BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY
st Report for Year Ended 31 March 2013
by Helen Roderick, Sustainable Development Officer
PARC CENEDLAETHOL BANNAU BRYCHEINIOG
Contents
Executive Summary Page 2
2012/13 in Brief Pages 3-5
SDF Over the Years Pages 5-6
Administration of the Fund Pages 7-9
Projects Receiving or Awarded Grants Pages 10-48
Community Marquee Report Page 49
The Future Page 50
Indicators & Output Measures Page 51
Finance Spreadsheet – grants paid Page 52
Grants Awarded & Match Funding Page 53
Pictures on front cover
Dr Alison Kidd of the Eco Travel Network in a Twizy above Talybont Reservoir Colin filling bottles at Myddfai Trading Company Ltd Green Shoots on the Woollen Lines on Pen Trumau in the Black Mountains
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 1 Sustainable Development Report for Year Ended March 31st 2013
1. Executive Summary
In 2012/13 23 new projects were awarded grants of £252,510 in total and every £1 of SDF invested has attracted a further £3 in match funding. In terms of cash paid out in the year 33 projects received funding of £204,933.
Since its inception the Fund has supported 319 projects with grants of £2.8m, pulling in match funding of over £9m.
Two projects supported by SDF in 2012/13 have been awarded major recognition and cash to invest in their projects over the next year. The Eco Travel Network (ETN), which would not have begun without £25,500 funding from SDF has been awarded the £50,000 Scottish Green Travel Prize for 2013 and Pip Woolf has won the prestigious £2,000 Park Protector award from the Council for National Parks for her project, “The Woollen Line.”
SDF Grant Spend 2012/13 by Category
19% Community Pride
43% Sustainable Transport 16% Renewable Energy
Sustainable Living 8% 14% Social Inclusion, Education & Conservation
Approaching 1300 people have taken up the opportunity to volunteer on projects supported by SDF in 2012/13. These volunteers have worked an incredible 43,880 hours on the projects, giving an approximate benefit to community groups/projects of over £300,000. These projects, claiming grants in 2012/13 have also led to the creation of 11 jobs and the protection of a further 19 jobs.
Regenerating life within our rural communities, improving the wellbeing of those living in the National Park and enabling the National Park Authority & its communities to play a central role in taking forward a vision for a Sustainable Wales will be the focus over the coming twelve months.
A recent Deloitte internal audit to assess the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls within the Fund found no issues or areas of weakness and gave the administration of the Fund a “Full” assurance rating.
SDF Officers have a pivotal role in development of projects both at the initial stages and throughout the project’s life, continuing to support projects and groups towards full sustainability through robust business planning.
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 2 2. 2012/13 In Brief
In 2012/13 23 new projects were awarded grants of £252,510 with a match funding ratio of £1 SDF attracting £3 from other sources. In terms of cash paid out in the year 33 projects received funding of £204,933.
Two projects supported by SDF in 2012/13 have been prize winners in 2012/13.
The Eco Travel Network (ETN), which began with £25,500 funding from SDF has been awarded the £50,000 Scottish Green Travel Prize for 2013 after demonstrating the benefits of hiring lightweight Renault Twizys to visitors as a “cheap, green and fun” alternative to using 4x4s on country roads.
SDF were the principle initial funders of the project, enabling the purchase of the 5 initial Twizy’s. Without SDF the project would not have gone ahead. To date there are 30 members of the ETN, the Twizy’s have saved 2.8 tonnes of carbon and have been tried by over 200 people. 7 vehicles have been purchased by the company and there are more in the pipeline. Talybont Energy has purchased an electric van for the community through the ETN. The ETN’s fleet insurance policy and its “buying power” makes this an attractive arrangement all round. The insurance benefit was not anticipated in the original proposal, but is certainly in line with the wider aims and objectives for the programme. In addition 4 Twizys have been bought by individuals in the BBNP as a direct result of trying one of the ETN vehicles.
The Woollen Line Project spearheaded by artist Pip Woolf has been awarded the prestigious Park Protector award by the Council for National Parks (CNP). Woollenline is a drawing begun in 2010 as a 300 metre line of wool. It explores the conservation value of low-grade wool and has created a line of communication among disparate interests and hundreds of people that have been involved so far. For 34 years no solution had been found to repair the damage caused by fire in 1976 which left 7 hectares of peat exposed to erosion. Since the first line provided a guide for subsequent lines to follow, a thread to connect ideas, actions and understanding, 2700m of wool, 300 “sausages” and 1500 cuttings have been installed. Pip will use the £2,000 CNP prize to propagate and transplant further seed, to train more horses and develop alternative rigging for the horses to ensure that materials can be moved to site in a sustainable way. Pip hopes to double the impact of the award by using it as match funding to secure further funds. SDF supported the project in 2012/13 with a grant of £19,160.
