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BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY

Report for Year Ended 31st March 2012

by Helen Roderick, Sustainable Development Officer

PARC CENEDLAETHOL BANNAU BRYCHEINIOG

SDF Annual Report 2011/12 1

Contents

Executive Summary & Conclusion Pages 2-7

Summary of Projects by Key Area Page 7

Key Project Areas Pages 8-43

Indicators & Output Measures Page 42

Projects Awarded Grants in 2010/11 Pages 43-46

Finance Spreadsheet – grants paid Page 47

Grants Awarded & Match Funding Page 48


Sustainable Development Report for Year Ended March 31st 2012

1. Summary

Sustainable Communities and Social Inclusion have been the major focus for grant

awards in 2011/12 in line with the key objective of the Fund to build capacity in local

communities and to develop community based projects promoting sustainable

development objectives. In 2011/12 new communities have emerged with a desire to

provide their communities with communal facilities on a sustainable basis including

Ystradowen, Libanus and Hay on Wye. Other communities’ projects reached fruition

too. From Myddfai in the West to Talgarth in the East SDF has enabled regeneration

projects to achieve their dreams. By providing relatively small amounts of funding

which could then be used to develop their plans for the Village Sos competition both

were successful and now have fantastic new facilities and businesses at the heart of

their communities. An SDF investment of just over £100k has helped these two

projects to a combined investment of in excess of £1.5m. SDF continues to help

financially, but also to support and advise these projects during their infancy.

The Myddfai project is now employing 5 people on a part-time basis, with 51 local art

and craft makers receiving sales revenue or commissions from sales at the shop. In

addition there are in excess of 60 people volunteering. At the Talgarth Mill the first

year of operation has gone extremely well, with 4 part-time staff employed within the

Mill itself. At the Café there are 4 ‘main players’ and 5/6 ancillaries. The Craft shop,

which has now been leased out to Beacons Crafts, has 5 staff working on a co-

operative basis. In addition there are at least 20 active volunteers at the Mill. The next

two years will be critical for these two fledgling social enterprises.

The Sustainable Development Fund is key to the Brecon Beacons National Park

Authority’s ability to develop projects itself and to help communities to further their

ambitions in areas such as climate change mitigation, affordable housing, renewable

energy and reducing our ecological footprint, sustainable transport and social

inclusion.

Renewable Energy installation & understanding of the potential across the Park

continues to be extremely important and we have continued to support and advise

“The Green Valleys” and “Talybont on Usk Energy”. TGV (Hydro) Ltd, a wholly

owned subsidiary of The Green Valleys CIC now employs six local people full time

and one part time and are also using four local contractors for hydro installations.

They anticipate purchasing £300,000 of supplies in the local area over the coming

year. In addition the Community Interest Company itself employs 2 full time staff.

SDF has been a major supporter of The Green Valleys CIC and will continue to work

in partnership with the group.

In 2012/13 the use of a portion of the Sustainable Development Fund as a Loan

Scheme is being investigated, with the aim of a pilot taking place from April 2013.

The pilot would see the use of a 25% portion of the SDF next year for a loan scheme

to support community renewable energy.

SDF has supported “Llangattock Green Valleys” to increase its impact during

implementation of their “Green Streets” programme and the latest community

programme, the Local Energy Assessment Framework. During both these projects


renewable energy and energy efficiency measures have been installed across the

community leading to significant carbon savings, placing the village in a position to

realise their ambition to become carbon neutral by 2015.

21 applications to the SDF were successful during 2011/12, with total grants of

£158,456 awarded. These 21 applications have brought in match funding of

£645,556. This represents a match funding ratio of 4.1:1.

In 2011/12 grants paid out amounted to £173,402 to 24 projects, with some of these

projects awarded grants for this year’s cash in prior years.

Projects supported during 2011/12 have delivered in the following areas:-

Climate Change & Carbon Reduction

Sustainable Transport

Sustainable Communities & Affordable Housing

Social Inclusion

Festivals & Rural Crafts

10%

12%

54%

21%

3%

SDF Expenditure by Type 2011/12Climate Change & CarbonReduction

Sustainable Transport

Sustainable Communities &Affordable Housing

Social Inclusion


Individual projects combine elements of social, economic, environmental and cultural

progress in various proportions. Details of projects included under each category are

contained in the full report.

This grant fund and the support and guidance provided by the SDF Officers are often

the catalyst which makes these projects possible. Without the SDF many, including

The Green Valleys, the Crickhowell Resource & Information Centre and the Eco-

Travel network, would not have got off the ground or would have folded. The focus

for the fund going forward will be to continue to support projects which find

innovative solutions which ensure sustainable development and enhancement of the

community for all, while protecting the countryside in which we live. Our priority is

to support projects which best demonstrate economic, social, environmental and

cultural integration. This focus is in line with the Welsh Government’s Strategic

Grant Letter for 2012/13.

In 2011 SDF became the pilot study for the Scrutiny Review process across the

Brecon Beacons and Pembrokeshire Coast National Parks. The outcomes from the

report were positive and SDF is seen as an excellent scheme. However the report

recognised that SDF could be “more influential in implementing the government’s

sustainability agenda” and that the two National Parks needed to approach the Welsh


Government to ensure maximum visibility of the scheme. Subsequently John Griffiths

AM announced continued support for SDF over the coming two years.

Monitoring and evaluation visits assess the success of projects and extract the learning

points from each to form ‘best practice’ knowledge. Two events were organised early

in May 2011 as part of Wales Sustainability Week to improve networking between

individuals, communities and groups and to stimulate knowledge transfer and joint

working. These were titled “Sustainable Tourism in the Community” and

“Sustainable Living”. The Sustainable Tourism workshop led to a commitment from

the communities of Myddfai, Llandovery and Brynaman in the West to work on a

joined-up approach to Tourism in the area, while Sustainable Living successes are

being replicated through a project developed by The Green Valleys as a result of this

workshop.

Mitigating & adapting to climate change, sustainable transport and social inclusion

will continue to provide next years’ challenges and we will be looking for new

innovative projects which can help to address these issues. Regenerating life within

our rural communities and improving the wellbeing of those living in the Park will

continue to be an area of focus over the coming twelve months.

And for 2012/13

The Eco-Travel Network

One exciting project for 2012/13 only made possible thanks to SDF is the Eco-Travel

Network. Eco Travel Network Ltd (ETN) is a not-for-profit company which owns and

insures a fleet of lightweight electric vehicles for self-drive hire. Tourist businesses

can become members of the ETN and lease a vehicle (on either a long term or shorter

term basis) to rent out to their visiting customers as an alternative to using their cars.

The businesses keep the revenue from the visitor rental. It is difficult for tourist

businesses to obtain self-drive hire insurance for an individual vehicle. The ETN

overcomes that problem for them. The aims of the ETN are as follows:

1. To enable visitors and residents of the Brecon Beacons National Park to travel

around in lightweight, low energy vehicles which are fun to drive and use so

little electricity that they can be powered by local solar, hydro and wind

installations which abound in Powys.

2. To promote low carbon, cheap alternatives to the car for short rural journeys.

3. To grow an electric vehicle rental and charging network across the National

Park based on existing tourist businesses.

4. To attract more visitors to the Brecon Beacons as an eco-tourism destination.

Eco Travel Network Ltd has 3 founding Directors: Ian Foster of Westview

Guesthouse and Alison Kidd and Peter Williams of The Prospectory. They bring an

eclectic mix of expertise in electric vehicles, tourism business, design and consumer

psychology. The ETN is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Green Valleys CIC and its

start up costs were 50% funded by a grant from the Sustainable Development Fund.

http://www.ecotravelnetwork.co.uk/

http://www.westviewguesthouse.com/

http://www.westviewguesthouse.com/

http://theprospectory.com/



The Woollen Line is an art project researching whether wool can be used to

regenerate fire damaged uplands in the Black Mountains area of the Brecon Beacons

National Park. (see front cover picture)

As the project leader Pip Woolf says, “I cannot remember when I first became aware

of peat as a material that stores energy; I know from gardeners that it has wonderful

water retaining properties, also that, in some areas, it is cut and burnt for fuel. What I

did not know is that where peat occurs in areas of upland Britain it is carrying out

both these functions on a massive scale, storing carbon and water naturally, so that

where it is exposed and being eroded this quiet but essential function is being

catastrophically lost. I have long understood that peat is slow to form and fast to use.

During the hot summer of 1976, in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park,

fires destroyed an area of blanket bog opposite the ‘Dragon’s Back’. The loss of bog

vegetation left a raw, black, wound on this unique landscape . As an artist who has

worked with wool in the past it occurred to me that wool might offer a healing

comfort for the damaged landscape. As an artist the whiteness of wool and the

blackness of peat caught my imagination. What if one could be used to help the other

and return the mountain to green?” Initially a woollen line of felted wool was laid

across the scar. The current project is laying more lines & taking woollen sausages up

onto the mountain to place into erosion channels to slow the run-off of the water. You

can follow the project’s progress on http://woollenline.wordpress.com/a-woollen-line/

2. Administration of the Fund

Support and Flexibility - applicants not only have the support of dedicated Grants and

Community Development staff, they can call on the extraordinary and unique range of

skills and expertise of all Park Authority specialists for advice – covering planning,

ecology, the Warden service, tourism, biodiversity and much more. Grants Advisory

Panel Members also offer suggestions, constructive criticism and practical support.

This direct access to guidance of all kinds is extremely helpful to applicants.

The service is also a flexible one - the process of applying for grant

aid and project development is a real dialogue. If a project does not initially appear to

meet programme criteria, guidance is offered on improving sustainability, developing

partnerships and community involvement – this is the only way that real change can

be brought about. If a project needs to be amended or if problems are encountered

following allocation of grant aid, the dialogue continues, with both Park and project

representatives working together to find solutions. Where criteria cannot be met the

officers help with signposting projects to other sources of funds and help.

Applicants know precisely when grant aid decisions will be made and outcomes are

communicated within one week of the Panel having made a decision. This compares

very favourably with many other grants programmes. The excellent administration of

the scheme has been evidenced recently during a “Scrutiny Review” of SDF by a joint

members’ panel from the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority and the

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority. The BBNPA SDF scored 1.2 on a

score rating of 1 to 5 where the lower the score the better the administration.

Grants Advisory & Members’ Panel - the Panel is one of the great success stories of

the SDF programme. Representatives of up to twenty specialists and community

representatives have been managing the scheme in partnership with the Park

http://woollenline.wordpress.com/a-woollen-line/


Authority since June 2000, and have shown outstanding commitment and dedication -

working together to ensure its success. Attendance is good and members bring all

their skills and knowledge to considering applications submitted – offering advice and

practical help. Members of the panel state frequently that they have learned from

their involvement and greatly enjoy being able to contribute to such a range of

practical and exciting projects.

