The Coed Cymunedol (Community Woodlands) project will see Transport for Wales (TfW) working alongside communities and partners and will support the creation, enrichment and management of new and existing woodlands in Wales.

The 9 localities taking part in the project are Pwllheli and Plas Glyn-y-Weddw in Gwynedd, Abergele in Conwy, Penyffordd in Flintshire, Offa in Wrexham, Clydach Vale in Rhondda Cynon Taff, Merthyr Tydfil, Blaen Bran in Torfaen and Llanbadoc in Monmouthshire.

The funding of £100,000 has been awarded to TfW and 11 community partners in Wales by the Welsh Government and the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Community Woodland Scheme. The projects which receive funding via the grant scheme will support the Welsh Government’s aim toward the long-term development of the National Forest for Wales (NfW).

The nine-month scheme will see a collaboration of organisations in Wales made up of local councils, social enterprises and woodland and community charities and will include the creation of new woodland and the improvement and enhancement of existing woodlands for nine areas.

The new trees being introduced will be a native mix of species and planting will take place in new areas within and alongside established woodlands, which will improve connectivity and woodland health. Maintenance work will also take place and will see paths created and restored, accessibility improvements, way-markers put in place alongside signage and fencing. Open-access community events will also take place.

The project will include a brand new urban woodland walkway and will connect a TfW railway station to a nearby woodland and a new nature reserve which will be created on an unused car park. The project will also see the creation of spaces for leisure and nature and the woodlands will improve biodiversity, enhancing the well-being of local communities.

Leyton Powell, Director for Safety and Sustainability for Transport for Wales, said:

“The Coed Cymunedol project will help make woodlands more accessible and more resilient, supporting the health and well-being of communities and providing areas for increased wildlife biodiversity and connectivity. Projects like this are important to us at TfW, creating a more connected network means more than better transport options. By working closely with our communities, we can ensure that we’re building a network that Wales needs, deserves, and is fit for future generations.”

The project will get underway in June and will see work taking place right through 2022. Partners will work together to support TfW’s aims to promote sustainability within the transport network whilst connecting communities served by the rail operator bringing improved experience for passengers, communities and visitors to Wales and the borders.