Approaching 1300 people have taken up the opportunity to volunteer on projects supported by SDF in 2012/13. These volunteers have worked an incredible 43,880 hours on the projects, giving an approximate benefit to community groups/projects of over £300,000. These projects, claiming grants in 2012/13 have also created or protected 30 jobs. Nineteen of the projects have involved children & young people, twenty have involved older people and fifteen have encouraged those with disabilities to take part.
Projects supported during 2012/13 have delivered in the following areas:- Renewable Energy Sustainable Transport Sustainable Living
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 3 Community Pride Social Inclusion, Education & Conservation
Renewable Sustainable Sustainable Living Community Pride Social Inclusion, Energy Transport Education & Conservation Llangattock Sustainable A greener future – Myddfai Community The Woollen Line Green Valleys Visitor furniture recycling in Hall & Visitor Ventures Transport Ystradgynlais Centre Initiative Llangattock Eco Travel Myddfai Trading Canolfan Lower Mellte Plant Woodland Network Company Gymunedol Survey Group – Ystradowen Woodland/Volu Community Centre nteer Manager Forgotten activities@ Community Fruit Canolfan Y Mynydd Waterfall Volunteer Landscapes Llanddeusant Harvesting & Pressing Du – The Black Scheme Hydro Mountain Centre Feasibility Abergavenny The Wild Garlic Mountains & Lakes Lluest Horse & Pony Cycle Project Festival – Merched Y Wawr Trust
Homemakers Bulky The Green Catalyst St. John’s Centre Collection Service
Rebound Books The Gliss Project Dark Skies
Rural Housing The Long Forest Enabler
CALCH
The projects have been categorised into their primary area above, but many deliver in other areas too as the colour coding above demonstrates. For example A Greener Future for Ystradgynlais, Homemakers and Rebound Books all appear under Sustainable Living as they are predominantly recycling projects. However these three projects have a strong social inclusion focus too and are aimed at providing their participants with skills and enterprise, leading back to employment or income generation. (Hence they have a purple dot too)
Thirty jobs have been created or protected as a result of the Sustainable Development Fund in 2012/13. The jobs created/protected within each area are as follows:-
Renewable Energy – 1 job Sustainable Transport – 1 job Sustainable Living – 11 jobs Community Pride – 3 jobs Social Inclusion, Education & Conservation – 14 jobs
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 4 In total £88,023 was spent on Social Inclusion, Education & Conservation. 60% of that total was spent on environmental protection projects where volunteers are taking the lead on caring for the landscape, past, present and future in recognition of the Park’s special qualities and the desire to ensure that future generations can enjoy it too.
Social inclusion projects continue to benefit from the SDF, with 71% of Fund expenditure this year on projects with a strong focus on social inclusion. 14.3% of total fund expenditure went to 3 projects where social inclusion was the primary purpose. 58% of all projects supported have a major focus on social inclusion.
Individual projects combine elements of social, economic, environmental and cultural progress in various proportions. Highlights from the projects included under each category are contained in the full report.
This grant fund and the support and guidance provided by the SDF Officers are often the catalyst which makes these projects possible. Without the SDF many, including The Green Valleys, the Crickhowell Resource & Information Centre, the Eco-Travel network and Myddfai Trading Company would not have got off the ground or would have folded. As Dr Alison Kidd puts it, “The Eco Travel Network would not have been formed without SDF; the fund was prepared to take a risk on this innovative idea.”
3. SDF Over the Years
Grants Awarded by Year
No. of £ £ projects Value of Grant Matched resources
2000/01 36 393,054 859,728 2001/02 32 278,389 671,350 2002/03 16 192,104 789,574 2003/04 27 216,250 756,813 2004/05 22 166,016 644,616 2005/06 31 103,327 259,037 2006/07 41 418,157 1,100,207 2007/08 22 238,380 592,534 2008/09 18 171,434 780,663 2009/10 12 65,944 188,774 2010/11 18 150,317 1,005,205 2011/12 21 158,456 646,416
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 5 2012/13 23 252,510 741,138
319 2,804,338 9,036,055
The above table clearly demonstrates how £1 of SDF has attracted £3.22 in match funding from other sources. SDF often provides the essential seed corn funding which allows projects to develop.
