British Trust for Conservation Volunteers 

BTCV is the largest conservation charity in the UK and is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. We have offices across the UK and links worldwide. We operate locally from Forest Farm in Whitchurch, Cardiff and cover an area between Port Talbot to Chepstow and up into the Brecon Beacons, undertaking a wide variety of work from hedge laying, woodland management, traditional rural skills such as dry stone walling to urban regeneration and community based projects. We have offices across the UK and links worldwide.

BTCV has been working closely with local residents and groups and the Adamsdown Community Project since 2005. This partnership enabled the creation and development of the Adamsdown Community Garden. Staff worked together with local people to find out what they wanted from the space and within a year we were all celebrating the completion of the space. There have been many groups who have come together to work on the garden space including a committed group of local residents who form the Adamsdown Environmental Action Group.

Local primary schools have been heavily involved with groups of children regularly coming to the garden to learn about the environment and how to grow their own food. The hard work of local people has resulted in the garden project winning second and third place in Cardiff in Bloom two years in a row for the Community Space category. The project has become an inspiration for other communities and is regarded as a flagship project for our local office with people coming from as far as Swansea to get tips and ideas!

BTCV have begun to work with the Adamsdown Play Hut to transform a small space within their grounds. Local young people have been involved from the start with their ideas and wish list forming the basis of the design. Being involved in the design process enables young people to take ownership of the space, as does letting them get stuck in and help and get their hands muddy!

If you would like any further information on BTCV, would like to volunteer with us or if you have an idea for a community space then contact me on 02920 524268 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it