Refugees and asylum-seekers plant bluebells in Welsh churchyard to encourage friendship

REFUGEES and asylum-seekers in north-west Wales joined volunteers to plant bluebells in the churchyard of St Deiniol’s, Llanddeinolen, and will return to see the shoots emerging in the spring.

The event was supported by the Local Nature Partnership and Dyma Ni Befriending (DNB), an organisation that offers friendship and assistance to asylum-seekers living in the region, in the knowledge that many could wait years for their status to be decided.

The charity said: “The rhetoric in the media and from opposing groups is often hostile, with inflammatory and negative views being commonplace. The reality is that our friends have a lot to offer to the UK. Both volunteers and asylum-seekers benefit from and enjoy the mutual contact DNB provides.”

The Ministry Area Leader of Bro Eryri, Canon Naomi Starkey, said: “What made the day significant and worth while was the fact that we shared in an activity and a friendship which transcended any national boundaries. We learned that human beings, whether from Iraq or Sudan, share a humanity and a capacity to love, share, and join in a common task. We made it possible for people to belong and become included.”