3. Conclusion – SDF makes a significant contribution

Applicants find the Sustainable Development Fund process an easy one to follow, it is

quick and officers are readily available and willing to help. The fund is essential for

projects within the National Park and many projects delivered on the minister’s

priorities as set out in the Strategic Grant Letter for 2011-2012.

a) Climate Change – SDF supported projects this year include Talgarth Mill,

Llangattock Green Valleys Cic and the many aspects of its Green Streets and

LEAF projects.

b) Sustainable Transport – the Sustainable Visitor Transport Initiative, whose

support by SDF was essential to the scheme, has been working to increase

Sustainable Transport as required by the Brecon Beacons Sustainable Tourism

Strategy in 2006 and the CCW report “Sustainable Visitor Transport in the

Welsh National Parks”. This partnership project between BBNPA and the

Unitary Authorities across the Park is driven by the Sustainable Tourism

Officer within the Park Authority. Record income was achieved on Beacons

Bus and a new travel information website was launched during the year.

www.travelbreconbeacons.info . On a smaller scale the Towy Valley cycles

project emphasised the use of bicycles as a mode of transport and educated on

cycle maintenance. In 2010/11 SDF supported a project “Researching Visitor

Travel in the Brecon Beacons National Park”. In 2011/12 this led to the “B-

Bug” trial funded by the Hay on Earth Dragon’s Den competition run by the

Welsh Government. In 2012 support and advice have continued and SDF has

now in 2012/13 supported the creation of the eco-travel network. Without

SDF this project would not be happening. www.ecotravelnetwork.co.uk

c) Affordable Housing - The Rural Housing Enabler is a project which has been

supported over the years by SDF and is key to gaining community support for

affordable housing developments across the Park. In 2011/12 land was

purchased in Bwlch, a site which will develop 8 affordable homes.

d) Sustainable Development – The Brecon Beacons National Park Sustainable

Development Fund has been key to hugely important community projects

across the Park. From Crickhowell (Crickhowell Resource & Information

Centre) in the East to Brynaman (Black Mountain Centre) in the West,

community facilities funded early in the new millennium now go from

strength to strength and are the focal point in their area.

e) Social Inclusion remains a high priority for SDF. Key recycling projects

supported this year include L’Arche Rebound books and Ystradgynlais

furniture recycling scheme, both projects which enable the disadvantaged in

society to participate & contribute. Green Fire II and Take Part are both arts

based projects which look to include difficult to reach groups in their work.

http://www.travelbreconbeacons.info/



The Sustainable Development Fund is a useful tool in the Sustainable Wales

Vision and provides an invaluable catalyst within the Brecon Beacons

National Park. The progress made in communities such as Myddfai,

Talgarth and Llangattock during 2011/12 are leading examples of what can

be achieved. At Myddfai a £70,000 SDF investment is part of a sustainable

solution for that community which has seen a total investment of just short of

£1 million. Likewise at Talgarth early intervention & assistance of initially

£5,000 (total £46,000) enabled the town to compete & win the Village Sos

funding for the Mill site.

In addition the SDF and BBNPA will continue to support The Green Valleys

to expand its projects across the Park to ensure replication of successful

projects.

4. Projects Receiving Grants or Awarded Grants during 2011/12

Projects have been categorised based on the strongest element of each scheme,

although many projects contribute to one or more key strategies in Wales.

Climate

Change &

Carbon

Reduction

Sustainable

Transport

Sustainable Communities

& Affordable Housing

Social

Inclusion

Festivals & Rural

Crafts

Llangattock

Green Valleys –

LEAF Project

Sustainable

Visitor

Transport

Initiative

Myddfai “Made in a Great

Tradition”

Earning &

Learning Take

Part

Wild Garlic Festival

Llangattock

Woodland

Group –

Woodland/Volu

nteer Manager

Towy Valley

Cycles

Talgarth Mill Hydro

Scheme

Green Fire –

Arts Alive

Hay on Wye Food

Festival

The Green

Valleys – Green

Catalyst

Rural Housing Enabler L’Arche –

Rebound Books

Community

Marquee

Replacement

Change,

Climate,

Landscape, Me

Black Mountain Centre

Tourist Information Point

A greener

future –

furniture

recycling in

Ystradgynlais

Big Skill

Canolfan Gymunedol

Ystradowen Community

Centre

Start in the Park

– Brecon &

District Contact

Association

Reducing the

barriers to

micro-

generation in

Monmouthshire

Community Access to Hay

Castle

Y Gegin Fach

You are Welcome at

Libanus


Climate Change & Carbon Reduction

Further developments have taken place in 2011/12 in communities across the Brecon

Beacons National Park aimed at reducing our carbon footprint and encouraging a

vibrant local economy with the protection of the environment for future generations to

enjoy at its forefront.

One of the communities to emerge strongly from The Green Valleys process has been

the village of Llangattock, near Crickhowell which has embraced the principles of

sustainability whole heartedly, setting up five work streams including local food, the

generation of sustainable energy, lifestyle, woodlands and sustainable transport.

Llangattock Green Valleys (LGV) Cic

Llangattock Green Valleys began as a group of locals keen to find ways to save

energy (and money!) by reducing personal and the community's carbon footprint.

Many of its members are interested in alternative ‘renewable' technologies such as

solar, wind and water power, woodfuel and biodiesel. But they are also keen to do as

much as they can to make their homes and community buildings cheaper to run and

more energy efficient.

The vision of LGV is to

Make Llangattock a carbon negative community by 2015

Build a community asset base that supports sustainable development

Involve the whole community and develop a sense of place and wellbeing

Inspire stakeholders to promote a culture of ‘walking together’

Local Energy Assessment Fund (LEAF) Project: January – April 2012

Following on from the success of winning the British Gas Green Streets competition

which enabled a range of energy efficiency and generation measures to be installed in

Llangattock properties in 2010/11 LGV applied to the Department of Energy &

Climate Change (DECC) Local Energy Assessment Fund (LEAF) in December 2011.

January 2012 saw LGV receive the news that it had been successful in securing a

grant of £108,000 from the LEAF grant fund and the organisation set about deploying

its plan to introduce further energy efficiency and generation measures into

Llangattock in earnest. SDF match funded this with a grant of £10,000.

The project had two distinct recipients of measures, residential and community

buildings.

Residential

LGV set out to reach as many residential properties within Llangattock installing the

following measures into the participating properties:

Voltage optimisation

Loft & cavity wall insulation

Energy monitors

Heat reflecting radiators panels

Following a marketing campaign that included leaflets drops, posters, press articles

and a public meeting 123 properties participated in the residential element of the

project which was above the target of 100 properties. With the over subscription came

the decision to deliver into all the properties given the motivation shown by the


properties in putting themselves forward for the project. Given the budgetary

constraints, LGV came to the decision not to deliver the energy monitors and the heat

reflecting radiators panels given the financial and carbon savings that both loft &

cavity wall insulation and voltage optimisation could achieve.

The installation of 123 voltage optimisation units in participating properties brought

about the ability for the householder to save up to 17% on their electricity bills,

protect their electrical appliances against electricity surges/high voltage and a

reduction in their carbon footprint on average of 581kg a year for an average sized

household.

All 123 participating properties received a survey to assess the level of insulation

present in both their loft and cavity wall (if applicable) and a number of insulations

measures were installed. Given the dynamics of the housing stock locally, there were

a significant number of solid wall properties where the installation of cavity wall

insulation is not viable. In all just four participating properties benefited from the

installation of cavity wall insulation as the majority of properties involved with the

project where there was a cavity present had already insulated the cavity with the

remaining properties being of solid wall construction.

Loft insulation was installed across a range of participating properties, with 48

installations in total seeing their loft insulation brought up to the recommended

standard of 270mm. Where the loft insulation was found to be below 60mm in depth

funding was utilised through CERTs.

On an average sized house where the loft insulation was increased from 100mm to

270mm, this will save the participating property £25 a year on their heating bills (gas

centrally heated property, 3 bed semi) and save 110kg in CO2 emissions.

Given the level of solid wall properties that were found to be present in the

community, LGV brought about an external wall insulation demonstration project.

The installation of this measure was installed on an early 18th

century three bedroom

detached cottage located on the Brecon & Monmouthshire canal in the community.

Given that the property was listed, careful consideration was given to the installation

of such a measure which resulted in the back, one gable end and the extension of the

property having the external wall insulation installed. The front of the property and

remaining gable end did not have external wall insulation installed given that they

were stone faced/brick along with a conservatory as there was already a cavity in situ

which had cavity wall insulation

present. The external wall insulation

has been the catalyst for the owners of

the property to look at internal wall

insulation on the internal walls where

external wall insulation could not be

installed.

LGV has already seen the benefit of the

external wall insulation demonstration

project as it has generated a level of

interest within the community that has


seen 8 further properties surveyed and quotations provided. Of those 8 a couple of

properties are proceeding forward with the installation of external wall insulation that

no doubt will inspire others in the community to have external wall insulation

installed.

Another part of the project saw the installation of a 16kW Air-Source Heat Pump

(ASHP) at a farmhouse located in the Ffawyddog area of Llangattock. The installation

was to act like the external wall insulation in the sense of it being a demonstration

project and provide both the catalyst for interested parties to see an ASHP in situ and

working to inspire others to follow and have installations at their own properties.

The property that received the installation of an ASHP did not have any central

heating prior to the installation and relied on heating from two wood stoves for

heating along with an AGA (fuel by coal and wood) situated in the kitchen that was

the only means of hot water for the property.

Community Buildings

LGV wanted to reach out to a wider area in its community buildings element of its

LEAF project. In all the organisation set out to bring about measures such as voltage

optimisation, energy efficient lighting and insulation measures at:

Llangattock School

Llangattock Community Hall

Llangynidr School

Crickhowell Infants & Primary School

Crickhowell High School

Sadly, given the tight timescales that were placed upon the organisation through the

conditions of the LEAF grant as well a number of other factors the installation of

measures did not take place at Llangynidr School, Crickhowell Infants & Primary

School and Crickhowell High School.

The community buildings element of the LEAF project proceeded with just energy

efficiency measures being installed at Llangattock School and Llangattock

Community Hall.

Energy efficient lighting was brought about at Llangattock School’s hall through the

LEAF project. In situ were strip lighting and spotlights with the project replacing the

strip lighting with modern efficient equivalents and the spotlights being replaced with

efficient and effective spot lights utilising LED bulbs. The installation of the energy

efficienct lighting at the hall brought about an overall saving of 60% compared to the

previous lighting. The lighting is now sensor controlled and adapts to daylight

automatically adjusting the lighting requirements and maximising efficiency.

Following Llangattock Community Hall installation of a 25kW Air-to-Air Air Source

Heat Pump (ASHP) and the topping of loft insulations at the hall from 50mm to

450mm under the previous project (Green Streets), LGV wanted to take the matter of

energy efficiency that much further with the hall benefiting from the retro fitting of

insulation on the eaves of the main hall. The insulation on the eaves was brought up to

the same standard that is in situ in the loft space (450mm) but needed a solution that

reduced the thickness of the insulation given the constraints faced. A combination of


space blanket insulation and 120mm of Celotex insulation board were used to achieve

the required insulation standard.

Like the school, the lighting was upgraded at Llangattock Community Hall with the

main hall, hallway, kitchen, toilets and meeting room all receiving new lighting that

apart from the main hall are all sensor controlled. The six main hall lights which used

a total of 2400w (400w each) were replaced with eight efficient lights, in total using

1200w (150w each) representing a reduction in energy usage of 50%.

