THE Vale council’s community investment team has been working to set up a new community open space project on the Colcot estate.

The team has worked with Colcot Primary School, Horizon Engineering, and Colcot tenants and residents to establish a community play area and community garden after funding was secured in 2018 to transform a derelict site.

Following consultation with the school and local residents, a site plan was drawn up.

The Vale council’s principal landscape architect, Gareth Phillips was instrumental in bringing the designs to life and the site is currently being worked on with a launch event in March.

Head of development for Horizon Engineering, Alyson White arranged for site visit for 24 pupils from Colcot Primary School.

The school has been involved in the community open space from the outset, hosting information days, attending volunteering days and designing the logo and mural for the site.

The school named the site Everyone’s Garden.

The visit included a tour of the site meeting Horizon Engineering staff who explained their work in upgrading the site.

The children had the opportunity to handle samples of tiger mulch, limestone aggregate, sand and top soil, and all had a go at sitting on the mini digger.

Colcot Primary School head teacher, Nia Cule said: “It was great to see the progress that the site has made over the past few months.

The schoolchildren have really embraced this and going on site was another way of getting our Eco School committee involved.

"We look forward to attending the launch event and unveiling the mural and logo that the pupils have designed.”

Vale council community investment and involvement officer, Mark Ellis said: “It’s been a remarkable transformation of what was a waste ground for rubbish and flytipping.

"The school have embraced the project and our future generations have been pivotal to developing the site including ideas for the site.

"I am excited to see how it will be used and involving partners such as schools and local community groups will ensure the project is sustainable moving forward.”

This project will be open in March with a launch event at Everyone's Garden, from 11am to 2pm on Friday, March 27.

All are invited to attend.

To get involved with Everyone’s Garden, call Mr Ellis on 07826 020707 or email MarkEllis@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk