Pen Y Bonc, a local green space in Upper Bangor, has suffered from litter and neglect over the years. So students have been volunteering with Undeb Bangor, Bangor University’s Students’ Union, to help the community restore the area.
Two volunteer sessions have taken place—11th December, saw 20 students taking part, and on 5th February, 16 students volunteered. The February session was part of Undeb Bangor’s larger Volunteering Week, which included community events such as a beach clean and a repair café.
Students have been working alongside local community members to tidy path borders, clear scrub and gorse, pick litter, and plant 15 fruit trees; apples, pears and plums.
Josie Ball, Volunteering and Community Coordinator, said: “It’s so special to be part of this project and to see students play an active role in maintaining green spaces in our local community. We’ve loved working with community members to transform Pen Y Bonc into a welcoming and well-maintained space. A big thank you to all involved, including Gwynedd Council and Bangor City Council, for their funding and support. A team effort makes projects like this even more enjoyable and successful!”
Pen Y Bonc is owned by Cyngor Dinas Bangor City Council, which has fully supported the project. Funding has been provided by Cyngor Gwynedd through their Local Nature Partnership programme. The vision is to create a welcoming and accessible space for the local community, with stunning views of Ynys Môn, while also encouraging local wildlife. The design is intended to be low-maintenance and sustainable, reflecting the modest resources available.
Local ecologist John Ratcliffe added: “Pen Y Bonc was looking a bit unloved and attracted litter and neglect. A community meeting agreed measures to improve its attraction to people and wildlife. This includes an orchard to provide fruit on the lower slopes, trimming back gorse, mowing and sowing to promote a flower-rich meadow. Support from the student community has been fun and really inspiring, though I think the supply of cake helped .”
Future ambitions include installing benches so that people can sit and enjoy the green space with views across the Menai Strait. If you’d like to visit the site and experience its natural beauty, it’s just a five-minute walk from the University’s Main Arts Building, opposite the AoG Pentecostal Church.
For more information or to get involved, please contact: volunteering@undebbangor.com.
Photos: Undeb Bangor
