THE new Bee Hapus Community Garden officially opened earlier this month at the Heritage Gate residential development in Llantwit Major.

Made possible through the Vale of Glamorgan Council's Section 106 Public Art Programme Funding, the garden was created in partnership with Persimmon Homes housing developers and Studio Response Art Consultant.

Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Wellbeing and Leader of the Llantwit First Party, Cllr Gwyn John officially opened the garden to the crowd of artists, residents, representatives of Persimmon Homes, the Vale Council's Section 106 Officers, and poet Rae Howells.

Poet Rae Howells reading at the Bee Hapus Garden opening

The garden, which features over a thousand bee and insect attracting flowering plants and bee Totems made from sustainably sourced wood to house bees who live independently from the hive, was created as a direct response to the decline of the bee population in the UK.

Cllr John said: "As a Council we are aiming to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2030. This beautiful public art garden significantly contributes to the climate change challenges we are facing.

"The artists have engaged with residents who have helped with the bespoke planting to attract bees and insects to pollinate and contribute to supporting our food chain.

"Bee Hapus Community Garden is a testament to the collaborative spirit of the Llantwit Major community and will be home to bees, bumblebees, honeybees, butterflies and moths."

The Bee Hapus Garden Central frottage Stone designed by local resident Lily Mae Starkey

From the beginning the project has involved residents from the Heritage Gate development who each received a Friends of the Earth Bee Saver Kit. Following this, residents were invited to design a central stone for the garden in which Lily Mae Starkey's design was chosen and used to create the centrally place Frottage Stone.

Residents and volunteers worked closely with artists and gardeners Emma Geliot and Rodger Lougher to create the garden, which also features a spiral steel-edged garden pathway and bespoke seating area.

The Bee Hapus Community Garden is now open to the public and can be found at the entrance to Heritage Gate development in Llantwit Major.