We have an important role to play in our communities. We want to be placemakers, working with people to ensure neighbourhoods are safe, attractive and connected. We want to ensure that we engage with our customers so we can make the greatest impact.
We also recognise there are a range of partners, resident networks and stakeholders already established within our communities who want to work with us to maximise opportunities to help our communities thrive and be sustainable.
Our aim is to work with our customers and community partners to make the most of the positive environmental impact of our open spaces – creating external spaces which are valued by our communities at the same time as making a positive contribution to tackling climate change.
We’re already working with organisations like Bridgend County Borough Council, Keep Wales Tidy, Natural Resources Wales, Buglife and Plantlife Cymru and Community Groups to promote biodiversity across our estates.
Examples include our Magnificent Meadows pilot area, where we reduced mowing and increased biodiversity at Pwll Y Waun and Wildmill. And the community garden at Marlas Greenspace, which won the TPAS Community Participation national award, Bridgend Local Heroes Award and Mayors Citizenship Award.
And this summer, we’re working with ASW Property Services to find the best gardens, places and spaces in Bridgend, showcasing the hard work our customers and local residents have been putting in to improve the social, economic, and environmental wellbeing of our neighbourhoods. Read more about our #GrowingforGold gardening competition here.
We sit on the Bridgend Biodiversity Partnership, Green Links Steering Group and the Bridgend Public Service Board Asset Sub Group which is a collaborative network working jointly on green initiatives, such as the Well Being On Your Doorstep Social Prescribing Toolkit with Cwm Taf Health Board. We are also part of the Cwm Taf Nature Network and the emerging Natural Nature Service for Wales.
These initiatives support Bridgend’s Well Being Plan 2018-2023 and the seven Well-being Goals within the Well-being of Future Generations Act.