With the installation of thermal linings to the curtains throughout the hall it now

means that Llangattock Community Hall is a significant way forward on the energy

efficiency journey that will see the Hall’s electricity use fall even further and

maximise the energy efficiency from the Air-Source Heat Pump (ASHP).

Unfortunately, given the constraints faced with the landlord of Llangattock School

(Powys County Council) and the tight timescales that the grants conditions set out in

LEAF they had to abandon the installation of voltage optimisation at the school

(which would have had a positive effect on Llangattock Community Hall’s electricity

use and carbon footprint as well). LGV are in the process of resurrecting this

worthwhile and important measure to reduce electricity bills further, protect electrical

appliances from surges /high voltage and reduce their carbon footprints.

At the end of the LEAF project a community celebration was held to celebrate what

had been achieved under the project with the party being well attended. Through the

much needed support of both DECC and the Brecon Beacons National Park

Authorities Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) coupled with the community

buildings contributing match funding towards their measures Llangattock has yet

again shown how a community can come together to demonstrate the power of

working as one towards a common goal.

Michael Butterfield of LGV stated, “The achievements of the LEAF project has

allowed Llangattock Green Valleys to take a step closer to realising our vision of

delivering a carbon negative community by the end of 2015.”

SDF Pillars : Social, environmental, economic & culture

Llangattock Community Woodland Group (LCWG)

SDF has awarded a grant towards the employment of a woodland/volunteer manager

in 2012/13. Llangattock Community Woodland Group, has together with groups at

Cwmdu & Crucorney, been at the forefront of community woodland management,

harvesting £6,000 of wood fuel last winter.

Work Programme Woodland/Volunteer Manager

The Work Plan is designed to outline the main aims for the Woodland/Volunteer

Manager for the 12 Months.

Aims

There will be two specific aims expected from this role over 12 months of the

contract:-

Woodland Management – understanding management of woodland areas for long

term benefits such as:-


a. Woodland structure and traditional woodland management

b. Wildlife habitats

c. Biodiversity and light

d. Health and Safety

e. Other legislation

Volunteer Management – understanding the needs of volunteers and developing good

practice to be shared locally such as:-

a. Developing wildlife habitats

b. Raising awareness of biodiversity

c. Health and Wellbeing in open spaces

Objectives & Headline Outputs

1. Provide income from wood fuel sales ensuring the long term sustainability of the

Group’s wide range of community benefit projects by:

Establishing the infrastructure and

logistics to enable sale of wood-

fuel and other harvested product

Ensuring range of the planting and

coppicing management provides for

a continuous long term income

stream.

Optimise restocking for value and

ease of long term harvesting and

coppicing

Plan “quality” timber species such

as Ash and Birch in planting

2. Enhance the biodiversity value of the woods by:

Planning for increase of native broadleaves

Improving riparian and other bird habitats

Enhancing existing wetland habitats

3. Enhance the access by:

Providing viewpoints, hides and an interpretive centre

Establishing interpretive signs and way markers

Llangattock Community Woodland Group recognise the importance of working

closely with other community organisations including Llangattock Green Valleys and

The Green Valleys Community Interest Company and its affiliated members.



The Green Valleys Green Catalyst Project

The Green Valleys Community Interest Company

was set up by community members in and around

the Brecon Beacons National Park in 2009, with the

help of the Brecon Beacons National Park’s

Community Development Team and the Sustainable

Development Fund (SDF). The SDF was one of the

initial funders for the social enterprise and has supported The Green Valleys with

grants of £48,294 between 2008/09 and 2012/13. The Green Valleys aim to inspire

and support communities to work together to reduce carbon emissions, generate

income and deliver social and environmental benefits.

The Green Valleys CIC wholly owns a subsidiary company, TGV Hydro Ltd, to

provide the technical expertise to further their aims and has also invested in part

ownership of Hydrolite Ltd, a manufacturer of hydro

generation equipment. Both companies are based in

Wales.

TGV Hydro Ltd. offers a fully accredited design and

construction service for small scale hydro-electric

systems, well suited to the topography and climate of

Wales. From small beginnings TGV Hydro Ltd now

has a staff of 6.5 people working on schemes across

Wales. In addition the company is using 4 local contractors in the installation of

systems and is spending circa £300,000 a year on supplies sourced as locally as

possible.

A further 2 people are employed by the Community Interest Company itself helping

to set up and develop community groups and projects

across the Brecon Beacons National Park, including

food related projects and community woodlands.

In 2011/12 and 2012/13 SDF has supported the Green

Catalyst project, which aims to capture and promote

sustainable community projects that are emerging

within the Brecon Beacons through the creation of

community made videos, photographs and internet

resources. Equipment purchased for the project, including an infrared camera, will be

made available to community groups across the National Park.


Change, Climate, Landscape, Me

Climate, Change, Landscape, Me a project by Sandra Masterson, began with the aim

of making a short film aimed initially at a specific landscape, looking at the way in

which relatively sudden changes in climate would affect that landscape, and how in

turn this would impact on the people who lived and worked in the area. This work was

going to be underpinned by scientific research.


However in her own words Sandra admits that “I hadn’t fully understood how

sensitive issues relating to farming/climate change land use and the new European

Farming objectives were. Tensions between hill farmers and graziers and the National

Park Authorities meant I had to choose my words carefully when talking to the hill

farmers and graziers. I found it better to allow people to speak freely rather than

direct conversation and seek specific points of view.” As preparation for the final

piece and by way of introducing the themes, two You Tube, 4 minute clips were

produced, entitled You, Me, PEAT. The first launched early in 2011 was exhibited at

The Central Gallery Malvern in April. The second revised version completed in May

of the same year, was exhibited at Brecnock Museum and Art Gallery during May and

June 2011.

The film has also been presented to art students at South Worcester College and the

University of Worcester. Two sets of postcards and statements have been produced

and widely circulated.(1500 cards produced) . The cards have been included in 4

exhibitions including 4x4 at Artspace in Portsmouth and subsequently images posted

on their website. At One Church Street Gallery in Great Missenden Buckinghamshire

and included in a book produced, they have also formed part of exhibitions in New

Leaf Monmouth and The Central Gallery Malvern. The cards have been left in

galleries in Exeter, Worcestershire, Cardiff, libraries and supermarkets and station

waiting rooms, allowing people to pick them up look at and possibly pass on.

The finished film consisted of a 25 minute DVD with a cover design , presented in

an eco friendly DVD wallet with 4 page booklet that gives the context for the film .

The working title of the film was changed from “Change Climate Landscape me” to

“Voices in a Landscape.” The SDF grant enabled the film to be translated into Welsh.

Since completion of the film discussions have centred on how the film raised the

wider issue of exclusion for the young people living in rural areas, and how the film

could be used to stimulate discussion groups around this topic. Overall the project is

expected to reach in excess of 16,000 people.

This project has demonstrated how complicated relationships between land

management and cultural heritage are, and how the earth’s working land space is both

politically and emotionally charged. The link between changing climate and the

increased pressures applied to our landscape and how this impacts on rural

communities was also demonstrated. As Sandra Masterson explains, “We are

currently at a point when old ways are being challenged and new approaches are

being pushed forward. With them will come a new shape and attitude to our landscape

and the way in which we all engage with and experience it.”

Reducing the Barriers to Micro-Generation in Monmouthshire

In July 2010, the Monmouthshire Local Service Board commissioned a project to

reduce the barriers to micro renewable energy generation in the area. The Brecon

Beacons National Park Authority joined the project very early on. SDF awarded

£5,094 to the project.

Part 1: Summary problem analysis

Installing micro-renewable energy technologies: key stages


This diagram illustrates four key stages of the individual’s journey common to all our

case participants when they installed micro-renewable energies: (a) viability, (b)

permissions, (c) construction, and (d) management. In practice, the stages are not

always sequential, and there may be some looping – particularly between the viability

and permissions stages, and the permissions and construction stages. The diagram also

shows that projects are (e) taking placing within a shifting policy and regulatory

environment.

In 2010, local officials started to sense a high level of frustration relating to the

difficult permissions process facing people wanting to install micro-renewable

technologies (hydro and wind).

The Kafka Brigade intervention identified policy clashes between those encouraging

micro-renewable schemes and those protecting bio-diversity, heritage and planning.

The project:

identified the clash of policy values that front-line officers were having to

reconcile, and helped to shift that responsibility back to policy-makers

(politicians and senior civil servants)

identified a gap in policy which resulted in new guidelines being developed

for high-head hydro schemes across Wales and England, removing

unnecessary delays of over 6 months for micro-hydro projects

streamlined the permissions process, introducing various improvements

including the production of a one-stop permissions flow-chart, and a

clarification of information required up-front by the citizen

ensured a policy of early, joint site visits by officials

identified the need for single points of contact for micro-renewable projects

resulted in the updating and linking of information websites


At the end of the grant-aided phase of the project working with the Kafka Brigade an

action plan had been formulated and a stockcheck of progress against it undertaken.

However work is on-going. The Steering Group continues to meet on a 6 monthly

cycle to monitor progress and review what's been achieved in terms of wider

dissemination of the learning from the project.

SDF Pillars : Social, environmental, economic

Sustainable Transport With the challenge of climate change now at the forefront of the political agenda the

Brecon Beacons National Park Sustainable Development Fund is focused on making

its contribution to help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Within rural areas

transport is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions. SDF is therefore

supporting a variety of schemes with the aim of stabilising and reducing the level of

emissions caused by transport.

The Sustainable Visitor Transport Initiative has been supported through SDF

funding of £90,000 over three years. The Brecon Beacons National Park Authority

launched its Sustainable Visitor Transport Initiative in 2008. The project is 50%

funded by SDF and is seen as being a vital contribution to the development of

sustainable tourism within the National Park. Transport is probably the single most

significant environmental burden that our visitors place on the environment, locally

and globally. Yet those visitors generate £130m per year within the local economy,

employing some 3,000 people. The outputs/outcomes over the life of the project were

predicted as :-

Grow passenger usage on the National Park network by 15%

Generate a suite of marketing materials promoting leisure use of the weekday

network

Design a Brecon Beacons Rover Ticket product to make access to the National

Park easier

Develop a Walk by Bus campaign

Launch a high quality website covering all aspects of more sustainable

transport

Link interchanges to the National Park through high quality Gateway

interpretation

Develop Green Travel Plans with at least 25 tourism businesses, attractions

and festivals

Organise training opportunities with transport industry staff – particularly

visitor focused customer care for bus drivers, taxi drivers and information staff

Develop ‘Walkers Taxis’ branding following discussion with the taxi industry

This project was initiated following a report from CCW’s Transport Advisory Scheme

(2007) outlining the importance of visitor transport in Wales’ National Parks and

suggesting priorities for action in each. A partnership of public and private

stakeholders was formed out of the pre-existing Beacons Bus Partnership with the

intention of improving the provision for visitors and from this a project was developed

to implement the 2007 report along with other actions. In March 2008 an SDF grant

of £90,000 was offered to run this scheme, without which the scheme would not have

been able to employ an officer to drive it forward.


