DULAIS VALLEY PARTNERSHIP (DVP)

The Countryside Council for Wales is the Government's statutory advisor on sustaining natural beauty, wildlife and the opportunity for outdoor enjoyment in Wales and its inshore waters.   As part of the Dulais Valley Enhancement Scheme the DVP secured money from CCW to improve accessibility to paths and bridleways, improve signage to communities and to improve unsightly areas.  The project took place between 2007 and 2010.  The following highlights some of the projects that took place.
Millennium Garden, Seven Sisters This project engaged local volunteers from Care 4U a residential care home for young adults with acquired brain injuries, Neath Port Talbot Youth Offending Team and Sandfields Special Needs School in Port Talbot – through Neath Port Talbot CVS and Dulais Valley Gardening Services.    Refurbishment of the raised beds required strengthening to the sides and a lot of weeding before we could plant perennials.  In addition planting was done around the perimeter of the garden using Bluebells, daffodils and snow drops with planting of wood anemones which were native to the area.   The class from Sandfields has arranged to come up in spring to work with our Gardening Service and carry out some maintenance and see how the plants have grown.  We will also be looking at further planting with them.    The Youth offending Team have been encouraged to further develop links with our projects and will continue to be offered opportunities for there young people to be engaged in community work gaining experience and skills that would otherwise been passed over.   This was the first time we have engaged with a local care home and it has been a wonderful learning experience for both parties and we are looking at how we can develop this in the future.
Sarn Helen Waymarkers There has been a long standing issue with replacement of original way markers which were stolen and we had to look at a more robust method for erection.  Our steering group came up with the idea based on a trig point with the way marker inserted (as can be seen in the photos).  We could only accommodate 2 volunteers due to the limited space in the vehicle required to access the isolated rural sites, however those involved participated in the whole process of making moulds and erecting them on site.  We have had excellent feedback from walkers, group members and those who volunteered and will be using this as baseline information for our future “Roots 4 Routes” project.  This will now enable walkers and visitors to appreciate the cultural heritage of the valley along a safe signed route.
Fossil trees In 2000 a set of very well-preserved 300-million-year-old carboniferous tree fossils were discovered at the Darrel Open Cast Mine in Nant-y-Cafn, with fragments of more than 40 trees and bushes being revealed.   The forgotten forest was laid down at a time when the area was tropical swampland which gradually silted over.  Before the fossils were removed a cast was taken.  The cast is from a Lepidodendron, which would have looked like a gigantic fern.  The original specimens of fossil trees can be seen at the National Botanical Gardens of Wales near Carmarthen.   The cast has been set outside the DVP offices.
Schools Green Spaces This saw the 4 primary schools of the valley participate, even though not all schools had green spaces within their grounds.  The project was a resounding success involving 394 children, 28 teachers, and 23 volunteers. Blaendulais Primary School  The children built a green gym that further enhanced their environmental developments within the school.  It is now being used daily as part of the health programme in targeting child obesity, healthy eating and innovative play. Ysgol Gymraeg Blaendulais Although initially hampered by the fact that all school grounds were tarmac, the children managed to create areas designated as relaxing and stress free by placing recycled furniture with planters in and around the school.  This also enables the children to understand the growing cycle of plants and there benefit to the environment and increasing bio diversity (species and habitat) for wildlife in the area. Maesmarchog Primary School The children were already planning the development of green spaces within the ground, again all tarmac, developing raised bed areas that would complement and engage children in healthy eating by growing own produce, which it is hoped would encourage parents to do like wise.  In addition this gave them an opportunity to create a sensory garden for the special needs unit that they will plant and nurture for all to appreciate. Creunant School Pupils of Creunant Primary School helped to plant a new wildlife sensory garden.  The garden is the children’s very own ‘chill-out’ zone, offering a calm and tranquil space to relax during a busy school day.  Pupils are also using it to study life cycles and animal behaviour close-up.      A camera, which links to the school’s computers, has been installed in one of the garden’s bird boxes.   Stuart Douglas, Dulais Valley Partnership Manager, said: “The school garden project was the first step in getting people involved with the scheme. It was impressive to see the knowledge and understanding the children had of protecting the environment and the positive effect this could have on future generations.”   Helen Howells, Countryside Officer for the Countryside Council for Wales, said: “The scheme has received great support from the local community, especially from the pupils and teachers of Creunant Primary School. The garden project has given the pupils the opportunity to learn about and appreciate the many benefits of maintaining and enhancing their own local greenspace.
Free work in the community As match funding towards the project, the Dulais Valley Gardening Services provided one free day of labour for every paid day.