Cemaes Bay and Llanfairpwll groups given cash boost

Dec 17 2008 by Jamie Smith, Holyhead and Anglesey Mail

TWO island groups are celebrating this winter following a major cash injection.

The Cemaes in Bloom group and Merched y Wawr Llanfairpwllgwyngyll have received significant funding from the Awards for All Wales.

The Awards for Wales scheme is one of the quickest ways to secure lottery money and has injected grants of between £500 and £5,000 into a range of heritage, charitable, environmental, health and educational projects since its launch in 2001.

The Cemaes in Bloom Group received £1,614, while Merched y Wawr Llanfairpwllgwyngyll received over £2000.

Chairwoman of Cemaes in Bloom, Jill Griffiths, said: “It’s basically for a water butt, a poly tunnel, and a training course for people to use the woodshredder.

“It’s very much to try and get the community involved.

“We are thrilled to bits to get the funding and being able to shred our own Christmas trees is great because we use the chippings on things like flower beds. It’s like our own mini green recycling centre!

“We are just going to enjoy this grant for the moment, but will be investigating other ones because we want to further the valley and woodrow.

“The valley is the only one on Anglesey I think so we do want to further that, and create wheelchair access as well.

“It’s absolutely vital to keep Cemaes in Bloom going, not only for the visitors it brings, but also for the local people who enjoy it as it brightens up the village.”

Awards for All Wales programme manager, Bel Crewe, said: “The main aim of Awards for All Wales is to fund initiatives that bring people together to take part in and enjoy a wide range of activities in their local community.

“The programme is concrete proof that small amounts of money can have a big impact.

“We are continually delighted with the range of creative projects which we are able to support and our flexibility to fund a wide variety of projects is one of the key elements that has made this programme such a success.”

jamie.smith