Blaenavon's Forgotten Landscapes partnership has submitted a bid for £2.7 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. If it is successful the partnership plan to complete a range of projects with four key aims:
1) Involve local people in decision making.
2) Conserve the globally important heritage of the heritage landscape.
3) Provide training in countryside skills and offer volunteering opportunities.
4) Help the local economy.
The last year has been spent planning and getting the views from as many people as possible. The total bid is £2,745,711 and the HLF will make a decision in October.
Activities are planned to encourage young people to get involved in the future care of the landscape. These include mountain biking safaris, wild food foraging, nature rambles, recreating stone age housing, art competitions and plays. Schools will be involved through lessons outdoors in the landscape.
A range of guided walks and courses will be offered to adults. They will also have the chance to learn skills in heritage management to help their job prospects. Conservation projects will include heather restoration, red grouse recovery and bracken control. Work will be carried out to make the commons viable for farming again. The return of Welsh Mountain Ponies and cattle will help control bracken.
Industrial features such as Pwll Ddu tunnel and the ponds above Garn yr Erw will be restored. Pedestrian access will be improved with more short walks and new guide books, leaflets and online information will be produced.
The use of renewable energy will be investigated by installing a micro hydro turbine at one of the ponds which would be expected to generate £20,000 worth of electricity a year.
Seating, signposting and toilet facilities will be improved throughout the landscape The Forgotten Landscapes project will be managed from the new Blaenafon World Heritage Centre.
A police officer will be seconded to work with the local community to help reduce fly tipping, fires, illegal off roading and other crimes.
The partnership is made up of more than 130 organisations, from the Blaenavon Women's Guild to the Welsh Assembly Government.
For more information and a full list of the organisations visit www.forgottenlandscapes.org.uk|