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Community News |
Community unites
for woods scheme
A new community woodland project in South Wales
will be turning wasteland on the banks of a river into a fitting home for the
kingfisher. A £104,000 Cydcoed – Woods for All funded project
will create a new community wood at Cwmcarn, near Caerphilly, protect the
Ebbw riverbank from erosion and provide a new green space for villagers to
enjoy. The scheme is being run by the Cwmcarn and
Abercarn Sports Development Association in partnership with Cwmcarn High
School and will create two hectares of woodland with walks and new wildlife
habitat – including an otter holt and small pools to encourage the resident
kingfisher. The first job will be to put in a bridge
connecting both banks of the river – both owned by the school – which will be
turned into a community wood. A riverside walk with disabled access will be
constructed, including work which will help stop river bank erosion. Malcolm Childs, of Cwmcarn and Abercarn Sports
Development Association said, “The land on the far bank from the school has
not been used in any way for over 100 years, after it was cut off by the
railway. “Working with the school, volunteers, the children
and qualified contractors, we want to open up a wooded riverside walk for the
local community. “And work to protect the walk from erosion will
also help prevent the football pitch, used by local sports groups as well as
the school, being washed away. “This section of the River Ebbw has the potential
to be really beautiful, somewhere everyone can enjoy. Once the bridge is
installed volunteers will be able to get started on planting a new wood that
everyone has had a say in designing.” Barbara Anglezarke of Cydcoed said, “This is a
really good example of people in the community working with the local school
to provide all kinds of benefits – especially healthy outdoor exercise. “Local sports teams are celebrating because their
pitch is being protected from erosion and the community is looking forward to
turning an area of wasteland into beautiful woodland for all to enjoy.” Western Mail, Monday, July 12th, 2004 |
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For more information Tel:- Malcolm Childs – Community Links Officer, Cwmcarn
High School – 01495 270982 |