Lending nature a helping hand

The green slurry contains seeds that will stimulate new growth

Coity Tip, a small nature area next to Big Pit Mining Museum, has in recent years suffered extensive damage as a result of illegal off-road biking. Although the turf has now been fenced off, the damage already inflicted has left it unable to recover.

In an attempt to restore the vegetation, Big Pit Mining Museum in collaboration with the Forgotten Landscapes decided to repair the damage, employing a modern technique called hydroseeding: A semi-liquid mixture consisting of seeds suspended in water and animal dung was spread across the area through a big, high-pressure hose. The slurry protects the seeds from wind, rain erosion and bird attacks while providing a nice, moist environment for the seeds to germinate in. It is a very efficient and cost-effective way of generating growth, more-so than the traditional way of scattering seeds across an area.

FLP scheme manager, Steve Rogers, expressed his optimism about the project: “It is a terrific way to improve the opportunity for the plants to re-establish. Next year we will be able to see how successful the project has been”.

Crucial Crew and the countryside

Looking after the environment is a crucial part of what the Forgotten Landscapes Project is all about. That’s why Ceri Cadwallader and Rob Maddocks from the project have been helping staff from the countryside teams at Torfaen and Monmouthshire councils to teach children about outdoor safety and run workshops on the Countryside Code.
The wider project is called “Crucial Crew” and aims at providing school children with crucial knowledge on fire safety, internet safety, first-aid and drug & alcohol awareness.
The whole thing is organised by Gwent Police and is set to run over a period of 3 weeks.
Almost 2.000 children from every primary school in Torfaen and every secondary school in Monmouthshire are going to take part in the fun and learning.
For those of you who are interested in learning more, visit Countryside Code’s website.

Remembered Landscapes

Digital Storytelling Workshops

The local people of Blaenavon had the chance to leave their mark on the history of the area in a workshop hosted at the World Heritage Centre. The focus and end result of the workshop was a personal story from each individual presented as a short audio recording accompanied by still images. Part of the workshop was also introducing the participants to the basics of computer operating systems, audio recording and photography.

The locals were encouraged to tell a story from their life in Blaenavon with subjects ranging from landscape sites to notable family members and bustling streets. The important thing was the personal narrative and the focus on emotions and memories rather than facts and figures.

Chris Morgan from the University of Glamorgan guided the group through exercises and games to trigger their memory while providing guidance on the technical side of things.

The workshop was part of a wider effort launched by the Welsh Government, called "Communities 2.0". The programme aims to lift people out "digital exclusion" and help them to enjoy the benefits of increased use of digital platforms such as mobile phones, computers and the internet.

The stories will soon be available for everyone to enjoy on our website.