Môn a Menai is a brand new Welsh Government funded project run by Menter Môn which will be working to improve community green spaces. Green spaces are areas of publicly accessible land that are covered with natural vegetation including grass, woodland, trees, and hedgerows. They are spaces where we can exercise, socialise, and rejuvenate and can contribute to our sense of well-being.
The project aims to enable local communities to transform their local residential areas into more attractive places to live, work and visit.
Through supporting volunteer action and young people through the Kickstart scheme, the Project aims to strengthen community networks and improve access to the countryside and green spaces. The scheme aims to support four community projects in Anglesey and two in parts of Arfon, Gwynedd.
A significant aspect to Môn a Menai is enabling community well-being through a focus on empowering volunteering in improving community green spaces. Project activities will enable communities to reap the physical and mental health benefits of participating in outdoor activity. From fitness to social contact with like-minded people, volunteering in this way aims to enable a greater sense of community well-being, and encourages a stronger connection with the natural environment and local area.
As with other environmental projects in Menter Môn’s project portfolio, Môn a Menai has a focus on supporting local biodiversity and also mitigating the effects of climate change.
Rosie Frankland, who works as a project officer for Môn a Menai said, ‘Over the past year, we’ve all become aware of the value of our local green spaces to our health and well-being. Môn a Menai aims to enable local communities to take action to improve their community green spaces for the benefit of their present and future well-being’.
The Môn a Menai project was launched in August and will run over a period of two years. If you are an individual or a community group with an interest in improving your community green spaces, you can apply to Môn a Menai for support now. Support is available to help deliver environmental improvement works, volunteering activities and publicity.
Catherine Camara, a Project Support Officer for Môn a Menai is very excited to work on the project: ‘The fund has just been launched, and we are very excited to hear from interested communities and to work with them to improve their local area through the Môn a Menai Project.’
Further information is available on Menter Môn’s website (www.mentermon.com), and you can follow any updates regarding the Project on our social media pages. Facebook – Môn a Menai, Twitter – @MenaiMon, Instagram – monamenaimentermon. To register your interest or for more information regarding the support on offer, please contact the Môn a Menai Team at monamenai@mentermon.com.
