THE mayor, Councillor Norma Watkins officially opened the new boardwalk which gives improved access at the Byefield Lane entrance to the Linda Vista Gardens.

The event was watched by Town and County Councillors, representatives of the CAIR Group, AAODS, many Friends of Linda Vista Gardens and officers of the Monmouthshire County Council Landscaping Unit.

This opening of phase two of the boardwalk project completes an accessible circuit in the formal part of the gardens replacing the dangerous shallow, uneven sloping steps.

This project has been another example of how The Friends have inspired co-operation that has produced an excellent result.  The Abergavenny Town Council contributed a grant of £6,000 towards the cost of the boardwalk which was installed by Monmouthshire County Council staff.

The new shrub and flower beds were planned by Paddy Beynon, of the Friends steering group, and she co-ordinated a group of volunteers to do the planting.  Already there have been many positive comments about the improvement this has made for accessing the gardens, particularly from parents with buggies and wheelchair and motorised buggy users.

 The Friends' Group chairman, Oliver Barton thanked the Town Council, the County Council staff and the volunteers for their input in to the project. He outlined future plans for working with the Abergavenny Food Festival organisers. The next major funding raising project will be to obtain funding for refurbishing the old toilet block. The next public event in the Gardens will be a brass band concert on Sunday June 12.

 Anyone interested in more information or wishing to join The Friends Group should contact Katrina Gass on 855760DS