CARMARTHENSHIRE County Council is continuing to support nature recovery and community engagement across the county through the Welsh Government-funded Local Places for Nature programme.

Recent projects delivered through the programme highlight how partnerships with housing providers, education settings, community groups and local specialists are helping to enhance biodiversity while strengthening skills and local involvement.

Working in partnership with Wales & West Housing Association, Local Places for Nature has supported biodiversity improvements across a number of housing estates. These include the adoption of pollinator-friendly grassland management, the planting of native bulbs and trees, and the creation of bug hotels. The projects have actively involved tenants and residents, while estates teams have received support and equipment to ensure the areas continue to be managed for wildlife into the future.

In Llanelli, Local Places for Nature has contributed to improvements at North Dock as part of celebrations marking 25 years of the Millennium Coastal Path. New wildflower bench planters have been installed, created by the Council’s Skills Hub and planted with native coastal species. The project also includes wood carvings by local sculptor Simon Hedger, inspired by wildlife and characters from the Mabinogion. The scheme was delivered in partnership with the Council’s Outdoor Recreation Service, alongside local volunteers and contractors.

The programme is also supporting the revival of traditional countryside skills through a series of hedgelaying projects across Carmarthenshire. The most recent site at the Tywi Valley Path, Llandeilo, has involved students from Ysgol Bro Dinefwr, with further projects planned in Llanelli and Carmarthen. Delivered with support from local hedgelayer Malcolm Edwards, the work combines practical training with public engagement, helping people to learn traditional techniques while improving habitats.

Over the past year, Local Places for Nature funding has enabled the restoration of more than 700 metres of hedgerow across four sites, involving at least 70 local participants. Well-managed hedgerows play an important role in connecting habitats, supporting wildlife, storing carbon and contributing to the character of the Welsh landscape.

Local Places for Nature is funded by the Welsh Government and delivered in Carmarthenshire by the County Council through the Local Nature Partnership. The programme supports small-scale, community-focused projects that help nature thrive in towns, villages and rural areas across the county.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said:

“Local Places for Nature demonstrates how partnership working can deliver real benefits for both communities and the natural environment. From housing estates and public spaces to countryside paths, these projects are helping to improve biodiversity while giving people opportunities to get involved, learn new skills and take pride in their local areas.

We are grateful to our partners, volunteers and local specialists for their commitment and enthusiasm, and to Welsh Government for supporting this important work across Carmarthenshire.”

For more information about Local Places for Nature project, visit https://lpfncarmarthenshire.commonplace.is