A VOLUNTARY group recently set up to preserve of and improve Prestatyn’s Coronation Gardens held a successful first meeting yesterday (February 24).

"Friends of Prestatyn Coronation Gardens" was created following a consultation period in which residents were invited to share their suggestions on how to improve the gardens.

Among the most popular suggestions made were flower beds and trees to be planted, bird boxes, and improvements to the park’s playground, shelter and seating areas.

Held at the town’s Ty Caradoc Community Centre, yesterday’s meeting involved conducting the second round of its public consultation, while contact has now been made with Denbighshire County Council (DCC) regarding planting permission.

The remainder of its committee was also elected, and a group constitution was formed, while the group also agreed to take part in the Royal Horticultural Society’s “It’s your Neighbourhood” initiative, which helps gardening groups clean up and “green up” their area.

Gill German, who was elected chairman of the group in November, called it an “extremely positive start”.

She said: “It was a really productive meeting last night, and we were glad to welcome four new members including our first young member, an extremely articulate pupil of Prestatyn High School, who made some really positive contributions.

“I’m really keen for this to be an intergenerational venture and am hoping that he will be the first of many young people involved.

“We decided to conduct a second round of the public consultation aimed directly at our local schools and will be actioning this shortly.

“We welcome the involvement of children and young people and would be glad to hear from any staff who would like to support pupil voice on this at their school.

“We also elected the remainder of our committee, including a vice chair and treasurer, and adopted our group constitution.

“We talked about planting in the gardens and contact has been made with DCC regarding permission for this, which we hope to secure soon.

“We also agreed to take part in the Royal Horticultural Society’s ‘It’s your Neighbourhood’ initiative, so are hoping for some good feedback and advice from them once we get going.

“All in all, it was an extremely positive start.

“We are applying for some grant funding including from Prestatyn Town Council, and from the Prestatyn and Meliden Community Partnership, who administer the North Hoyle Wind Farm funds.”

Apart from the gardens itself, there are also the remains of a bowling green, a shelter and a children’s play area at Coronation Gardens.

A direct route to the railway station and the town centre, it was developed in 1911 to commemorate the coronation of Queen Mary and George V.

Anyone interested in more information or joining the group can find out more on its Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/groups/234334508805378.

The group’s secretary, Eddie Roberts, can also be contacted at: eddieroberts@talktalk.net.

Its next meeting has been pencilled in for Thursday, March 24 at 6.30pm, again at Ty Caradoc.