Walk in woods for inquiry team
AN inquiry into woodlands and forestry in Wales has held an evidence session in Maesteg.
The Welsh Assembly’s climate change, environment and rural affairs committee sat in the old library, in the ironworks part of Maesteg Recreation Centre.
Afterwards committee members took an in-depth tour of the new Spirit of Llynfi Woodland, which is on the site of the former Coegnant Colliery, with staff from Natural Resources Wales and volunteers.
Committee member and Ogmore AM Huw Irranca-Davies said: “Our committee tries to get out of Cardiff Bay to take evi- dence whenever we can to see first-hand some of the best examples of work which is relevant to our inquiry.
“So visiting the Spirit of Llynfi Woodland was top of our list. Holding our inquiry session in a part of the historic Llynfi Ironworks at Maesteg Sports Centre was a real bonus and the committee was hugely impressed by the grandeur of the converted building.”
The committee spent time with volunteers and organisers of the Spirit of Llynfi Woodland. They also visited the iconic Keeper of the Collieries statue which keeps watch over the valleys from its high vantage point.
They heard how the community has been involved in every stage of the woodland’s design and evolution, and also in the maintenance and further development of the site with jogging circuits, dog trails and interpretation boards.
The use of “social prescribing” by GPs to promote improvements in health through walking and cycling in the woodland, and the involvement of schools and others in planting community woodland and fruit orchards was also explained to the committee members.
Huw said: “I want to thank all those who contributed to and participated in our committee visit. I am always immensely proud of our valley and our communities, and I know that committee members and officials were deeply impressed by what they saw on their visit.
“They spoke with many people as we walked through the Spirit of Llynfi woodland who loved making use of this green space, some of whom were venturing up there for the first time, and that was the best testament to the success of this exciting long-term project.”