Visitor Transport Partnership - Meeting twice yearly, this developed into a

valuable and supportive group, consisting primarily of transport representatives from

local authorities. The Partnership has been able to negotiate cross-border extensions to

both the SE Wales and Mid Wales Rover tickets, to the significant advantage of

visitors. It has also been able to support the re-introduction of the T4 TrawsCymru

bus route from Cardiff to Newtown via Brecon. Partnership working with Arriva

Trains Wales has led to a major promotional campaign jointly with Abergavenny

Tourism Association.

Weekday Network - Publicity and promotion for use of the weekday network by

visitors has been generated by the publication of a series of Car free Days Out leaflets,

Walks by bus booklets, concise pocket travel guides and the development of the travel

website www.travelbreconbeacons.info Training for tourism businesses has also been

important in trying to encourage visitors to take the car free option. The project is

working together with Powys CC to promote the new T4 Traws Cymru service.

Marketing - Target markets were identified early on in the project and the

information/promotional pieces orientated to them. As the project developed work

evolved to take the key messages to these audiences, culminating in a Travel

Challenge competition in 2011. This gave the project high levels of publicity linked

to new media like Facebook.

Walking Campaign - Two walks by bus booklets with full map details were

published and were well received. One was written to cater for family groups and the

other for more experienced mountain

walkers. Indeed Country Walking

magazine was prepared to distribute the

Mountain Walks by Bus booklet as an on-

cover giveaway for one edition, giving

very significant extra coverage.

Website - A new website,

www.travelbreconbeacons.info was

created linking into Traveline Cymru data

and showing bus routes and walks on the

new Park Explorer web mapping application.

Beacons Bus - The project has supported Beacons Bus, especially with publicity.

Beacons Bus has continued to grow in usage with average annual increases of 13%

during the project. This is exceptionally unusual in public transport terms and

indicates the strength in communications that the project has been largely responsible

for.

Private Sector - Training for the private sector

whose customers are visitors is a key part of

developing sustainable tourism in the National Park.

Accommodation businesses can influence their

customers’ behaviour and several familiarisation

trips were organised so the businesses could

recommend bus routes with confidence. A training




programme was also devised for taxi drivers, equipping them with local information

to pass on to their passengers, adding value to their experience and making them more

likely to return. The training generated significant publicity for the project on radio, tv

and in the press with 19 drivers from 15 taxi companies now trained in ‘National Park

Knowledge’. Working with Visit Wales, this project will continue to develop training,

by establishing Smart Travel for Tourism training for tourism businesses, developing

travel champions and enabling them to use and provide visitors with sustainable

transport information. The training will be delivered to three separate groups - smaller

businesses, attractions and local business clusters.

Festivals - The project started with a major success based on partnership working

between Hay Festival, Powys CC and BBNPA. A pilot Hereford-Hay bus service was

organised for 2009 and over the project period this has become commercially viable.

It is now an established feature of the Festival. Similar models have been discussed

with Green Man, Brecon Jazz and Abergavenny Food Festivals and it is hoped these

discussions will develop in the future.

Gateways & Interchanges - Improvements to the sense of

arrival and welcome was seen as an important part of the

visitor experience. The project successfully negotiated a

grant worth £25,000 from TraCC to upgrade the information

and interpretation at the Brecon bus interchange, and this

was successfully completed and installed by March 2012.

Monitoring - Has been undertaken by volunteers in 2010

and 2011 and the project is currently working with students

at Cardiff University to develop a new visitor focused survey

for use in 2013. Powys CC commissions most of the major

bus routes in the area and between 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 showed an increase an

overall passenger usage of 4%, rising to 260,000 passenger journeys in the

Brecknockshire area.

The Future - Under the Rural Development Plan, Sustainable Tourism Powys

allocated funds in 2012 to the development of a plan to guide further project work

across the county and the National Park. This was also supported by SWWITCH. The

Visitor Transport Plan has now been completed and provides a detailed action plan,

subject to funding, to continue the important work this project has so successfully

begun.

This project is meeting one of the key SDF priorities for 2009 onwards “projects that

support sustainable visitor transport initiatives, including access to visitor hot spots”

and it is excellent to see that the work is planned to continue beyond SDF funding.

SDF Pillars : Environmental, Social, Economic

Towy Valley Cycles – Recycle the Valley

This innovative project in the West of the Park was awarded £2,428 from the

Sustainable Development Fund. Towy Valley Cycles (TVC) is a small emerging

business based in Bethlehem, nr Llandeilo which was set up in 2010 by local teacher

Paul Smith in order to encourage more people to cycle in the area. TVC repairs and


hires out bikes and trains people in bicycle maintenance and safe riding practise. A

key element of the business is the recycling

of used or abandoned bicycles using

recycled parts and transforming them into

roadworthy products. Paul says “I want to

teach people how to look after their own

bikes so they can use them and the SDF

has enabled me to target groups to allow

this to happen. The funding has enabled

people who could not afford to learn these

skills or whose parents were not able to

maintain their children’s bikes to learn the

basics. Most people brought their own

bikes but 5 made use of reclaimed bikes

that had been supplied to me free of charge

enabling them to have the bikes at no cost.”

Recycle the Valley is a project to set up a local network of workshops that offer

bicycle maintenance skills to the local community and to promote cycling as a

sustainable and healthy form of transport. The project offered a series of workshops to

local schools and the community to teach participants bicycle maintenance and to ride

them safely and with confidence. The workshops included all aspects of maintenance

using old bikes that need renovation. These could be the participants own bicycles,

recycled or donated bikes. (A supply of ‘preloved’ bicycles is available through

several recycling centres within the National

Park or available to individuals through the

‘freecycle’ network).

The project was aimed initially at primary

schools, but it is hoped to extend this to

secondary school students who could attain a

City & Guilds qualification in the near future.

The courses equip the recipients with the skills

and confidence to maintain their own bikes,

encourage a more sustainable transport

situation and benefit the health of all taking part. As one child from Llandeilo school

explains, “My bike was broken as the calves on our farm had ran over it. Paul

brought new wheels and I helped put them on my bike and a new chain. I’ve had new

gears too. Then we played racing games with the repaired bikes. I now know how to

repair my bike. Thank you Paul.”

SDF Pillars : Social, environmental & economic

Sustainable Communities & Affordable Housing

Using their own unique culture and heritage Myddfai & Talgarth have been able to

establish income generating projects at the very heart of their village/town. SDF will

continue to work with these communities to safeguard their success. The SDF is

hugely supportive of projects which have the potential to transform the communities

in which they are based.


Overview of the Myddfai Ty Talcen Project

Introduction:

The Myddfai Ty Talcen Project has its origins in an attempt

that began in 2005 to simply find a replacement for the then

rapidly deteriorating Myddfai Village Hall which required

demolition and rebuilding. At that time a Welsh Assembly

CFAP grant of £100,000 was provided for the purpose of

village hall replacement. The preliminary design work and

subsequent consultations resulted in an awareness that whilst

the primary aim of demolition and rebuilding was essential and should continue with

these funds, the design itself needed to be modified and a business plan for

sustainability developed alongside this in order to attract the necessary further

funding. This was of particular significance in Myddfai since the community had lost

all its amenities and was experiencing an ever widening circle of economic and social

decline.

A number of bids were

made between 2006 and

2009 to add to the funds

already achieved from

the Welsh Assembly.

Each was a learning

experience and through

extensive consultation,

the involvement of The

Princes Foundation for

the Built Environment,

a gathering of partnership support and the development of a comprehensive Business

Plan Myddfai was successful in achieving a Development Grant and Village SOS

Grant from the Big Lottery in 2010. This combined with the WAG funding to allow

Myddfai to make inroads but the charity still needed to secure substantial additional

funding to ensure that the project reached fruition.

The BBNA Sustainable Development Fund was instrumental in allowing Myddfai to

fully develop both a Capital project and the associated companies that were formed to

deliver the scheme. This fund played a significant role in the sustainable elements of

the capital project, as well as an equally important supportive role in raising the

profile of the scheme within the Brecon Beacons National Park and with other

partners. To the end of 2011/12 SDF had contributed £70,000 to Myddfai.

The objectives of the project:

1) To demolish an old hall and rebuild a new Community and Visitor Centre

in the heart of Myddfai that would:

Become a vibrant and active community hub and develop volunteering

opportunities

Attract new visitors and generate income from a shop, interpretation centre,

café, and events centre

Be built to fit the architectural grain of the village

Be built to a high standard of insulation and utilise energy efficient heating

and power generation systems.


To use as far as practically possible, local contractors, trades people and

supply chain.

2) Establish a commercial arm to the charity that would:

Develop a brand for Myddfai based on the history and heritage of the

Physicians of Myddfai and the Legend of Llyn-fan-Fach.

Encapsulate in the brand the destination of Myddfai and the Welsh heritage of

the area.

Develop a range of products that could be sold high volume on a business to

business and retail basis

Underpin through branding and income generation the opportunity for small

artists, craftspeople and trades to sell their goods and generate their own

income by selling from the outlet located within the Community and Visitor

Centre.

Eventually extend this rural regeneration activity to create employment and

work with partners within the district to extend the range and scope of the

commercial arm and the charity.

Donate profits after operational costs back to local charity.

The structure:

With the help of a Village Champion who worked in partnership with the Community

Project Leader and the trustees the commercial arm was established alongside a

holding company which holds the lease on the Capital Project. These companies are

MYDDFAI TRADING COMPANY LIMITED (MTC -the commercial operation) and

MYDDFAI TY TALCEN LIMITED (MTT - the holding company and social

enterprise element that operate the Community and Visitor Centre alongside a band of

volunteers and Management Committee). All profits after operational costs from these

companies are donated to charity.

The structure allows for 4 key income streams:

1) The high level commercial branded products sold on line and through direct

sales

2) The local and corporate events within the new centre

3) The café and interpretation income

4) The shop income from concessions and commission.

In addition local traders benefit from the income they generate in their own right thus

keeping every pound made in the area.

Achievements to date:

A spectacular new Community and Visitor Centre has now been completed to

the highest standard and in a short time over one of the worst winters

experienced in recent years. The building is one of the best rural venues in the

Beacons Beacons. It is used extensively by the community but is also designed

as a venue for tourists, corporate events, business seminars, and performances.

It is fully equipped to serve this purpose.

The inclusion of sustainable elements of design- high insulation specification,

ground source heating, maximum gain argon filled sustainable timber

windows, 4kw photovoltaic solar array.


A fully functional and high standard website that encapsulates the community

and commercial dimensions of the project with an online shop, community

news, history of the area and promotional opportunities for local business.

The establishment of the MYDDFAI BRAND now trading with 150+ plus

products across Wales. Example customers are The National Trust, St Fagan’s,

Snowdon Railway,

Brecon Heritage, Cadw,

as well as smaller local

retail outlets.

