£1m funding boost for county parks
BRIDGEND Council has outlined how funding of nearly £1m will be spent across two of the county’s parks.
The Welsh Government announced the funding last week as part of its “Discovery Gateways” initiative.
In total, 11 parks and heritage sites in the South Wales Valleys will receive more than £6.6m to maximise the potential of the area’s natural and cultural assets.
In Bridgend, Bryngarw Country Park was awarded £500k, while Parc Slip Nature Reserve received £400k.
In a report which was going before BCBC’s cabinet members this week, officers said the local authority would be working closely with the Awen Cultural Trust and the Wildlife Trust to deliver the funding projects.
Within Bryngarw Country Park, the funding is proposed for new natural play equipment, a new education building for visiting schools and other groups, access improvements and the installation of solar panels on the visitor centre.
Tree-planting will also take place at the park and new ponds created.
For Parc Slip, the proposals involve planting a fruit and nut community orchard, creating a range of kitchen, herb and wildlife gardens, installing electric car and bike charging points, repairing estate furniture and improving facilities to encourage people to stay longer, organising a range of events and purchasing an electric buggy for volunteers and staff to carry out maintenance work while also helping to improve access for reduced-mobility visitors during events.
The funding will be released over a two-year period.