Pupils dig in to improve town’s seaside garden
PORTHCAWL will shine even brighter for holidaymakers this summer thanks to the efforts of pupils.
Year 9 and 10 students from Porthcawl Comprehensive have helped to rejuvenate the sunken Cosy Corner garden.
As part of the community project section of the Welsh Baccalaureate, the pupils and volunteer teachers spent last Wednesday and Thursday completing a range of improvements including tidying up the path and wall areas, painting the benches, mowing the grass and weeding the circular border before planting new flowers.
The school’s head of maths Emma Pugh, who organised the event, said the pupils’ hard work has improved the area so it can be enjoyed by visitors this year before the planned development of the Porthcawl Maritime Centre on the site.
She said: “The pupils were fantastic and many of the public stopped to talk to us and commented on the work.
“Many told us of their memories of the park when they were children and about the boating lake and crazy golf.
“People were pleased to see us doing something with it. One man even donated money towards our costs!”
The school said more than 150 students also volunteered their services in the Porthcawl area, giving their time to charity shops, the library, YMCA and primary Schools as part of a project to give something back to the local community.
With the support of Keep Wales Tidy, pupils have also spent a day cleaning up the beaches of Rest Bay and Pink Bay and thoroughly enjoyed making a positive contribution.
And on Monday, staff and pupils were joined by three members of the Royal Marines to complete their annual charity walk from school to Newton and on to the Prince of Wales pub in Kenfig.
The school said that after a long and hot walk, much needed refreshments and sandwiches were kindly provided by Gareth Maund the proprietor.
Last year, this Lavender Walk raised more than £1,600, and this year the money will be donated to Cancer Research.
How proposed maritime centre will look: Page 16