The use of the

MYDDFAI BRAND as

destination hook which

is now attracting visitors

to the new Community

and Visitor Centre

A media Launch on

May 21st 2011 and an

official Royal Opening

by HRH The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall on July 20th

2011

An ever increasing pool of volunteers who have helped and continue to help

with a variety of tasks such as, demolition, product development and packing,

cleaning and maintenance, making local fresh products for the café, serving in

the café and shop. Myddfai offers opportunities for at least 60 local people to

volunteer.

The future:

The achievements to date have been remarkable in a short space of time. The

Sustainable Development Fund and CFAP fund alongside the Big Lottery Village

SOS fund and others have been essential in getting Myddfai to this point.

There have been risks and Myddfai also need to pursue the objective of partnership;

rural regeneration and employment further, grow all elements of income generation

and further increase community activity. The range and scope of what is possible on

their record of delivery is ambitious but is in keeping with the ethic of the plan and

that of funders and supporters.

The capital build and the construction of a wonderful new facility in the centre of

Myddfai has been step one. The challenge now is to ensure that the centre is able to


become sustainable in the longer term and SDF will support Myddfai in 2012/13 to

employ two part-time staff to manage the café , its volunteers and the shop to ensure a

professional and commercial vistor experience.

In addition the development of Myddfai Trading Company, a social enterprise

providing a range of toiletries and other products across Wales and beyond, and in

doing so providing employment opportunities to local socially disadvantaged people

will be supported in 2012/13 by SDF.


Talgarth Mill

SDF’s first commitment, £5,000 to this scheme was in September 2007 when a Green

Energy Group was formed to refurbish the leat and install a turbine to generate

electricity and to become a demonstration site for small scale hydro electric.

From that initial small scale project ideas to transform the whole site emanated. In

2009/2010 SDF was asked to help fund the community co-ordination and consultation

for the Village Sos competition costing a further £5,000. Fantastically the group were

successful and the major transformation

commenced. By this time the plan changed and

the waterwheel would now be restored to grind

flour which could then be used in the bakery.

Costs of the project escalated and SDF awarded

a further £6,000 to help the project of

refurbishing the leat and waterwheel.

The mill in the heart of Talgarth has fulfilled

many needs of the community during its long

history. The newly restored 18th century mill

began life as a corn mill, became a fulling mill

during WWI and then became a grain mill again.

As the milling industry fell into decline the site

was used at different times as a dentist, a butcher,

an electricity company and a building business.

Following nine months of restoration, the group

has brought back the traditional methods of

milling wheat and baking in a wood-fired oven in

the riverside café and onsite bakery.

The mill includes a multi-purpose

space for educational courses and

workshops, a museum or exhibition

area and beautiful riverside gardens.

The renovation of the Mill will be a

catalyst for the regeneration of

Talgarth, once again making it a

thriving community.


Having utilised the major

grants from the Big Lottery

“Village Sos” and “People

and Places” SDF awarded a

further £30,000 in 2011/12 to

enable the cafe and shop to

get off the ground. In total

SDF has contributed £46,000

to this regeneration project in

the heart of Talgarth, and the

site will provide a much

needed local resource and

visitor attraction, providing

local jobs and volunteering opportunities. The first year of operation has gone

extremely well, with 4 part-time staff employed within the Mill itself. At the Café

there are 4 ‘main players’ and 5/6 ancillaries. The Craft shop, which has now been

leased out to Beacons Crafts, has 5 staff working on a co-operative basis. What an

employment hub! In addition there are at least 20 active volunteers at the Mill.

SDF Pillars : Social, Economic, Environment & Culture.

The Rural Housing Enabler (RHE) project run by Melin Homes in partnership with

a variety of other housing associations and local authorities as well as the Brecon

Beacons National Park has worked for six years to promote sustainable affordable

housing in rural Wales. Planning approval for 8 affordable homes for local people on

a rural exception site in Bwlch was gained during 2009/10 and although the 8

affordable homes in Bwlch have not yet been built, the land has now been purchased

from the previous owner.

In the Vale of Grwyney the RHE has assisted both Wales and West Housing

Association and the Vale of Grwyney Community Council in moving the local project

forward by organising two consultation events for the local community. The first

event allowed local residents to see a variety of alternative plans for the proposed

development and the second event provided an update which included amended

designs. The planning application for two open market houses and six affordable

homes is just about to be submitted.

The RHE also met with a number of community councils who had concerns about the

BBNPA LDP. Specifically the RHE was asked by Talybont-on-Usk Community

Council and Talgarth Town Council to provide evidence which could be used in their

consultation responses.

In the Llangors area the RHE has been in

communication with members of the community

council about a number of development matters

related to affordable housing. The RHE

subsequently met with officers from Powys CC

to clarify their position and relay the feelings of

the community council in order for a more

informed decision to be made.


In Llangynidr Community Council area the RHE has continued to be involved in

discussions between a local landowner and Wales and West Housing Association, but

this has resulted in little progress to date.

Regular communication with Talgarth Town Council about affordable housing has

taken place with the RHE involved in trying to resolve issues with an allocated

development site, specifically related to the S106 agreement.

Presentations have been made to Powys Tenant Panels about affordable housing in

Ystradgynlais, Llangattock and Talgarth.

The RHE also gave evidence to the Shelter Commission on the links between housing

and health as well as presenting at Community Housing Cymru’s ‘Are You On

Board?’ events, in order to make Assembly candidates aware of rural housing issues.

Outside of the BBNPA area, 10 new affordable homes have been completed in

Monmouthshire - 6 new homes were

built in Llanarth and 4 in Llandogo.

The RHE has instigated a new

affordable housing policy in

Monmouthshire and helped shaped their

Rural Allocations Policy. The RHE

remains the Chair of the Wales and

Midlands RHE Network.

Although the Welsh Assembly

Government has recently appointed

Rural Housing Enablers across Wales

there is still an ongoing requirement for the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority

to part fund the role through the Sustainable Development Fund. 2012/13 will be the

final year of funding for this project from SDF.

SDF Pillars : Social, Economic, Environmental and Cultural

You are Welcome at Libanus Chapel

When the closure of the village school in 2006 left Libanus without a community hall,

Chapel Committee Members embarked on an ambitious scheme to radically spruce up

the Chapel and provide a community facility for the residents of Libanus.

With generous funding from the United Reformed Church (National Synod of Wales);

Brecon Beacons National Park Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund (SDF),

Libanus Community Hall Trust, The National Lottery ‘Awards for all’ Scheme and

the Congregational and General Insurance Company, the Libanus Chapel underwent a

two month redesign and refit which has seen it transformed into a sustainable building

which will be used as a joint Chapel and community hall.


The new community facility and Chapel are now able to enjoy the benefits of a large

hall, smaller meeting room, new kitchen facilities, a new and efficient ‘green energy’

heating system using an air source heat pump, new seating, improved access and toilet

facilities.

The Reverend

Michael Hodgson,

Minister of the

Libanus United

Reformed Church

said:

“Improvements to

the Chapel have

been long overdue

and we are

delighted to have completed the work which not only improves the look and

sustainability of the building but also provides a much needed community hall for the

residents of Libanus.”

“The improvements give much more flexibility in the

chapel, allowing improved access for different

groups to use the building which means we can host

much more ambitious events for the community. The

redevelopment also provides a modern comfortable

hall and meeting room accommodation which the

village and surrounding community so desperately

needed.”

“There are already new groups looking to take advantage of it, as well as existing

organisations looking forward to meeting in more appropriate surroundings. Until

now, in winter, the average fridge was substantially warmer than the chapel. That's

all changed!”

“It is now an extremely useful

community facility and is

likely to become a popular

venue for local groups as well

as a function room and

conference space. It is also an

astonishing example of how

an extremely “un-green”

building can be transformed

with relative ease using local

contractors, at a cost of under

£100,000 (including

architects fees). Since the renovation the hall has been used more times during the

winter period and we have used 476 units of electricity less than last year.”


Community Access to Hay Castle

Hay Castle is one of the great medieval defense structures on the border of England


and Wales. The castle was

built in the late 12th

century by

the powerful Marcher Lord

William de Braose. Its history

is long and turbulent. The

castle was sacked by Llewelyn

II, the last prince of Wales, in

1233, and rebuilt by Henry III.

Centuries of turmoil followed

until the 15th

century, when the

castle passed into the hands of

the Beaufort Estates. Castle

House, a Jacobean mansion,

was built alongside the tower in

1660.

The remains of the castle, now a world-

famous landmark, include a four-storey

keep and a beautiful arched gateway.

The multi-gabled Jacobean manor was

severely damaged by fire in 1939, and

again in 1977. Remnants of the 18th

century formal gardens and 19th

century

terraced gardens can still be seen.

Owned by bibliophile Richard Booth

since the 1960’s, the site was purchased

in 2011 by the Hay Castle Trust.

Hay Castle Trust Limited is a charity that was formed to rescue this Grade 1 listed

castle - and its extensive grounds and outbuildings - which is located in the very heart

of Hay-on-Wye.

The Trust intends to raise funds to ensure the permanent preservation of this historic

site and to provide cultural enrichment, education and community space to benefit the

people of Hay-on-Wye and the surrounding communities in mid-Wales and

Herefordshire.

Hay Castle Trust intends to undertake crucial conservation work to stabilise these

structures and open them for the public to enjoy.

Pathways throughout the garden and through the archway will be easily accessible

and open to the public daily. Information points will highlight the history and

architecture of the castle’s 800-year life. Educational programmes for area schools

and visiting scholars will be available throughout the year.

The core of the site, the Jacobean manor, will become a vibrant centre for history and

the arts. A soaring glass atrium, designed to complement the existing stonework, will

house exhibitions. Museum space will permanently store a collection of historic

artifacts and references to the castle and the area.


The Trust envisions the presentation of

performing arts within the grounds and the

buildings, cultural events in the exhibition

space and workshops for the arts.

Hay Castle promises to provide year-round

activities and interest for residents and visitors.

Events at the castle will be presented in

partnership with organisations including the

Hay Literary Festival. The existing shops set

among the stable block and outbuildings will continue to provide income to support

the day-to-day operations of the castle.

SDF has supported a short term project to enable increased access to the grounds and

enrich the areas currently open but in much need of upgrading and not suitable for

wheelchairs or pushchairs. The areas identified are the lower garden, including the

honesty bookstore, the upper gardens and the area adjacent to the Jacobean Mansion.


Social Inclusion

Take pART – Earning & Learning

Take pArt was established in 2009 as a not for profit Community Arts workshop

providing access to art facilities for disadvantaged and socially excluded members of

the community. The workshop uses the media of art to promote social inclusion, raise

self-esteem, confidence and to encourage independence. Workshop users include

people with physical and mental

disabilities, carers, the elderly, unemployed

and people with problems of addition.

A total SDF award of £15,629 in 2011/12

enabled the project to continue ‘Earning

and Learning’ opportunities through the

provision of a selection of Agored Cymru

qualifications, volunteering opportunities

and job finding skills. The aim of the project was to help disadvantaged people make

a difference to their lives by developing greater self-confidence and tolerance whilst

acquiring new skills and producing work for sale. These elements were delivered at

the workshop through the Welsh Education Authority. The award additionally

supported the Development worker with an increase in hours from 20 to 30 per week

in order to identify new opportunities and to extend the project to further

disadvantaged sectors of the local community.

