organisations who have helped bring the project to fruition.

The park will be formally opened by Mrs Jayne Picouto, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire