Shining a Light on the Landscape of Sustainability

We recognise that this past year has been hard for many, so with this in mind, we’d like to promote some other incredible initiatives working to create stronger, cleaner, and more sustainable communities. Each month we will be promoting a location that is home to one of our repair cafés, celebrating the many other inspirational, forward thinking organisations that strive to make Wales, and the world, a better place.

This month we are showcasing Riverside, the inner-city area of Cardiff that sits aside the River Taff. Amongst the city buzz, the people of Riverside are working together on community led initiatives, embracing the opportunity to create positive change, for their environment, their neighbourhood and beyond.

Riverside Community Garden Project

One of the longest running community gardens in Cardiff, The Riverside Community Garden Project is supported by Grow Cardiff, and has successfully created a wonderfully inclusive natural space in which local volunteers are invited to grown their own organic produce. Located on Pontcanna Permanent Allotments, the volunteers here have cultivated a paradise in the city, packed with incredible features including a large organic veg, fruit and herb patch, a forest garden, a thriving pond, bee hives, a cabin with a cob oven and a woodwork and education shelter. Regularly holding open days at the garden, the next will be held on 2nd October 2021, and will feature the project’s resident bee keepers Harold & Barbara, who will be giving a talk and answering any questions about their incredible bees. Having learnt all about the lovely bees, stick around to sample some hot food, picked and cooked straight from the garden – and all completely free! You can go along and join the volunteers at the community garden on Wednesdays and Fridays between 10:00am-4:00pm, or on the first Saturday of every month. They also encourage you to call in anytime between these hours, if you would like to just have a look around and join some friendly faces for a chat and a cuppa. If planning to attend one of their fabulous open days, you are asked to please phone the garden number on 07532 385 899, for access to the project, and for any further information. Alternatively email riversidecommunitygdn@gmail.com to arrange a visit or to find out more about the project.

For further information on the Riverside Community Garden project, or how you can get involved, you can request to join their Facebook group here.

South Riverside Community Development Centre (SRCDC)

SRCDC is a registered charity and community centre in South Riverside established to benefit local communities in the Riverside, Canton and Grangetown areas. With a mission to enhance the education of their community in matters related to mental, physical, cultural, and social welfare and to relieve poverty in the local area, SRCDC has introduced and supported some wonderful initiatives whilst acting as a community hub, where people of all ages, skill levels and backgrounds can access information and support. Just one of the many current projects featured on their website is the Wyndham Street Pantry, a service for people struggling to afford a weekly shop and where five pounds will secure a delivery of food worth approximately twenty five pounds. Also featured is their Digital Inclusion initiative, where eligible people can access a complete PC set for employment search purposes, or to support the educational needs of any children in the home. Serving their local community for over forty years, SRCDC has produced and supported so many projects, it is just impossible to include them all in one blog post – and that alone speaks volumes!

To find out more about the South Riverside Community Development Centre, and all of their wonderful work, you can visit their website here.

The River Music Project

One project that SRCDC has been involved with is The River Music Project, a community music project in Riverside based around performance, participatory workshops and participatory performance. Local musicians here are gathering to perform and to teach their musical skills to those who would like to listen or learn, bringing music from all over the world to Riverside! Fabulous workshops include Riverside’s Uke Orchestra, some fantastic drumming sessions, learning to sing Hindustani raags and chants and regular open rehearsals for all. This wonderful group of musicians recently took over the River Music Stage at the Riverside Festival 2021, bringing a whole lot of joy and happiness to the local community with their fabulous compositions, and next year, who knows? You could be there jamming with them! This project invites local musicians to get involved, as well as those simply willing to learn a new musical skill. So, what are you waiting for?!

To find out more about The River Music Project and how you can get involved, you can visit their Facebook page here.

Riverside Market

The original Cardiff Farmers’ Market, Riverside Market was established in 1998 by members of the local community with one key thing in common – they loved food! Since that time, this market has developed into one of the most renowned farmers’ markets in the whole of the United Kingdom, exhibiting a selection of the finest food producers Wales has to offer. Located opposite the Principality Stadium, the market is set along the banks of the River Taff, and offers a variety of local, organic, and sustainably sourced products, as well as an incredible selection of street food should you get peckish whilst shopping, and if you’re not a fan of the weekly shop, fear not! – the artisan gin and cocktails available here will surely soften the hardship. Whatever you need, Riverside Market will have it covered whilst also encouraging you to walk out by the riverside amongst your local community, turning your shopping experience into the most enjoyable day of the week! Trading on Sundays from 10:00am-2:00pm, Riverside Market is not one you’ll want to miss!

To find out more about Riverside Market’s trading dates, social distancing guidelines, and to check out their range of fabulous food producers, you can visit their website here.