Erian George, carpenter and principal constructor; Geoff Lester, Coed y Bont(L-R): Brian Rumble, NRW; Brian Hanwell, NRW; Jonathan Suiter, Coed y Bont; Chris Harris Coed y Bont;
Erian George, carpenter and principal constructor; Geoff Lester, Coed y Bont
THE COED Y BONT Community Woodland Group are delighted to announce the construction of a wooden shelter at the community woodland at Pontrhydfendigaid.
Using locally sourced timber , this new structure lies next to the car park at the woodland entrance and adjacent to the picnic area. It will provide much needed shelter for people using the woodland when the weather is bad and serve as a focal point for visiting groups and for events.
The shelter was made possible by a very generous financial donation from Aberaeron -based Hydro Schemes UK Ltd and by engineers and planning staff of Natural Resources Wales who gave their time and expertise to do the design and organise and undertake the construction.
“This is an absolutely first class piece of work and a valuable addition to the community woodland,” said Committee Chairman, Jim Cowie. “It uses local timber, is extremely well designed, blends very effectively into its surroundings and is very solidly built.”
“Those who have been involved, particularly Hydro Schemes UK Ltd for providing the funding and a number of NRW staff for their unstinting and enthusiastic help and support, deserve a huge amount of credit for what they have done. There is no doubt that without them the shelter would not have happened. While there are direct benefits to the woodland project, we also recognise that this is an asset that will be available to the wider community and visitors to the area for many years to come.”
Brian Hanwell NRW’s Local Area Manager said: “Delivery of this project is very much due to the drive and enthusiasm of my Engineering Support Officer colleague Brian Rumble, who saw the opportunity to bring together the timber arising from tree felling operations occasioned by implementing the renewable energy project on the Afon Glassffrwd, with a generous financial contribution from Hydro Schemes UK Ltd. Brian drew on his huge practical experience to bring together a team of contractors who delivered a very attractive and robust shelter that will be witness to this collaborative effort for many years to come .”
The shelter project is also supported under the LEADER Scheme through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. This support, administered by the Ceredigion Local Action Group Cynnal y Cardi at Ceredigion County Council, has provided additional tools and equipment, essential training for volunteers, publicity materials and projects to involve the local school children and youth club, all of which will enhance the community’s engagement with its local woodland.
“We were extremely pleased to receive the Leader funded grant ,” said Coed y Bont Treasurer, Chris Harris. “We are especially delighted that the money will fund projects such as community artists and the Vincent Wildlife Trust working with the young people in our area to help them to understand and appreciate the fascinating world of wildlife on their doorstep. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank The Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust Fund for their recent grant funding and to add that the shelter will make an excellent asset to our woodland .”
Committee member Geoff Lester added : “We have been extremely lucky to have the shelter funded and built for us. It’s a great thing for the woodland but it’s also something that benefits the whole community. We owe a lot of thanks to Hydro Schemes UK and to NRW and also to Cynnal y Cardi for helping us to get the additional grant funding. Coed y Bont is now even a better place to come to relax and unwind and enjoy the beautiful woodland surroundings.”
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