Community Archaeology Project Success

The first Forgotten Landscapes Community Archaeology course has just been completed. A committed bunch of enthusiasts learnt how to survey and record archaeological sites in the World Heritage Site with a focus on Hill's Pit chimney and cottages and the Pwll Du Tunnel southern entrance. Find out what they discovered in the new year when an exhibition of their work will be on show at Blaenavon World Heriatge Centre, and on February 26th when the group will lead a guided walk  to explore local archaeological sites.

Forgotten Landscapes Project on BBC Wales

PC Rob Maddocks has spoken to BBC Wales about the challenges he faces as Landscape Crime Officer with the Forgotten Landscapes Project. In the first 8 months in the job Rob has had considerable success in tackling fly tipping, arson and off road biking problems in the World Heritage Site. To see full details of the interview please click here

JUNIOR RANGERS

 SUNDAY 17^th APRIL 2011, 10.30am – 12.30pm

© Crown copyright (2011) Visit Wales

If you love wildlife and enjoy the outdoors then the World Heritage Site Junior Rangers is the club for you. The club is open to children aged 7-11 years old. We meet once a month for a range of environmental activities. During 2011 we will be learning bushcraft skills, hunting for fossils, tracking wildlife, pond dipping and helping out with practical conservation tasks.

Our open day is the perfect opportunity to try out some of the activities on offer and find out how to become a member. Meet at Big Pit for a morning of wildlife related activities. The morning is free with no booking necessary. For more information please contact Blaenavon World Heritage Centre, 01495 742333.

Children must be accompanied by an adult on this open day.

LEARNING LANDSCAPES OPEN DAY

BLAENAVON WORLD HERITAGE CENTRE

SATURDAY 2^nd APRIL 2011, 9am – 5pm

If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about the history, wildlife or geology of the area then this is your chance. Come along to Blaenavon World Heritage Centre to find out more about the brand new community learning courses on offer through the University of Wales Newport and Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust.

The Learning Landscapes Open Day will include a series of informal talks, walks and workshops. Tutors will be available at the Blaenavon World Heritage Centre all day to discuss the exciting new learning opportunities available.

Walks

Our walks programme kicks off at 9am with Blaenavon Town Tour: ‘Through the eyes of Lewis Browning’ a nineteenth century resident of the town.

From 10am - 12 noon  discover the Hidden Archaeology of the World Heritage Site on a walk with an archaeologist.

Finally from 2 - 4pm tutors from University of Wales Newport will introduce you to the Wildlife of the World Heritage Site.

Talks

Alongside the guided walks programme there will also be talks on Geology and Ecology (starting at 10am) and Local History (2pm)

All activities are Free with no booking necessary. For more information please go to www.visitblaenavon.co.uk or contact Blaenavon World Heritage Centre, telephone 01495 742333

Reedbed Update

Following on from the previous post I can now report that we're one step closer to creation of  a new reedbed in the Forgotten Landscapes area. Over 2 days (Friday 4th and Saturday 5th March) a team of volunteers and staff planted around 11,000 reed seedlings in the first phase of planting at the site - a further 13,000 reeds will be added in the summer. As the reedbed matures it is hoped that it will provide a rich habitat and encourage new wildlife to the area.

A good time was had by all - regardless of the mud! Here's what some of the volunteers had to say:

“I would recommend it to anyone, it is brilliant being able to see that you are making a difference – it is very rewarding.” (Rob Gillard)

“I feel quite privileged to have been able to help put something back into such a lovely area.” (Audrey Woodrow)

Projects such as this one can only be achived thanks to the suppport of volunteers. If you want to find out more about future volunteering  opportunities  please contact Sarah Lewis 01495 742335 or sarah.lewis@torfaen.gov.uk

Reedbed Creation

 Work has now started on the creation of a new 2 hectare reedbed site within Garn Lakes Local Nature Reserve. Reedbed habitat is both locally and nationally scarce, however it is amongst the most important habitats for birds in the UK and also provides a home for a range of other wildlife. It is hoped that this exciting project will encourage more wildlife to make its home in the World Heritage Site.

So far machinery has been used to  prepare the site for planting and to create ditches and ponds. The next stage involves staff and volunteers and donning their wellies to plant 11,000 reeds at the site. This is only stage 1 – a further 13,000 reeds will be planted in the summer to complete the job. For more information on this and other volunteering opportunities please contact Volunteer Co-ordinator Sarah Lewis on 01495 742335 or sarah.lewis@torfaen.gov.uk.

Routes & Roots Festival

Thank you to everyone who attended Wednesday's Routes and Roots Festival meeting in Gilwern. The Festival, planned to take place May 15th - July 3rd 2011, aims to celebrate the shared heritage of the villages of Gilwern, Govilon and Llanfoist, which are connected by the canal. While at the same time promoting recreation on the historic routes of the area which now act as a network of footpaths and cycleways.


The evening meeting at Gilwen brought together representatives from interested groups to develop event ideas for the programme. Thanks to the input of all who attended an exciting range of events are being planned ranging from wildlife watches and geology walks to cycling and boating activities to a school jamboree. The established 'In the pink' charity walk and Llanfoist Open Gardens will also form part of the festival programme.

For more information on the festival please visit http://www.forgottenlandscapes.org.uk/, or contact ceri.cadwallader@torfaen.gov.uk.

Launch of Educational Resources

11 primary teachers attended the recent launch the brand new educational resource pack produced by the Fourteen Locks Canal Centre, in conjunction with the Forgotten Landscapes Project and Keep Wales Tidy. The pack consists of lesson plans, worksheets, presentations and supporting material for 12 lessons. The activities cover the history of Blaenavon World Heritage Site in the 19th century and its connection with the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. The full resource will be available to all teachers soon via the National Grid for Learning website. More information to follow!

Winter Grouse Surveys

Commons Officer Alvin Nicholas has been working with a local ecologist and a dog handler to carry out Red Grouse surveys in the Forgotten Landscapes area. The aim is to monitor the population of grouse, establishing their range and population size. The specially trained dogs (pointers) are used to identify the location of birds, and can be used to flush them out into the open on command. During the latest survey, on part of the Coity Mountain, 9 grouse were recorded. Previous surveys suggest that the total population of the site consists of up to 60 individuals.

If you have seen Red Grouse in the Forgotten Landscapes area please report your sighting to Alvin Nicholas (alvin.nicholas@torfaen.gov.uk), stating the number of individuals, date, time and location of the sighting.