Volunteer Rangers update and NEW opportunity to help!

FLP is now looking for ‘Landscape Ambassadors’ - friendly volunteers to welcome visitors at various locations over the summer and get some feedback on their experience.  All you need is one or two days to spare over the summer and to be enthusiastic about the stunning Blaenavon World Heritage Site (BWHS) landscape with it’s important wildlife and heritage features.  A workshop for anyone interested will be held on Friday 22^nd June 10am -12.30pm at the Blaenavon World Heritage Centre and will include lunch.  Please book by calling 01495 742335.

The BWHS Volunteer Rangers group continues to grow steadily and four teams now support FLP’s work.  The practical conservation team have worked tirelessly to help install signage for 10 heritage trails over the winter and assisted with controlled burning for heather moorland management.  The dry stone walling team now has qualified volunteers carrying out regular wall repairs and new recruits are preparing for an assessment later this year.  An active team is now monitoring wildlife regularly and others are running activities for the Junior Rangers Club, such as fossil hunts and bird box making.  To date the gift of time from the BWHS Volunteer Rangers totals a staggering 3365 hours! 

For information about all volunteering opportunities go to www.visitblaenavon.co.uk, call 01495 742333 or email: sarah.lewis@torfaen.gov.uk.

New Heritage Trails for Autumn 2012

Over the last 12 months Forgotten Landscapes, working with Torfaen Council and the Brecon Beacons National Park, has upgraded 64 km of footpath to create 10 new heritage trails.  Each is named to reflect an aspect of the area’s globally important heritage.  ‘Forging History’ tells the story of the long lost forge at Garn Ddyrys which used to employ over 300 people; ‘Spoil to Spectacular’ explains why industrial spoil is important as a historic landscape feature and how nature is slowly recolonizing these previously bare and hostile features; ‘Heather and Heritage’ explains how the common land was traditionally managed and what is needed to bring it back into good condition for farming and wildlife such as the red grouse: Human Endeavours looks at the industrial archaeology and includes treasures such as Pwll Du tunnel, the Engine Brake Wheel and Hill’s Pit chimney to name a few.

Each trail has been designed to be as family friendly as possible and takes no more than 1.5 hours to complete – unless you stop for a picnic or a drink at a wayside pub…!

Later this year we will be holding an event to promote these new trails.  If you, or your group, would like to help us test them beforehand please contact the Forgotten Landscapes Volunteer Coordinator on 01495 742333 or email sarah.lewis@torfaen.gov.uk

Heritage Summer School - One day to go!

Our heritage summer school starts tomorrow with a guided walk of the town led by local Green Badge guide Eifion Davies. The walk starts from Blaenavon World Heritage Centre at 10am. Following join Frank Olding and John Van Laun to dicover industrial archaeology in the uplands - departing from Blaenavon Ironworks at 12.30pm.

There will be a range of events taking place all week. For the full programme see our website  http://www.visitblaenavon.co.uk/en/ForgottenLandscapes/Learning/Heritage-Summer-School.aspx

Heritage Summer School

Tuesday 22nd May - Friday 25th May 2012

Join us for a week of walks, talks and workshops at Blaenavon World Heritage Centre.

• Discover life in the Iron Age with Prof Ray Howells
• Join archaeologist Frank Olding and historian and author John Van Laun on a walk through the Industrial Landscape
• Meet staff from the internationally renowned Univeristy of Wales Newport School of Photography
• Learn how to complete a habitat survey with our own Commons Officer, Alvin Nicholas.

The full programme is now available on our website. Places are limited - phone 01495 742333 or email blaenavon.tic@torfaen.gov.uk to book.

Dragon's Teeth

The Forgotten Landscape micro hydro system 'the Dragon's Teeth' in Blaenaon is now up and running.  It is producing 'green' electricity and earning income through the feed in tariff scheme.  We will be leading a walk on 24th May at 7.00pm.  If you would like to come along to learn more about how a similar system may benefit you or your community group / business please book a place by contacting the World Heritage Centre on 01495 74333 or email: blaenavon.tic@torfaen.gov.uk

We are also hoping to raise some additional money to conduct a feasibility study which will identify additional sites.  Collectively these could generate enough income to really help conserve the globally important heritage landscape.