The native trees will be planted as part of Transport for Wales’ Coed Cymunedol–Community Woodlands project. The border of trees will be planted along the church grounds and woodland as well as wildflower planted in the centre of Merthyr. The Engine House will be working with the Good Friendship Group to improve the woodland on the Engine House grounds.

Transport for Wales alongside 11 community partners in Wales have been awarded £100,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund Community Woodlands Scheme, which funded the project. The scheme aims to get the Welsh Government to think about the long term development of the National Forest in Wales. The project is also part of another programme, Coed Cymunedol.

Janet Morgan, The Good Friendship Group Leader, said: “All the groups working within the project in Merthyr support and promote biodiversity. Working with TfW will encourage younger and older members of the community to use the areas for activities that promote working together to increase health and well-being within Merthyr Tydfil. We look forward to the great opportunities the project will stimulate for our futures.”

Leyton Powell, Director for Safety and Sustainability for TfW, 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.”