Having fun is child’s play with Cartrefi Conwy

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CARTREFI CONWY FUN DAY AT CHESTER AVENUE KINMEL BAY... Pictured is Destiny Burne with Zara Roberts Chester Avenue community house development Manager.

 

Bubbles, bouncy castles and donkey rides were all on offer to excited children at family fun day in Kinmel Bay.

The youngsters from the Chester Avenue estate also had the opportunity to walk on the wild side and create a bug hotel full of creepy crawlies.

The event was organised by housing association Cartrefi Conwy who manage the estate and the Community House.

Community scientist Bob Griffiths, from Bala, who works with Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) led children and parents on a nature trail and helped youngsters make bug hotels.

He said: “My role is to help teach people about the environment and train youngsters to help with our OPAL nature surveys. We have been identifying different plant and bug species and learning about their different roles within the environment.

Cartrefi Conwy tenant Joan Green took along her two grandchildren, Joe, six, and Kyrrah Owen, 10, to the family fun day.

She said: “We have had a wonderful time. The donkey rides and so forth have been fun but the children, particularly Kyrrah, have loved the bug hunt and nature trail. She loves identifying the different plant and bug species, she’s very inquisitive.”

Parry Davies, a North Wales Fire and Rescue Service watch manager, took along his six-year-old son, Zedekiah, who thoroughly enjoyed the nature trail.

Parry said: “It’s been fabulous and a great way to bring the community together. We have been able to engage with the community scientist from OPAL and learn so much about plants and bugs. Zedekiah has really enjoyed it.”

Sioned Jacobson, a project worker for Bus Stop, a community development project funded by Cartrefi Conwy, was on hand to help children plant daffodil bulbs in tubs.

She said: “Bus Stop is a project designed to improve housing estates by helping people, particularly young people, to grow their own produce. We also work on digital inclusion as a way of helping get people back into work.

“It’s been a great event today and we have met a lot of youngsters. We have been planting daffodil bulbs in pots so they can take them home and watch them grow and flower by spring time.”

Cartrefi Conwy’s Zara Roberts, who manages the Community House, said: “We decided to put the event on as a way of bringing the community together. Everyone from the area has been made welcome not just Cartrefi Conwy tenants.

“The volunteers who make up the Chester Avenue Community House Committee have worked exceptionally hard to put the event together and local businesses have been very generous donating many gifts and raffle prizes in support of the event.

“I’m really pleased at how many people have supported the day. There is so much to do whether its donkey rides or taking part in a nature trail and building a bug hotel with the community scientist from Open Air Laboratories (OPAL).

“The atmosphere has been wonderful and it has been lovely seeing so many families out enjoying what is a wonderful community event. We are also grateful to OPAL, the boys from RGC, who have been teaching rugby skills, and North Wales Police for their support.”

Cartrefi Conwy tenant and Chester Avenue Community House volunteer committee secretary, Linda Woodbridge, said: “I live on the estate with my five children and they have all had a really good time.

“We held regular meetings at the Community House to organise the event and we are so pleased at the response from local business such as Argos, Littlewoods, and Arriva who have donated so much.

“B&M provided us with sweets, crisps and toys while Tir Prince and the Welsh Mountain Zoo offered tickets as raffle prizes.

“Cartrefi Conwy, the town council and Communities First all provided cash funding which has been vital. It’s been a wonderful family day.”

She added: “And the barbecue, which has served up hot dogs and burgers has proved a massive hit, as you would expect.”

Towyn and Kinmel Bay mayor, Bill Darwin and deputy mayor, Nigel Smith, helped out by leading the donkeys.

Cllr Darwin said: “It’s a brilliant event and we have to thank Cartrefi Conwy for their support. In my opinion the Chester Avenue Community House is vitally important to the community and helps make it a community to be really proud of.

“Zara and her team of volunteers do so much incredible work and they are to be congratulated.”