Prince Charles got to hear about how PLANED - Pembrokeshire's community development organisation, encourages and supports communities to become more sustainable, during a recent visit to the National Botanic Gardens in Carmarthenshire.

PLANED co-ordinator, Jane Howells, explained how PLANED (Pembrokeshire Local Action Network for Enterprise and Development), has developed a Community Route Map, with support from the Big Lottery Fund.

It is a step-by-step guide and tool-kit for communities to use as they look to the future and plan their development in a sustainable way and has been informed by PLANED's extensive experience in this field.

The Prince was also told about the range of community work of PLANED, including providing training with taster courses on countryside skills such as hedging, coppicing and gate making, as well as handyman skills such as basic carpentry and basic plumbing.

At the event, the Prince was also told about the community heritage work of PLANED and the 'Valuing the Environment' groups the organisation supports.

These projects are part funded through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is financed by the European Union and the Welsh Assembly Government.