23 August 2007
The Woodland Trust unveils its vision to create new native woodland in the rolling countryside of the Usk Valley
Woodland Trust acquires Cefn Ila, near Usk, just four miles north of Wentwood
The Woodland Trust (Coed Cadw), the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity, has launched a campaign to fund the acquisition and management of Cefn Ila, a 72 acre site consisting mostly of improved grassland in the beautiful countryside of the Usk Valley. The land was sold at auction and the Trust bid what it felt was a reasonable price.
The Woodland Trust sees the project as a rare opportunity to create a well designed new native woodland that will enhance the landscape while keeping some of the superb views across the area’s rolling countryside.
The Trust’s aims are to enhance the landscape, involve local people, and add to what the area already offers walkers and other visitors. Like nearly all Woodland Trust woods, Cefn Ila will be open for everyone to visit, at any time and for free. There will be a detailed design exercise, involving local people. This will start with a meeting on the 11 September at Coleg Gwent in Usk.
Gary Roberts, the Woodland Trust’s Development Officer for Wales, says: “This part of Wales contains an important surviving concentration of ancient woodland and further building up this network of habitats will make a real difference to the chances of our woodland wildlife surviving the pressures of climate change. New woodland creation at Cefn Ila will create more space for wildlife and secure and enhance biodiversity.
Hence, the Trust is urgently seeking to raise £500,000 to secure Cefn Ila for future generations to enjoy and to create new native woodland within the Usk Valley. This sum includes the initial costs of creating the new woodland and also the costs needed to manage the wood for the first few years of its life.
Native woodland creation is one of the Trust’s top priorities. The charity therefore hopes to fund the project through donations from its own members and supporters, through corporate support and partnerships, through woodland creation grants and other methods. But it recognises that local support is particularly important, too, and is calling on anyone who can help its campaign - with funds, help or advice, to contact Gary Roberts on 01844 343 877 or garyroberts@woodland-trust.org.uk or visit the special website www.woodland-trust.org.uk/cefnila Moreover, it is likely that relatively small donations from individuals will therefore be “unlock” larger sums by providing matching funding for grant applications from other bodies. So it’s likely that every £1 given by the local community and the Trust’s supporters will help raise a further £10.
The Woodland Trust is delighted that the Abergavenny Chronicle has already agreed to support the campaign to create new native woodland at Cefn Ila. Liz Davies, the paper’s editor says: "The Abergavenny Chronicle is delighted to be able to support the Woodland Trust scheme at Cefn Ila. We look forward to bringing regular updates on the progress of the project to our readers."
One local person who has a particular reason to welcome the Woodland Trust’s plans is Stephen Carter of Oakdale, near Blackwood. He explains: “In May 1963 I was born at the then Cefn Ila Maternity Hospital and despite the fact that I have never lived in Llanbadoc, I have always felt ‘at home’ when walking or travelling through the area. The Woodland Trust’s acquisition of Cefn Ila is excellent news for the local environment and I’m really looking forward to seeing the project develop, and local people, and particularly local children, getting involved in actually planting the trees.“
Coed Cadw already cares for over 1000 woods across the UK and over 100 in Wales. One of them, just four miles to the south of Cefn Ila, is Wentwood, a significant part of which the Trust acquired following a high profile campaign in 2005. Wentwood is Wales’ largest surviving ancient woodland. Although it had been planted with conifers during the twentieth century, it is now being gradually restored by the Woodland Trust, and is being managed for the benefit of the whole community.
For media enquiries contact:
Rory Francis (Publicity and Public Affairs Officer for Wales) on 01766 832563 or 07760 171174
Afallon, Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd LL41 3RH
Email roryfrancis@woodland-trust.org.uk
Or The Woodland Trust Press Office email media@woodland-trust.org.uk or Tel 01476 581121
Coed Cadw (The Woodland Trust)
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 250,000 members and supporters. The Trust has four key aims: i) No further loss of ancient woodland; ii) Restoring and improving the biodiversity of woods; iii) Increasing new native woodland; iv) Increasing people’s awareness and enjoyment of woodland.
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). These include over 100 sites in Wales, with a total area of 1,580 hectares (3,900 acres). It offers free public access to nearly all of its sites. Further news can be accessed via www.coed-cadw.org.uk The Trust adopted its Welsh language name in 2000: “Coed Cadw”. This is an old Welsh term, used in medieval laws to describe protected or preserved woodland.
