Bringing the people of merthyr closer to nature
Plans for a new community woodland at Merthyr in south Wales are aimed at putting people back in touch with nature – and opening up the heritage of the area to everyone.
More than £140, 000 of Cydcoed – Woods for All grant funding will help create the Pontygwaith Local Nature Reserve at Treharris – opening up community woodland for local people to enjoy and also attracting visitors using the Taff Trail and Celtic Trail.
The Merthyr Tydfil Angling Association, who own the land, developed the scheme in partnership with Groundwork Merthyr and Rhondda Cynon Taff, also wants to provide educational opportunities within the reserve, helping to promote community ownership.
Works include planting new trees, managing present woodlands, building new paths and improving parts of the area – including the historic Trevithick Tramway along which the first ever steam train was run – to enable people of all abilities to use the site.
"There is a misconception amongst outsiders that the valleys are still heavily industrialised and disfigured by the relics of the coal and iron industry," said Cydcoed project officer Barbara Anglezarke.
"But the valleys today are very different, slowly regaining their former glory with beautiful landscapes and diverse wildlife, which increasing numbers of visitors are beginning to appreciate.
"The Pontygwaith project should help people living in the area to benefit from an expanding tourist industry which is already growing thanks to the Taff Trail, Celtic Trail, the International Climbing Wall, Taff Bargoed Community Park and other re-generation projects," said Barbara.
The project is the second to be given the go-ahead under the second phase of Cydcoed, a £16 million Forestry Commission in Wales Objective One programme jointly funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Union.
The Angling Association, which has a 35 year history, originally bought the land along the River Taff between Quakers Yard and Edwardsville to secure fishing rights.
Now, with the support of Treharris Regeneration Partnership, Quakers Yard Environmental Group, Merthyr and District Naturalists Society and others, the group wants to improve the woodlands and make them more attractive. It also plans a feasibility study to look at increasing fishing opportunities with a coarsing lake and wetland area to attract more paying anglers who will also enjoy the new nature reserve.
"We are really looking forward to starting work on this project which will bring all kinds of local benefits to the communities surrounding it, as well as increasing the enjoyment of the members of the association and the visitors we believe the new reserve will attract," said association treasurer Tony Rees.
Dai Hart, the Groundwork Programme Manager said: " The work will improve access to the site significantly, it will also build on the success of the Taff trail and help increase opportunities for tourists to the South Wales valleys to enjoy the wonderful landscape and the important history behind this part of South Wales".
END
29 August 2003
073/03
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