During the year over 900 children and adults benefitted from activities in the

community and 32 people signed up to the WEA courses. The revenue funding

enabled partnership working with the Army Welfare, which led to a full 12 week

cross-culture project with the wives and children of the local Ghurkha regiment. Each

session was attended by 35-40 adults and children and as a direct result six of the

Ghurkha wives have since attended the workshop independently to create pottery and


have all expressed the desire to attend jewellery workshops in

the Autumn. The additional hours funded have also enabled

the project to develop a source of revenue generation through

the production and sales of 3D masks. The masks have been

hugely successful and are now available at several outlets

across the National Park including Talgarth Mill and the

National Park Visitor Centre. With sales of masks at a single

event creating an income of over £200, Take pART aim to

expand their distribution network and are also looking into

online sales

opportunities.

The workshop is now open 6-7 days a

week and maintains an average

attendance of 100 people per month.

WEA

courses

continue

to be well

subscribe

d and the

provision

of qualifications in volunteering has importantly

provided formal recognition of the role volunteers have

played in the running of the workshop. Take pART' has

still not reached its full potential but certainly

significant advances have been achieved in getting

WEA courses established with sufficient numbers to

qualify for WEA payment and developing a sound base

of sustainable income with the production of masks and

the running of the Workshops at Community venues

and events.


Green Fire Talgarth report 2011

Arts Alive Wales has been working for the first time in Talgarth, using new

collaborations between artists, wildlife educators and craftspeople to bring the

different parts of the community together and to build stronger awareness of its

unique and precious natural resources.

Talgarth has been highlighted in the local and national news this year with the

renovation of the Talgarth Mill Project as an innovative model for community

enterprise and a springboard for local regeneration.

Arts Alive Wales has been supporting the Mill Project working with local schools,

families, Talgarth Youth Club and visitors to the Mill, by engaging them in traditional

crafts, celebratory arts projects and practical ways in which (especially the young

people) can bring their input into this new venture.


Arts Alive set out the following target outputs and outcomes for the Talgarth Green

Fire II project:-

1. To include 20 half-day workshop and activity days located in and around

Talgarth together with a celebratory community event in the town centre.

2. Community cohesion : inspiring the community to take responsibility for and

connect with their natural environment.

3. Increased knowledge of local ecological systems and the importance of

protecting biodiversity.

4. Importance of proper and sensitive management of the land and environment.

5. Increased enjoyment of the natural environment and improved quality of life,

especially for vulnerable, marginalised and under-represented groups.

6. Enhanced environment e.g through creation of mill walk artwork.

The project has enjoyed a high degree of success in meeting these outcomes.

In particular:

1. Events held included tree dressing, lantern parade and Talgarth Mill open

days, amounting to 1200 attendances in all. 22 workshop sessions were held,

with 173 participants and 586 attendances.

2. Community cohesion was developed through a close working relationship

with Talgarth Youth Club, enabling 40 young people to work on

environmentally themed creative projects. The artworks produced have been

installed on the riverside walk at the Mill. New events have been created and

these will now continue on an annual basis.

3. Considerable benefits have been enjoyed from working with Brecknock

Wildlife Trust during the creative workshops, bringing environmental and arts

education together for participants. One participant reported a very tangible

improvement in his knowledge and understanding for his science GCSE.

4. The workshops and activities were linked directly to the local natural

environment and local ecological systems.

5. The participants were drawn from groups that would otherwise have very little

opportunity to be involved in the considerable investment and regeneration

that the Mill project will provide to the community.

Events

A Tree Dressing celebration was held in collaboration with Brecknock Wildlife trust:


A revival of an ancient custom, this first event was held in the town hall, with Alexa

Farley from the Brecknock Wildlife Trust leading tree knowledge games. Participants

moved to a well known old oak tree near Talgarth Primary School for dressing the tree

and songs. Participants: 15 adults and children plus 4 staff/volunteers

Lantern Making and Wildlife workshops:, 78 participants

A new approach to arts workshops was

used by combining wildlife walks,

river dipping drama games and arts

activities over a period of three days.

Working in the youth Club, making

processional lanterns, bringing

families and younger children into the

youth club space over the spring half

term helped to create better

connections between the age groups.

Ben (aged 16) commented a couple of

weeks afterwards “ I just passed my

biology GCSE exam. I was able to show

all that extra work we had done in the

wildlife and lantern workshops.” He was

really pleased.

Tamika (aged 13) commented “please can

we go on some more of those walks? I love

going out and learning about all that stuff.”

Lantern Procession

The lantern procession had been planned to

coincide with an opening day for part of the

Talgarth Mill project. However, due to delays in

the construction at the Mill the procession went

ahead as an event in itself. There was a big

turn out and a wonderful evening with a full

moon and balmy weather for March. It was a

magical event with a trio of musicians leading

the way playing upbeat traditional tunes as the

procession ambled through town in the twilight

and out towards a lovely spot natural spot by the

river lent by one of the local families, where

there were refreshments and more music by a campfire.

The plan is for another lantern event and procession next spring. There were 38


participants plus audience.

Mill Opening Event

Activities were held on both days between 10 and 4pm and included banner making:

making large flag banners for use at future Mill events with visiting families; Wish

Boats: using natural and biodegrable brown sticky paper making small boats to sail

down the river with a wish for the future; Stone carving: with Stone mason Saul

Nicholas; Musicians folk music with Alexa farley and volunteers; Paper Bag

printing : printing bags with the image of baking and the Mill. Each participant made

2 prints one to take home and another to leave for the Mill to use for sale of bread or

for sale in the shop:

Participants, over the weekend, numbered 1200

Stone carving and Blacksmithing workshops:

A total of 5 Stone carving sessions were held including

one full day session. 2 separate blacksmithing sessions

were held at the Youth Club on their regular evening

sessions. The stone carvings are inset into the river walk

at the Talgarth Mill and the blacksmithing session

allowed participants to try their hands at heating,

tapering and bending 8-10mm round bar.

There were approx. 40 participants.

The workshops were on an open basis

most for the young people who attend

the Youth Club. A group of approx 10

of the young people were especially

committed, turning up for each session

and contributing to the finished piece at

the Mill. One of them said on more

than one occasion that he would like to

follow stone carving as an

apprenticeship. Most of the young

people however had least one session

with the chisels.


The installation of the pieces has just recently been completed and a small celebration

will be held with the young people involved on the Riverwalk when the Youth club

sessions resume after the holidays.

Both the Youth Club and the Mill project are keen to continue and develop future long

term projects with the community. Arts Council of Wales funding has been secured to

continue this and expand the work with other members of the community.


Rebound Books – L’Arche Brecon

L’Arche Brecon Community is part of an International Federation of 134

communities in 31 countries, where people with and without learning disabilities live

and work together.

The L’Arche vision is to create a society where the gifts of people with learning

disabilities are recognised and utilised, enabling them to take a full part in society.

Rebound Books is a social enterprise operating from the L’Arche Brecon

Community’s small workshop in

Brecon Town Centre. It is a project

that saves old books that are destined

for landfill and transforms them into

journals, notebooks, sketchbooks and

diaries. Each book is unique and can

be custom made to order.

Each book is made by hand using high

quality reclaimed paper and wire

bindings to a high standard. The

project integrates adults with learning

disabilities with others from the wider

community.

SDF is supporting the organisation through help with purchasing equipment and

training. The aims of the project are:-

1. To reduce the amount of books being discarded and put into landfill, by

reusing them to create beautiful and unique products.

2. To create activities and employment for people with learning disabilities

3. To make the skills and gifts of people with learning disabilities more visible

and valued by everyone in society

4. To create a strong community network of diverse people, committed to

recycling, who through working together can make the enterprise sustainable

and mutually beneficial

SDF Pillars : Social, environmental, economic


A Greener Future – Ystradgynlais Volunteer Centre

This community recycling initiative has been started and

is managed by Ystradgynlais Volunteer Centre. It

involves volunteering, skill building and work placement

opportunities. It is based at the site of the former

Remploy factory at Glanrhyd, Ystradgynlais. At this site

they now organise activities to recycle wood, recycle

tools and more recently recycle furniture, using

volunteer time.

Volunteers come from all sorts of backgrounds and learn

basic tool use, carpentry and employability skills to

enhance CV’s. The project promotes social interaction,

reduces isolation and encourages new friendships. SDF

has provided a grant to employ an operations co-ordinator to develop the furniture

project activity.

Through the employment of an Operations Coordinator they have been able to:

focus on improving sales – see tables below. They have had new customers from Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Powys areas.

TONNAGE RECYCLED

OCT11 NOV11 DEC11 JAN12 FEB12 MAR12

In kgs 2583.5 7091. 3334. 3578.5 5271. 5564.5

TOTALS 27.422 tons

further increase promotion within the National Park (South Powys) area and beyond – they have recently leafleted the Sennybridge area encouraging a collection, and started a weekly market stall at Clydach. Although this hasn’t provided many sales they have promoted with flyers in the area, received resulting orders and gained new customers;

hold some workshops locally which has encouraged individuals to learn new skills, meet like-minded people, be creative, and raise awareness of recycling and different possibilities for reuse of items.

INCOME £ TIMBER TOOLS FURNITURE ROOM HIRE

Oct-Dec2011 5308.90 925.72 6321.36 1287.50

Jan-Mar12 5712.56 833.81 6668.65 1120.00

Apr-Jun12 5614.40 599.21 4645.00 985.00

TOTALS

16635.86 2358.74 17635.01 3392.50

GRAND TOTAL £40,022.11

Classes have included:

Rag Rug Day Workshop 29/10/11 with 12 attendees all day. This led to a more

informal class every Thursday which has undertaken rag rugging, paper beading

jewellery and patchwork;


Stone/wood carving on Tuesday mornings which

is ongoing and self supporting, averages 8 people

Upholstery classes weekly to Dec11 but will

recommence in September hopefully, averages 4

people

South Wales Stickmakers have been using our

site as a venue for a weekly workshop and a

monthly meeting, ongoing and averaging 15-30

people.

Buttons & Beads – 2 workshops as tasters brought 15 people in to make different

recycled jewellery.

Patchwork a series of 4 workshops were well supported by 5 people.

Make and Take A Hanging Basket workshop in coordination with the DOVE at

Banwen. This was attended by 12 local people who really enjoyed the session and

they all got to take a basket home too, and learned they can buy garden products from

the site, as well as take up horticultural classes at the DOVE workshops.

Through a mix of the above income has also been

raised from refreshment sales and room hire fees

from some groups for use of rooms within the site.

This has been extra to any plans.

Through the November art & craft

event in Ystradgynlais they have

gained some useful contacts, with

whom they wish to work more

closely with this year. They have

plans for more patchwork and

quilting, pyrography, and melting

vinyl records to make bowls and

dishes!

They have bookings for up to 12 summer shows and fetes although 3 have already

been cancelled due to the poor weather.


Y Gegin Fach

Staff at ‘Y Gegin Fach’ were delighted to receive a BBNP development grant to

purchase a food mixer and blender, display freezer and new tables and chairs.

