November 2004
Llandeilo kids (and adults) rise to the Tree For All challenge
Local people, and their elected representatives, do their bit to improve the local environment, at a public planting event on Sunday 21 November, and schools planting events the following Monday and Tuesday
Following a successful community campaign to extend Coed Tregib (1), a wood on the fringe of Llandeilo in the care of Coed Cadw (the Woodland Trust), local people are being invited to come along and help plant the site with native trees at a public planting event on Sunday 23 November, between 11am and 4pm. There will be special planting events for local schools on the Monday and Tuesday.
Organised by Coed Cadw (the Woodland Trust), the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity, these events are part of Tree For All (2), the ambitious new tree planting campaign which aims to plant a tree for every child the UK over a five year period, 12 million in total, and to involve 1 million children in doing this.
Coed Cadw will be extending Coed Tregib by 12 hectares (32 acres), involving hundreds of local children in planting 4,000 native trees of native trees at the site, mostly alder, willow, oak, ash and assorted shrubs. This will bring the existing Coed Tregib towards the town of Llandeilo, making it more accessible for local people and for the first time linking a new footpath access from the town and along the River Tywi. It will also create new habitat for wildlife, particularly otters, as the land concerned lies between the existing Coed Tregib and the River Tywi. The particular value of this land as a wildlife habitat is reflected in the fact that the existing Coed Tregib has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Rhydian Roberts of Coed Cadw says: "Coed Cadw is grateful to everyone, and all the funding bodies, who have supported the campaign to extend Coed Tregib. A lot of hard work has gone on. Local people now have the chance to celebrate this success by getting their hands dirty, and planting some of the trees necessary to create this piece of new woodland."
Rhodri Glyn Thomas, the AM for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr who will be planting a tree on Sunday, comments: "I had the chance to visit Coed Tregib last year, and heard of Coed Cadw’s plans to extend the wood. It’s great to hear that, over the past year, the campaign has been so successful. I’m keen to plant a tree at the site, to help create a better environment for the people of Llandeilo, as well as more extensive habitat for local wildife wildlife.
Coed Cadw is grateful for all the funding bodies and individuals who supported the campaign to extend the site, and thereby made these planting days possible, in particular the Environment Agency, The Brecon Beacon National Park Authority, the European Union through Objective 1, the Council for Protection of Rural Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales, the Forestry Commission and hundreds of local people and organisations.
Those taking part in the tree planting event can park at Ysgol Tregib, next door to the site. There will be signs to the site from the centre Llandeilo, for those who want to take the healthy, environmental option, and walk. Please wear suitable footwear and outdoor clothing. Children and vulnerable adults are welcome if accompanied by a responsible adult who stays with them.
Anyone wanting further details on this should contact Rhydian Roberts on 01745 818808 or 07884 113821.
This autumn’s tree planting events at Coed Tregib are part of Tree for All Weekend, during which hundreds of similar events are planned throughout the country. More tree planting will take place at Coed Tregib during the Spring of 2005.
end
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
Ben Earl (Regional Development Officer, Coed Cadw) on 07767 411769
Rhydian Roberts (Woodland Officer, Coed Cadw) on 01745 818808 or 07884 113821
or The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, e-mail HYPERLINK "mailto:media@woodland-trust.org.uk" media@woodland-trust.org.uk
Notes to editors:
1. The existing Coed Tregib is one of the first woods which Coed Cadw acquired in Wales, in 1983. It is part of the largest area of woodland in South East Camarthenshire, and is within the Brecon Beacons National Park. The wood occupies a gentle north-facing slope bisected by the shallow valley of a west flowing stream. Much of the site is permanently wet with heavy, slow draining clay soils. The ancient woodland is made up of oak and ash woodland with Hazel coppice together with wet woodland dominated by alder. The woodland is botanically diverse with over 100 species being recorded. Dormice have also been recorded from the site. The biodiversity value of the site is enhanced by an area of mire, which supports a range of wetland plants. Like almost all Coed Cadw woods, Coed Tregib is open for anyone to visit at any time, for free. 2. To find out more about Tree For All contact www.treeforall.org.uk or telephone 0845 108 1428.
Coed Cadw (The Woodland Trust)
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 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 129 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.woodland-trust.org.uk. The Trust adopted a new Welsh language name in 2000: "Coed Cadw". This is an old Welsh term, used in medieval laws to describe protected or preserved woodland.
