News
Rediscovering the lost forest
WORK has commenced on an exciting new woodland project which is set to become a valuable resource for Llyn.
Oriel Plas Glyn y Weddw purchased the adjoining woodland on the slopes of Mynydd Tir y Cwmwd back in 2008 and the first phase of a comprehensive programme of projects which includes re-opening a network of walking trails has started.
Contractors are clearing the area, which comprises of around 10 acres of woodland, of invasive species such as laurel and rhododendron and the old paths which have disappeared due to vegetation growth during the last 50 years are now visible once more.
The first phase of the ‘Winllan Project’ includes re opening a main path through the woodland and joining it with the network of paths which exists on the headland. This path, leading from the Plas to the headland will become part of the Wales Coastal Path Iwan Hughes, the Winllan Project’s volunteers co-ordinator explained: “The aim of the project is to develop this natural resource to enable both the local community and visitors to make the most of it.
“Another important aspect of the project is to offer the only learning forest on the Llyn Peninsula for schools.
“Other projects include re-creating a sculpture trail which used to exist during the first half of the 20th century, providing pay and display parking facilities and developing an amphitheatre for open air concerts and workshops.
“Funding has been provided by the Countryside Council for Wales for contractors to undertake the task of clearing the invasive species. The aim is to recruit volunteers to participate in various tasks such as clearing the felled branches and identifying and clearing the trails.
“The volunteers will have a central role to play throughout the duration of the project and after project work has been completed as volunteers will be needed to manage and look after the winllan.
“This is a very exciting project for the local community as well as for the gallery and developing a volunteering scheme will ensure that the local community will have an active involvement in the project.”
The winllan was part of the Plas Glyn y Weddw’s gardens until 1946 when the Solomon Andrews estate sold the mansion and between 1896 and 1946 walking trails along with a sculpture trail were part of the the gallery’s attractions. Between 1946 and 1979 as the Plas passed through several different ownership the mansion and the adjoining woodland became separated.
Due to lack of management the area was left to grow wild during the last 50 years but now as the clearance work progresses the paths are becoming visible once more.
The project has received financial assistance from the AONB SDF Fund, the Aggregate Levy Fund, Friends of Plas Glyn-y-Weddw, Cist Gwynedd, Wales Coastal Path and the Llyn Landscape Partnership.
An invitation is extended for individuals and groups to volunteer and by doing so will gather valuable experience and develop new skills.
Anyone with interest in volunteering should contact Iwan Hughes at Oriel Plas Glyn y Weddw on 01758 740 763.
October 2009 - Resluts for the Llŷn AONB Photography Competition!
On the 15th of October the awards evening for the competition was held at Plas Glyn y Weddw with Iolo Williams.
The competition has been running throughout the summer, with the competition theme asking people to capture the "Natural Beauty" of Llŷn with their photo.
200 photographs were submitted to the competition, and the hard work of judging them was undertaken by local photographer Tony Jones from Golau-Llŷn-light.com, who specialises sin taking photographs of the stunning local scenery.
The winning entries will be shown on the website soon, but in the mean time there will be an opportunity fo ryou to view the photographs at Oriel Plas Glyn y Weddw's Christmas Exhibition.