Visitors to the café can choose from a wide selection of cakes, the best sellers are

mouth-watering carrot and orange, apple with sultanas, chocolate devils and crumble

cakes. There is also a new range of tempting drinks, ‘smoothies’ and coffees on sale.

Special cupcakes were popular for the Jubilee celebrations.


The Sustainable Development Grant has brought significant benefits to the business

already. Not only have the sales of Gegin Fach cakes increased but the members of

staff with disabilities have also been involved in the

production using the new mixing machine. Previously

cakes were bought in to sell. The purchase of a Toasted

Sandwich machine has also proved to be successful with

staff and customers.

As the project progressed products, sales, and the

limitations of the space available at the Café were all taken

into account. A new large commercial microwave does

most of the tasks that would have been carried out on the

hob e.g. making soup. The proposed installation of hob

and extractor reduced storage space and work surface too

much and did not add significantly to kitchen production. These changes are also

safer options for use of people with disabilities.

An over counter display unit purchased is a Glass Fronted freezer type and product

choice has been expanded to include ice cream from a local producer Shepherds Ice

Cream, offering a different range such as sheep’s milk ice-

cream that is not easily found elsewhere in the town.

Space has been identified to

install a built in Waste Bin as

safer storage system. The

customer service area will be

rearranged to make easier access

to seating and create a more

flexible space, to do this they

have purchased 3 new Round

Tables to replace the two bulky square ones.

The remaining money has enabled Y Gegin Fach to

purchase a sign board which will be prominently

displayed at the Market Arcade entrance. The board can

be rewritten every day and will show up to date Menu

attractions; it will help raise customer awareness in the town.

The Sustainable Development Fund has not only helped increase business potential of

Gegin Fach expanding choice to customers but has also given disabled people of

Brecon the opportunity to openly demonstrate integration in the work place and the

positive part they play in the economy of the town.

This Social Enterprise is now branching out, starting an outside catering service close

by in the Market Place on Craft Fair days, making more voluntary and employment

opportunities for people with learning difficulties in the community. Altogether there

are now 8 volunteers and income has increased by around £240.00 per month as they

are able to offer additional seating and a wider variety of cakes.

SDF Pillars : Social, economic & culture


Start in the Park

Start in the Park, an SDF funded project was created by Brecon & District Contact

Association (BDCA), a third sector mental health resource centre designed to meet the

needs and ambitions of people who experience mental distress. The aim of BDCA is

to open routes for a personal journey of mental health recovery and wellbeing. Their

work is about regaining confidence and rebuilding skills to move on to wider

opportunities in education, training, volunteering or employment within the

community.

Start in the Park is based around the experience of using natural creativity and taking

exercise and enjoyment in the special environment of the Brecon Beacons National

Park. Open to people vulnerable to the experience of mental distress and people in

mental recovery the project has helped to build a sense of place and emotional

connection for those it has reached.

The artwork produced as a result of the festival has culminated in an exhibition at St.

Mary’s church in Brecon, which was very well received.

SDF Pillars : Social, environmental & culture


Hay-On-Wye Winter Food Festival

This event was held on Saturday 26th November 2011 in

the Hay on Wye Memorial Car Park. SDF awarded a grant


of £500 towards the cost of staging

the festival.

The aim of the festival was to

provide stalls for locally produced

food and drink, with an emphasis on

organic production. It offered local

producers a showcase for their

products outside of the normal

tourist season, giving greater choice

to local residents, encouraging visitors

and promoting the town as an

attractive food shopping destination.

On this nice winter’s day the event

attracted over 3,000 visitors.

Customers were entertained by local

school children singing and by The

Brecon Male Voice Choir.

Against a target of 35 local food and

drink producers the actual number of

traders on the day was 42. The products

sold included: Organic meat, dressings,

fresh fruit and vegetables, jams,

chutneys, smoked foods, honey, bread,

cider, water, biscuits, cakes, chocolate,

wine, dairy products, tea, pate,

mayonnaise, beers. Chocolate, meat and

cheese sold very well as did mulled

products and wines, 19 exhibitors sold

out of stock.

Business was very brisk from 10am to 3.45pm, culminating in the switch on of the

Christmas lights at 5pm. The Event ran lot of competitions with the prizes being

Lunches out at local restaurants.

Hay on Wye had 42 letting rooms booked especially for the event.

SDF Pillars : Economy : Supporting local producers assists the local economy and

increases the footfall for all traders in Hay on Wye

Environment : Reduces food miles, reduced travel locally assists in reducing carbon

emissions. Most produce is sold loose, overall packaging is reduced significantly

Community/Culture : Street markets conserve a sense of community and tradition.

School participation ensured wider community involvement and encouraged local

ownership of the festival



Wild Garlic Festival

About 140 people joined the

second Wild Garlic Festival on

the weekend of April 14 and

15. This was a celebration of

woodland and wild food, a

chance to experience the

beauty of spring in the Black Mountains. The first

day of the event was at Llwyn Ffranc, the second

in Arcadia Wood in the nearby hamlet of

Pantygelli. Participants had the chance to forage

for wild garlic in the woodland at Llwyn Ffranc

and at both venues were provided with wild food,

expert speakers and a relaxing festival atmosphere.

The speakers on the first day were Emily Stokes,

talking about the work of the Woodland Trust, and

Brigit Strawbridge, talking about wild bees. On

day two Franco

Taruschio, the chef

who made the

Walnut Tree Inn

famous, showed participants how to cook with wild

garlic. They also had Raoul Van der Brouke (TV

wild food expert and forager) and Christopher

Robbins (herbalist, published writer and lecturer).

Arcadia Wood is a venue for eco-health projects,

courses and training. It also hosts local community

woodland members and those interested in traditional woodland management. See

www.arcadiawood.co.uk.

Llwyn Ffranc held its first Wild Garlic Festival last April. About 50 people, adults

and children, went to the farm. Many foraged in the woodland and everyone had the

chance to eat a fine wild garlic soup

SDF Pillars : Social, environmental & culture

Big Skill/Sgil Mawr 2011/12

On 3rd

& 4th

Sept 2011 over 1000 people attended

the second ‘Big Skill’ Rural Craft and Skills

Weekend held at Penpont House, Brecon. The

Festival was initiated in 2010 as the ‘public face’ of

Powys Sense, whose mission statement is the

provision and preservation of traditional and

contemporary rural working skills and ensuring

opportunities for rural sustainability. The key

objective for 2011 was to develop the workshops and activity schedule from the

http://www.arcadiawood.co.uk/


previous year and to therefore increase

participation. SDF awarded the festival £5k

towards supporting 20 key rural skill

demonstrators over the weekend including:

cider-making, fencing, bodging, hedging, dry-

stone wall skills, equine skills, horticulture,

animal husbandry, basket-weaving, wood-

turning, fly-fishing, trees and timber

management, farriery, landscaping,

environmental conservation and game and wildlife management. The Festival

focused on giving experiences of traditional and contemporary rural skills to people of

all ages, from early years through to retirement, combined with providing routes for

rural employment for many of the disadvantaged in the community. Although fewer

people attended than anticipated the weekend attendance was an 80% increase on the

previous year and all feedback received was extremely positive.

“I'm happy I came this weekend; it was a brilliant opportunity to meet people with

similar interests and find out more about what's going on locally. I had great fun

seeing what was going on in the workshops and trying some of the things on offer

including the coracle's, which seem really popular, as do the bush craft and basket

weaving demos/workshops. Thank You once again,

you were all very friendly and welcoming.” Crystal

- volunteer

Following the success of the Rural Craft & Skills

Festival in 2011 a new community interest

company has been set up to preserve and develop

rural skills and locally produced crafts in Mid

Wales, Borders & the Marches. The Big Skill

cic is a social enterprise set up to deliver & preserve

rural skills & develop local sales; act as a training,

educational and signposting resource; provide

demonstrations & hands on rural crafts activities at

festivals & events in Mid Wales, Borders &

Marches.

The Big Skill Community Interest Company has been formed to:

Provide rural crafts at festivals & events in the

Brecon area;

Run breakaway events at local festivals/shows

as well as in other areas;

Maintain a website/directory of rural crafts &

festivals in Mid Wales, Borders & Marches &

a signposting service for rural skills & crafts;

Provide access to accredited rural craft courses

‘We came along with our 2 daughters on the Sunday. We were

blown away by the amount and

variation of crafts you had on display. We especially enjoyed the

basket making, butter making, felt

making and pottery. We couldn’t really fit it all into 1 day though!!

Please keep it going. I've told

several friends about it since, all who would have loved to come

along. Look forward to hearing

more about your craft weekends’

- visitor


Big Skill village events have continued in 2012

with attendance at Brecon Fringe Festival, Gloria

(NAFAS) Flower Festival and the Abergavenny

Shire/Miniature Horse Show, the Royal Welsh

Smallholders and Usk Show. The next Big Skill

Festival is schedule d in May 2013 at the Brecon Beacons National Park Visitor

Centre.


Community Marquee 2012

SDF supported the cost of a marquee for

community use within the Brecon Beacons

National Park. A successful marquee loan

scheme had been running since 2006 but after

extensive use the original equipment was no

longer viable for public service. In February

2012 an SDF award of £1,017 bought a

replacement marquee along with several

accessories including ground bar ramps for users

with wheelchairs or pushchairs. Since its

purchase the12m x 6 m marquee has received 14

community bookings up to December 2012.

Bookings have come from a wide variety of

groups including; Allotment groups, Young

Farmers Club, village fetes, gardening shows,

the local Pony Club and several jubilee

celebrations! The loan scheme has a formal

written agreement, but remains free of charge

other than requiring the group to have event

insurance. The facility enables smaller,

traditional events to keep their costs to a

minimum and aims to sustain local events

which might otherwise no longer be viable.

All of the events are reliant on volunteers and

it is estimated that over 1500 volunteer hours

will be recorded from the current bookings.

‘The marquee was used for our open weekend in conjunction with National Garden

Scheme. The general public was invited to view the allotment site and community orchard.

In addition displays in the Marquee of our future plans and our links with the local primary

school were received with interest. The event was supported by 15 local volunteers who

contributed approximately 100 hours of their time. We had 150 people visit over the

weekend. The weather was far from kind so the highlight of the event was the use of the

marquee for tea and conversation - we are keen to do it again next year!’ - Crucorney

Allotments July 2012



Sustainable Development Fund Performance Indicators & Output Measures

April 2011 – March 2012 Overall Aim:

Through partnership, to develop and test ways of achieving a more sustainable way of

living in a countryside of great natural beauty and diversity in which local

characteristics of culture, wildlife, landscape, land use and community are conserved

and enhanced.

Objectives:

1. Explore ways of meeting as far as practicable the 4 principles of sustainability and

of breaking down barriers that can act as obstacles to sustainability.

2. To develop and support community based projects promoting sustainable

development objectives.

3. Generate greater awareness & understanding of sustainability.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS April 2011 – March 2012 % of decisions on completed applications notified to

applicant on time – target is 95% within 14 days of

consideration by Panel for applications over £1,000.

Under £1,000 – 28 days from receipt of completed

application.

