Project overview
We all love living in the beautiful town of Llanfairfechan, and we really enjoy using the Pendalar play-park area, but something was missing...
Enthusiastic residents at the east end of Llanfairfechan joined together last year to form the community group Llais LLE and, after asking locals what was important to them, found a couple of projects that people would love to have happen in the area.
Residents pointed out that for decades there had not been anywhere for parents and grandparents to sit down at the park whilst their children were playing, with the only options being sitting on the grass, balancing on the play equipment or just having to stand up if it's busy or wet. In a poll carried out last year, many residents indicated they would like to see some picnic tables and benches in the area.
In January 2025, we finally had our first bench installed after MWT Engineering, a local company from North Wales, very generously sponsored our first seating in the park! They also very kindly installed another concrete pad for a picnic table at the other end.
We would love to be able to commission a picnic table, handcrafted by our talented local blacksmith Gareth Roberts, to match the beautiful bench that he made for us. Created from galvanised steel, it will be durable and long lasting and include the Llais LLE name, and provide access at one end for wheelchair users - a table our residents can be proud of!
This will cost us £940.
We have already raised a lot of the money by having a brilliant musical evening fundraiser with some great local artists and sound technicians who all kindly donated their time for free, as well as an amazing raffle run by Carol, one of our members.
So we only need to raise another £250!!
So who would use a picnic table in the park?
Well, any one of us might want to meet up with friends for lunch outside and we anticipate that many local residents and visitors would use the table at some point. The table would also be really handy as general seating in the park - for older people, those recovering from injury or illness, people who are mobility disabled, or anyone who finds it hard to sit or even rise from the ground. Hikers coming down from the mountain might like a place to rest and eat and cyclists on the cycle route might like a nice place to stop for lunch.
People really do need a place to perch.
What are the benefits?
Without enough seating, parents and grandparents often cut short their visits to the park as there is nowhere comfortable to sit and children's play time is reduced. Sitting outside in the park is wonderful for people's mental health as the area is surrounded by nature, with deciduous woodland behind and beautiful views out to sea and Puffin Island. People can meet, friendships can be made, and the community can be strengthened.
We think it would really help our neighbourhood to have somewhere where residents can sit and chat, particularly as during COVID we lost the use of the only indoor community social space in the east part of Llanfairfechan - Pendalar Hall.
Why crowdfund it?
This kind of provision would normally originate with councils in better times, but the relevant local authorities are completely strapped for cash. For example, our local town council is currently trying to find a lot of money to pay for the replacement of a skate park on the sea front that is very popular with teenagers.
This means that if we don't fundraise it ourselves, it just won't happen.
Anyone who is generous enough to donate a larger amount can chose a great gift featuring a lovely design of The Towers (a famous Llanfairfechan landmark) created by Sharon, another member of our community group.
£30 will get you a mug, £40 a cotton tea towel and £50 an organic tote bag!
What if we raise more than we need?
The plan is to raise the extra needed to pay for the purchase and installation of a picnic table. Any excess raised will be retained by Llais LLE to go towards more seating and extending the Incredible Edibles programme into the area.
What if we raise less than we need?
If we undershoot the target, we will just carry on fundraising in other ways until we have enough :-)
So please help us reach our goal!!