Health board's Chair symbolises sustainable stance with visit to agriculture project

PICTURED: Jan Williams joined health board staff and Cae Felin volunteers at the project in Morriston.

Swansea Bay UHB Chair Jan Williams made a special visit to the award-winning Cae Felin Community Supported Agriculture project near Morriston Hospital.

Cae Felin, a not-for-profit organisation, is based on land owned by the health board, with staff and the public giving up their time to grow crops and plant trees along with creating a space for nature and wildlife to flourish.

Patients and health board staff have also benefited from Cae Felin, with the brain injury service utilising the site as part of a patient’s rehabilitation and staff groups using it for wellbeing.

While the project is independently run, the health board has supported it as part of its wider commitment to a more sustainable future.

Jan made her first visit to Cae Felin to hear more about the site’s success so far along with its future aspirations. She also planted a native apple tree from tree nursery Coeden Fach in Clyne.

She said: “I was delighted to visit Cae Felin and see first-hand the benefits of this evolving project.

PICTURED: Jan Williams planted a native apple tree at Cae Felin.

“It has a range of benefits for our staff, patients and community, and hearing the stories of those involved in the project’s success so far was very inspiring.

“I was also pleased to have the opportunity to plant the native apple tree and contribute to Cae Felin’s future in a small way.”

The success of Cae Felin has been highlighted further by two recent awards.

It won the Sustainability in Healthcare accolade at the health board’s annual One Bay Way Staff Awards.

That was followed by winning the Innovative Development of Green Space at a Health Site award at the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare’s ‘NHS Forest 2024 Integrating Trees and Green Space into the NHS’ conference.

Cae Felin founder Amanda Davies, who is also Head of Foundational Economy at Welsh Government, said: “The visit gave Jan an opportunity to hear inspiring stories from people involved in the project about the work Cae Felin does, the positive difference it is making and our longer-term ambitions.

“It was also a chance to inform Jan of how Cae Felin aligns with Welsh Government policies and the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act around climate, sustainability, nature, the foundational economy and how our work supports ministerial priorities around obesity, diabetes, cancer and mental health, and wellbeing. 

“Through planting a native apple tree Jan symbolised our shared commitment and goals around sustainability, community growth and environmental stewardship.”