100% of all applications (under

& over £1k) notified within 14

days of Panel.

100%

Number of jobs created & safeguarded

(Full or part-time incl. temporary & permanent) 10

Number of volunteering opportunities 152

OUTPUT MEASURES RESULTS

April 2011 – March 2012

Amount of money levered in from other sources

Value of in kind & volunteer donations

Public : Private ratio of match funding

Total - £645,556

Ratio 1: 4.1 Grand total levered in to date (June

2000 – March 2012) - £8,294,917

£87,830

1.66 : 1

No. of training days/awareness raising sessions carried out on

sustainability and SDF with business organisations 4

% of projects which have retained community participation

after year 1,2, 3. (as a percentage of the total no. of projects

undertaken)

68%

No. of projects which support two or more of the key

principles of sustainable development as set out in the

operational guidelines

100%


Sustainable Development Fund

Projects Awarded Grant Aid April 2011 – March 2012

Applicant Project Area Total Cost Grant

Approved SDF

%

£ £ 1 Brecon & District

Contact

Association

The Start in the Park project

will use art and creativity and

outdoor activity across the

BBNPA to deliver mental

health recovery to those in

the community recovering or

vulnerable to mental distress

including young people

Central

£10,228

£5,114

50%

2 Crucorney Allotment Society

This project incorporates the development of one acre of

grazing land, rented from a local

landowner, into allotments.

East £5,624

£2,500

44%

3 Powys Sense Ltd Sgil Mawr is being supported

for a second year to showcase

rural crafts and skills.

West

£33,150

£5,000

15%

4 Libanus Chapel This project sees the

redevelopment of the Chapel

to create an energy efficient,

usable and adaptable

community space

Central

£70,332

£12,316

18%

5 Towy Valley

Cycles The Recycle the Valley project

will develop a local network of

workshops to offer bicycle

maintenance skills to the local

community and to promote

cycling as a sustainable and

healthy form of transport

West

£5,280

£2,428

46%

6 Llwynfranc Ltd The Wild Garlic Festival will

offer participants the

opportunity to learn about wild

food and offer the chance to

experience foraging at first

hand under the guidance of a

local expert

East

£555

£270

48%

7 Felin Talgarth Mill

Ltd. An SDF grant is essential to

enable this fantastically

restored site to become fully

operational. The grant will

help the café with internal

fittings and the shop to

East

£79,005

£30,000

40%


purchase stock to sell to the

public, to ensure full viability 8 Beacons Creative

Wales (ltd) Beacons Creative is a Social

Firm providing opportunities

for people with learning

difficulties. Y Gegin Fach is a

new opportunity, being part

funded through SDF to

transform a drop in café run

by Powys County Council into a

commercial coffee shop.

Central

£40,377

£3,714

9%

9 Ystradgynlais

Volunteer Centre SDF is providing a grant to

fund a post to co-ordinate

operations and assist the

recycling manger at this

community furniture recycling

project based at the old

remploy site in Ystradgynlais.

West

£87,331

£11,831

14%

10 Hay on Wye

Markets The grant was awarded to

enable the group to stage a

Winter Food Festival at Hay

in November, providing

stalls for locally produced

food and drink, with an

emphasis on organic

production.

East

£4,300

£500

12%

11 L’Arche Brecon SDF is supporting L’Arche to

expand its rebound books

project, a project that

creates recycled notebooks,

sketchbooks, diaries and

journals from books destined

for landfill. Those

manufacturing the books have

learning disabilities and this

workshop activity has provided

an interesting and fulfilling

activity.

Central

£19,613

£6,859

35%

12 The Green

Valleys

The Green Catalyst project aims

to capture and promote

sustainable community projects

that are emerging within the Brecon Beacons through the

creation of community made

videos, photographs and

internet resources. The SDF

Park-

wide

£4,902

£2,002

41%


grant will enable the purchase of

equipment to facilitate this.

13 Llangattock

Community

Woodland Group

The LCWG currently manage 3

local woodlands and are looking

to expand. In order to do this

they need a woodland/volunteer

manager to train volunteers, to

manage the woodlands

themselves and the landowner

agreements and to develop a

sustainable harvesting strategy,

increase biodiversity and

generate income.

East

£28,826

£5,665

20%

14 Adfer Ban a

Chwm

ABC’s principal aim is to turn

redundant/derelict vernacular

buildings into affordable homes

for local people in rural Wales.

The pilot project is based at

Beilicelyn in the West of the

Park. This grant will facilitate the

community development aspect

of the project, setting up an

education and participation

programme.

West

£101,198

£20,000

20%

15 Brecon Beacons

National Park

Authority

This project will allow the purchase

of a small marquee by BBNPA

which will be loaned out free of

charge to communities to run small

events.

Park-

wide

£5,071

£1,571

31%

16 South Wales

Outdoor Activity

Providers Group

SDF has awarded a grant to

enable SWOAPG to

commission a survey on the

lower plants within the

Coedydd Nedd a Mellte Special

Area of Conservation that

forms part of Waterfall

Country. This survey will be

used to extend the information

provided through the Code of

Conduct so that areas where

sensitive or rare plant species

can be avoided by gorge

walkers.

Central

£3,262

£2,300

71%

17 Canolfan

Gymunedol

Ystradowen

Community

Centre

This local community have taken

ownership of their local day

centre and intend to extend its

use to all those living in

Ystradowen and surrounding

areas. The SDF grant will

facilitate some building works

and will enable the employment

West

£188,000

£17,000

9%


of a manager, vital to kick start

the centre and develop it in a

professional manner in

consultation with the

community.

18 Llangattock

Green Valleys

The SDF grant is awarded to

extend the impact of the Local

Energy Assessment Fund in

Llangattock. Specifically SDF

will help on the residential

element of the project through

the installation of energy saving

measures

East

£75,096

£10,000

13%

19 Hay Castle Trust Following the purchase of the

castle by the Trust SDF awarded

a grant to enable Phase I of the

project plan to be developed.

This has enabled access to the

lower garden, the upper garden

and landscaping and tree felling

of the outer gardens to ensure

public safety at the site

East

£18,986

£9,486

50%

20 Hay Town

Council

The Gliss project will address

current access issues to the

River Wye in Hay itself. The

plan is to develop the site by

offering greatly improved access

and opportunities for water

recreation to a far wider

audience than currently able to

use the site. The improvements

will include a disabled access

point and a new novice/junior

fishing platform, also with

disabled access

East

£20,100

£9,100

45%

21 Llwynfranc Ltd. SDF is supporting an extended

wild garlic festival for 2012

based at both Llwynfranc and

Arcadia Woods. It is

anticipated that the festival will

become self financing for 2013

East

£2,776

£800

29%

Totals £804,012 £158,456


Finance Report – Grant Payments made in 2011/12

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FUND

Total

Project

Code PROJECT NAME 2011/12 2012/13 Grant

sgg O Gwmpas Y Llyn - Around the Lake

3,839 33,229

ecd Sustainable Visitor Transport Initiative 17,908 2,225 90,000

sht Rural Housing Enabler Continuation 6,000 5,000 24,000

sih Change, Climate, Landscape, Me 1,142

1,142

sil Cyber Café Co-ordinator

2,923 8,990

siq Myddfai "Made in a Great Tradition" 25,000

70,000

sir Reducing Barriers to Micro Generation in Monmouthshire 2,594

5,094

sis Llangattock Green Valleys Green Streets 241

13,647

siu Earning & Learning - Take pART 15,629

23,371

siw Canolfan Y Mynydd Du Tourist Information Point 2,108

5,000

siy Green Fire II - Arts Alive 3,923

3,923

sja StART in the Park 5,114

5,114

sjb Crucorney Allotment Development 0 2,500 2,500

sjc Big Skill Festival 2011 5,000

5,000

sjd You are Welcome at Libanus 12,316

12,316

sje Towy Valley Cycles 2,428

2,428

sjf Wild Garlic Festival at Llwynfranc 230

230

sjg Felin Talgarth Mill 30,000

30,000

sjh Y Gegin Fach 3,714

3,714

sji A Geener Future - Ystradgynlais Volunteer Centre 5,747 6,084 11,831

sjj Hay on Wye Food Festival 500

500

sjk L'Arche Rebound Books 2,304 4,555 6,859

sjl Green Catalyst - Green Valleys 4,001 1,001 5,002

sjm LGV Woodland/Volunteer Manager

5,665 5,665

sjn Adfer Ban a Chwm

20,000 20,000

sjo Community Marquee Replacement 1,017 554 1,571

sjp Lower Mellte Survey, SWOAPG

2,300 2,300

sjq Canolfan Gymunedol Ystradowen Community Centre 7,000 10,000 17,000

sjr Llangattock Green Valleys LEAF 10,000

10,000

sjs Community Access to Hay Castle 9,486

9,486

sjt The Gliss River Access Project

9,100 9,100

sju The Wild Garlic Festival

800 800

sjv Waterfall Country Volunteer Warden Scheme

950 950

sjx Mountains & Lakes-Merched Y Wawr

650 650

sjy Learn with Grandma

500 500

sjz

Available for New Projects 0 121,354

Project Totals 173,402 200,000

Administration Cost 34,788 37,500

Total Estimated Expenditure

208,190

237,500

Available SDF Income 208,190 237,500


PROJECT MATCH FUNDING

2011/12

Private Private Private Public Public Public Total

SDF Volunteer Charitable Own European/ Community Other Match

Grant

Trusts Income Lottery Council/LA

Funding

StART in the Park 5,114 1,660 1,000

2,454 5,114

Crucorney Allotment Development 2,500 984 1,640

500

3,124

Big Skill Festival 2011 5,000 5,025 10,000 11,625

1,500

28,150

You are Welcome Libanus Chapel 12,316 3,016 5,000

50,000 58,016

Towy Valley Cycles 2,428 2,852

2,852

Wild Garlic Festival 270 270

15

285

Felin Talgarth Mill Ltd 30,000 4,305

44,700

49,005

Y Gegin Fach 3,714

36,663

36,663

Ystradgynlais Volunteer Centre 11,831 45,000

20000

10,500 75,500

Hay on Wye Food Festival 500 1,000

2200

600

3,800

L'Arche Rebound Books 6,859 2,754

10,000 12,754

Green Catalyst - Green Valleys 2,002 700

2200

2,900

LGV Woodland/Volunteer Manager 5,665 6,500 2,000 2700

11,961 23,161

Adfer Ban a Chwm 20,000 4,382

71816

5,000 81,198

Community Marquee Replacement 1,571 3,500

3,500

Lower Mellte Survey, SWOAPG 2,300 962

962

Canolfan Gymunedol Ystradowen 17,000

5,000 29000 25000

112,000 171,000

Llangattock Green Valleys LEAF 10,000 220 8,176

56,700 65,096

Community Access to Hay Castle 9,486

9,500

9,500

The Gliss River Access Project 9,100 3000

3000 5000 11,000

The Wild Garlic Festival 800 1700

276

1,976

Totals 158,456 87,830 42,316 112,716 96,816 42,263 263,615 645,556

Total Matched Resources 645,556

Match Funding Ratio 4.1

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