A WILD weekend at the Jubilee Gardens in St Ishmaels saw locals rolling up their sleeves to give wildlife a boost.

St Ishmaels Playing Field Association has benefited from £500 of National Garden Gift vouchers, thanks to a campaign run by Keep Wales Tidy, and funded by the Welsh government.

The money was used to buy plants and compost, and on Sunday, May 3, residents got stuck in, planting pollinators and fruit trees.

Melanie Davies, treasurer of the playing field association, said: “We were thrilled when we found out we’d been successful in applying for garden centre vouchers.

“’Wild Weekend’ has enabled us to make a huge improvement to the pollen and nectar that’s on offer in Jubilee Gardens and hopefully this will benefit our local environment and wildlife, as well the local community.”

‘Have a Wild Weekend’ is part of the Natural Buzz initiative run by Keep Wales Tidy, in partnership with the Horticultural Trade Association and Green Space Wales, and funded by the Welsh Government’s Nature Fund.

Its aim is to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, as well as to help communities create new habitats and food sources for pollinators by planting wild flower havens in unused spaces.

Community environmental group, schools, businesses, charities and local authorities across Wales were asked to apply for a grant of up to £500 to help them improve their pollinator improvement projects.

Lesley Jones, chief executive of Keep Wales Tidy, said she was delighted so many groups had got involved.

“They have planted new flowering plants to attract bees and butterflies as well as giving existing habitats a helping hand," she said.