Written by John Roberts
Our National Landscape has been successful in securing substantial funding direct from central government for several key schemes. Current progress was reported to a recent Partnership Board meeting by Project Manager, Caroline Dawson – and what a tale she had to tell! Her first task was to relate the success of the recent flood alleviation scheme at Loggerheads – and many of you will have seen the repaired bridge and attractive new reinforcing walls which have greatly improved the site’s resilience. Caroline was quick to point out that there would always be a vulnerability to exceptional weather events because of the location, but the annual task of mopping up would be very much reduced! A new yew hedge and a heritage community orchard have been planted too – and Caroline praised the efforts of the local contractors, MWT, who had to work in some incredibly challenging and wet conditions through the autumn months.
The excitement at Loggerheads is by no means over. A second phase of work will entail the improvement of the café and visitor centre buildings on site, along with the introduction of energy saving solar panelling. There will be positive changes to the entrance and seating facilities, with an emphasis on improving interactive and educational possibilities. The total budget for the work at Loggerheads is £1.4 million. This is a site that’s been a huge draw for visitors ever since it was established as a tea garden by Crosville Motors in the 1930’s. Getting on for a century later, it’s great to see this level of new investment to help secure the site’s future.
There was much more to come. Currently awaiting planning permission is a new visitor hub at Bwlch Pen Barras – at the start of one of the main routes up Moel Famau. The building, which will blend into the hillside where the Shepherd’s Hut currently locates and will be made up of a grab and go facility, ranger and volunteer station and toilets The Ranger team has praised the difference it makes to visitor interaction and behaviour when there is a presence on site. To have a permanent presence is something that’s being viewed very positively. We look forward to early progress with this most interesting development. Again, Bwlch Pen Barras – often previously known as the Iron Gate – has always been a focus for those wanting to enjoy the best our national landscape has to offer. This development will certainly keep it that way!
There have also been significant developments in the Dee Valley from the same funding stream, which David Shiel explained to the meeting. Of particular interest has been the link path at Wenffrwd, connecting the park to the canal and providing a great circular walk to and from Llangollen. Other improvements have included better parking and visitor management at Horseshoe Falls and enhancement work at the Dell, Plas Newydd. This latter work has now given access to a long-forgotten weaver’s cottage and raised the possibility of further exploratory work there. More on that, no doubt, in a future edition!
Very well done to all concerned.
Prosiectau dan Nawdd Llywodraeth y DU yn ein Tirwedd Cenedlaethol
Cyfieithiad o erthygl gan John Roberts
Mae ein Tirwedd Cenedlaethol wedi llwyddo i gael cyllid yn uniongyrchol gan y llywodraeth ganolog ar gyfer sawl cynllun allweddol. Mae’r cynnydd hyd yma wedi’i adrodd i’r Bwrdd Partneriaeth gan Swyddog Prosiect, Caroline Dawson – ac am stori sydd ganddi hi! Ei thasg gyntaf oedd adrodd ar lwyddiant y cynllun lliniaru llifogydd yn Loggerheads – a bydd llawer ohonoch chi wedi gweld y bont wedi’i thrwsio a’r waliau cadarn newydd sy’n gwella cadernid y safle. Dywedodd Caroline y bydd y safle, oherwydd natur y lleoliad, wastad yn agored i dywydd eithafol, ond fod y dasg flynyddol o lanhau bellach yn atgof. Mae gwrych yw a pherllan gymunedol hefyd wedi’u plannu – a chanmolodd Caroline ymdrechion y contractwyr a fu’n gweithio dan amodau heriol iawn a thywydd gaeafol gwlyb ar adegau.
Ond dydi’r cyffro yn Loggerheads ddim ar ben. Bydd ail gam y gwaith yn cynnwys gwella’r prif adeiladau ar y safle, gyda phaneli solar arbed ynni a gwelliannau gweledol yn rhan ganolog o’r cynlluniau. Bydd canopi gwydr yn darparu ffocws diddorol. Mi fydd yna hefyd newidiadau cadarnhaol i’r fynedfa a’r cyfleusterau eistedd, gyda phwyslais ar wella posibiliadau rhyngweithiol ac addysgiadol. Mae cyfanswm y gyllideb ar gyfer y gwaith yn Loggerheads yn £1.4 miliwn. Mae hwn yn safle sydd wedi denu ymwelwyr ers ei sefydlu fel gardd de gan Crosville Motors yn y 1930au. Bron i ganrif yn ddiweddarach ac mae’n braf gweld y buddsoddiad newydd yma i helpu i ddiogelu dyfodol y safle.
Ac mae mwy i ddod! Mae Ceidwaid y Tirwedd Cenedlaethol yn aros i glywed a ydyn nhw wedi cael caniatâd cynllunio i godi canolfan newydd ym Mwlch Pen Barras – ar ddechrau un o’r prif lwybrau i fyny Moel Famau. Bydd yr adeilad, a fydd yn ymdoddi’n dda i’r bryn lle mae’r cwt bugail ar hyn o bryd, yn cynnwys gwybodaeth, lluniaeth a thoiledau hygyrch. Pan ddefnyddir y cwt bugail mae’r ceidwaid yn canmol y ffordd mae hynny’n gwneud gwahaniaeth i ymddygiad ac ymgysylltiad ymwelwyr â’r ardal. Byddai cael presenoldeb parhaol yn rhywbeth cadarnhaol iawn. Rydym ni’n edrych ymlaen at y datblygiad cyffrous yma. Mae Bwlch Pen Barras wedi bod yn ganolbwynt i bobl sydd eisiau mwynhau’r tirwedd cenedlaethol sydd gennym. Bydd y datblygiad hwn yn cadw pethau felly.
Mae datblygiadau arwyddocaol yn Nyffryn Dyfrdwy hefyd, diolch i’r un ffynhonnell ariannol, a bu David Shiel yn egluro’r newidiadau yn y cyfarfod. Yr hyn sydd o ddiddordeb mawr ydi’r llwybr cysylltu yn Gwenffrwd, sy’n cysylltu’r parc efo’r gamlas ac sy’n creu cylchdro i ac o Langollen. Mae’r gwelliannau eraill yn cynnwys gwella parcio a mesurau rheoli ymwelwyr yn Rhaeadr y Bedol, a gwelliannau yn y Glyn, Plas Newydd. Mae’r gwaith ym Mhlas Newydd wedi creu mynediad at hen fwthyn gwehydd ac mae rhagor o bosibiliadau yno. Bydd mwy am hynny mewn rhifyn arall!
Da iawn bawb.