IT SAYS in the book of Isaiah – ‘The desert will rejoice and flowers will bloom in the wastelands.’ St Catherine’s Church – while not wishing to trump the prophet – has worked its own wonders in what is often been regarded as one of Gwent’s less picturesque corners.

“Crosskeys village has come from behind to win four major titles in the beauty stakes” says Lynne Rees, a committee member of community group based at the church hall.

“We’ve won the Best Kept Village community hall prize and a Green Flag award for the best church garden.

“For the third year running we’ve won the Caerphilly in Bloom prize for our church garden, and in the Gwent’s Best Kept Village contest organised by Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations we came second only to Raglan.

“For a former industrial village like ours to be up there with the pretty villages of east Gwent we think is a real achievement.”

The centrepiece of the village was, until a few years ago, a grim toilet block standing on the crossroads at Penniless Corner, a name redolent of the village’s suffering during the Great Depression.

“Now you would hardly know the place” Lynne, a retired nurse, says brightly.

“Penniless Corner became million-pound corner after qualifying for a Community First grant.

“There are now attractive sculptures and lighting which are set off by St Catherine’s garden.

“Gardeners within the community group, many of them associated with the church, set to work with spade and fork and turned a horrible piece of wasteland into the garden which has won all the plaudits.

“We’ve decided to go completely organic and instead of using chemicals, plant begonias and snapdragons to keep the slugs off.

“Apart from Mr Ivor Hughes, the work has been done by ladies of the village – Ivor’s wife, Margaret, Megan Beard, Marlene Short, Christine Morgan and Valerie Palmer, among others.

“Getting the garden up and running meant that some people were spending 20 hours a week here but the results have been spectacular with a knock-on effect all over Crosskeys and Pontywaun.”

The gardeners are all members of St Catherine’s Community Group which runs coffee mornings and a luncheon club followed by a bingo session.

The Ven John Blackburn whose Risca parish covers Crosskeys and Pontywaun, said: “Along with the flowers has grown a community spirit in which everyone is made to feel involved.

“The appearance of the village lifts the spirits.”

As autumn asserts its grip, the enthusiasm continues in full bloom.

“We have come to the point where it is self-sustaining”

said the Rev Blackburn, who before coming to Risca served as the Army’s senior Anglican padre. “The success has been such that we do not expect it to wilt.”

Increasingly chill winds might mean that St Catherine’s beauty yields to a more muted winter aspect. “But we’ll be pruning the bushes and feeding the soil mostly with our own compost,” Lynne says. “The paths will have to be re-barked and flowers planted for the spring.

“Nature goes into hibernation but we don’t.

“I can be contacted on 01495 271947 if anyone feels like lending a hand.