The Landscaping and Eco Construction team at Gower College Swansea have been shortlisted for a Tidy Wales Award.
Since 1990 the Awards, organised by Keep Wales Tidy and sponsored this year by Wales and West Housing, shine a light on unsung environmental heroes across the country.
The team has been nominated in the Nature in the Community category, after playing a huge role in transforming the College’s Hill House Campus into a thriving hub of biodiversity and wellbeing, engaging with vulnerable young people, and utilising their skills to improve community spaces.
The small team delivers innovative outdoor learning, embedding nature into the heart of their teaching.
“They not only inspire learners to gain qualifications and employment skills, but they also foster pride, resilience and a lasting connection to the natural world,” says Jenny Hill, Director of Skills Development and Schools Partnership. “Their passion extends beyond the classroom, driving projects that support biodiversity, improve sustainability and create beautiful, shared spaces.
“The team’s ethos of care, recycling and rewilding has united learners, staff and our many community partners including Swansea Council, local schools and Swansea University. Their work has helped students flourish, boosting attendance, progression and wellbeing, while bringing fresh food to learners and staff and creating outdoor spaces that benefit everyone.”
The Landscaping and Eco Construction team focused on the College’s Hill House Campus grounds, which were previously overgrown with scrub and invasive species. Over time, they have transformed this area into a ‘living classroom’.
In the past year alone, the team has established wildflower beds and new hedgerows to support pollinators and birds, created bug hotels, nesting boxes and two ponds, planted a fruit orchard and expanded the kitchen garden, and designed outdoor classrooms, trails and a wellbeing garden.
“Students beam when strangers compliment their work,” says Jenny. “Our College benefits from greener surroundings and fresh produce donations, and staff wellbeing has also soared, with gardening clubs flourishing in these new spaces. The dedication and passion of this team have created really positive ripple effects across the whole community.”