A group of volunteers are working to combat flooding and fly-tipping in the Pontnewydd area of the Gwendraeth Fawr.
Established in 2010, Dyfroedd Byw Pontnewydd/Living River Pontnewydd, is made up of volunteers from Glyn Abbey and Pontnewydd aiming to improve the well-being of the community and the natural environment in the area. Members have been regularly litter picking, documenting and reporting fly tipping and ongoing river channel and bank improvement including removal of fallen trees and overgrown vegetation with the assistance of Keep Wales Tidy.
The RDP Sir Gâr’s Zero Carbon Future (ZCF) project has now provided funding for the group to start a Japanese knotweed eradication programme. This will cover the spraying of the invasive species and the training of volunteer to gain certificates in the use of pesticides.
Zero Carbon Future, part of the RDP Sir Gâr Innovative Hubs project, is funded through the Rural Development Plan (RDP) for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Focussing on the environment, ZCF aims to deliver innovative solutions and projects which tackle climate change by reducing our carbon footprint.
ZCF Officer Paul Thomas said: “By taking action, the group will be re-establishing the native flora of the Gwendraeth Fawr River Corridor, making it more attractive for the community and visitors plus local people will have learnt the skills to manage the problem themselves.”
For further information, please contact Paul Thomas on 01269 871600 or email: Paul@mentercwmgwendraeth.org.uk
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