Growing Food on the Senedd Estate

4. Questions to the Senedd Commission – in the Senedd on 10 February 2021.

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Photo of Jenny Rathbone Jenny Rathbone Labour

(Translated)

1. What plans does the Commission have to grow food on the Senedd estate? OQ56280

Photo of David Rowlands David Rowlands UKIP 4:12, 10 February 2021

Well, since this topic was previously raised, a number of changes have been made to the limited green space on the estate in order to maximise its biodiversity and well-being value. We grow pears and herbs in the Tŷ Hywel car park, which were regularly used by our catering service before lockdown. We have changed our management of the ground alongside the Senedd, where we now grow a wide range of wild flowers, and we have created a small pond for the benefit of amphibians, birds and insects. This year, we're pleased to announce that we have increased our Pierhead bees colony and we now have three productive hives.

The reality is that, unlike other organisations, we have virtually no space for cultivation. However, our new sustainability strategy, which is to be launched in the spring, will commit to increasing the green space on our estate, for example by introducing vertical gardens to support greater biodiversity.

Photo of Jenny Rathbone Jenny Rathbone Labour 4:13, 10 February 2021

Thank you very much—that's really interesting. I particularly look forward to hearing more about the vertical gardens. That's wonderful. Everybody's mental well-being has suffered as a result of all the measures we've had to take to stay at home to curb the infection, and that includes Members and our staff, so I do hope that we can continue to promote such cultivation as we are able to do on the estate as being something that's restorative for people's well-being.

Photo of David Rowlands David Rowlands UKIP

Yes, well, thank you, Jenny. I can assure Jenny that we are, of course, open to any new ideas or innovations that either she, or indeed any of the Commission staff, are able to put forward, and I can assure her that the Commission is fully committed to enhancing the estate's green credentials in any way possible.

Photo of Ann Jones Ann Jones Labour 4:14, 10 February 2021

Thank you. Question 2 will be answered by the Llywydd. Helen Mary Jones.