STUDENTS have joined Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority staff to add the finishing touches to a redevelopment next to one of the Park’s most popular beaches.

A group of 45 Year 12 students from Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi/Cardigan Secondary School planted hardy shrubs and grasses in new borders created in the car park at Poppit Sands.

The car park development formed part of the Green Sea (Beach Improvement) Programme, a Visit Wales coastal tourism project partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.

As part of their Welsh Baccalaureate, the young people worked with Pembrokeshire garden designer Shaney Lawrence and National Park Rangers Richard Vaughan and Carol Owen.

Ranger Richard said: “The students worked really hard and took direction well, and the result is that they’ve given the whole site a real lift – it looks great; much improved.”

Earlier in the summer, the car park was resurfaced and new seating and National Park information panels were installed. Steps and ramps to the café were also installed. The planting was the final piece of work to complete the project, with the students using plants from the local nursery at Penrallt Garden Centre.

National Park Authority Chairman Cllr Mike James said: “It’s great to see students contributing to the real improvements in this area; it helps bring about pride in the local community as well as a real benefit to local people and visitors to the National Park.”