Archaeology Grants Awarded by Type 2000 – 2013 0.1% Arts & Community
Biodiversity 4.3% 5.9% Business Support 3.8% 7.2% 8.9% 2.5% Community Hall
Community Support Culture 11.4% Food
14.6% Information & Health Promotion Recycling
13.1% Renewable Energy Social Inclusion
14.9% Sustainable Housing
Sustainable Tourism 2.4% 4.9% 3.4% Transport 2.5% The focus of the SDF grants over the years is demonstrated in the graph above.
Over the years support for community facilities such as halls and supporting communities to provide services within their communities have been the largest recipients of SDF grants. The investment in renewable energy has changed over the years due to the introduction of feed in tariffs (FIT) which prohibits groups from accepting public money for installations if they wish to benefit from FIT income for the next twenty years. Grant awards in this area now are largely focused on feasibility studies and energy efficiency projects.
Social inclusion projects which ensure that support is given to local disadvantaged and disabled groups, in line with the Fund’s operation guidelines, has been and continues to be a major focus for the fund. Ensuring equality throughout all projects is a key consideration from the Fund.
The above graph shows the diversity of projects supported by SDF highlighting the ability of the fund to deliver on the vision for a Sustainable Wales.
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 6 4. Administration of the Fund
Support and Flexibility – applicants value the expertise and experience of the Sustainable Development Officer and Sustainable Communities Officer who provide a crucial role in project development, and continue to do so during the life of the project providing advice on sustainability and future business planning. This ensures wherever possible that projects continue to flourish after the grant period has finished. But not only have applicants got the support of dedicated Grants and Community Development staff, they can call on the extraordinary and unique range of skills and expertise of all Park Authority specialists for advice – covering planning, ecology, the Warden service, tourism, biodiversity and much more.
Grants Advisory Panel Members also offer suggestions, constructive criticism and practical support. This direct access to guidance of all kinds is extremely helpful to applicants.
The service is also a flexible one - the process of applying for grant aid and project development is a real dialogue. If a project does not initially appear to meet programme criteria, guidance is offered on improving sustainability, developing partnerships and community involvement – this is the only way that real change can be brought about. If a project needs to be amended or if problems are encountered following allocation of grant aid, the dialogue continues, with both Park and project representatives working together to find solutions. Where criteria cannot be met the officers help with signposting projects to other sources of funds and help.
Applicants know precisely when grant aid decisions will be made and outcomes are communicated within one week of the Panel having made a decision. This compares very favourably with many other grants programmes. The excellent administration of the scheme has been evidenced recently during a “Scrutiny Review” of SDF by a joint members’ panel from the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority. The BBNPA SDF scored 1.2 on a score rating of 1 to 5 where the lower the score the better the administration.
In a recent internal audit undertaken by Deloitte the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls within the Fund were given a “Full” Assurance rating with no issues raised or areas of weakness identified.
Grants Advisory & Members’ Panel - the Panel is one of the great success stories of the SDF programme. Representatives of up to fifteen specialists and community representatives have been managing the scheme in partnership with the Park Authority since June 2000, and have shown outstanding commitment and dedication - working together to ensure its success. Attendance is good and members bring all their skills and knowledge to considering applications submitted – offering advice and practical help. Members of the panel state frequently that they have learned from
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 7 their involvement and greatly enjoy being able to contribute to such a range of practical and exciting projects.
Applicants’ comments - during this year’s monitoring grant recipients were asked, “Please tell us what you think of the Sustainable Development Fund”. Examples of the feedback are:-
“Very good, fairly easy paperwork which allows us to get on with the job in hand, and good support from BBNPA staff.” Caroline Bull, A Greener Future for Ystradgynlais
“The Sustainable Development Fund has been invaluable in helping to develop the project to the next stage. It has helped us in terms of raising the profile locally and raising the knowledge of the local community regarding the aims behind our project and the skills required to be involved.” Jacqualine Box, L’Arche
“SDF has made it possible for us to secure our first full time worker and helped improve the centre, allowing the centre to be open every day encouraging more users and taking us a step closer to sustainability.” Ystradowen Community Centre
“The SDF has been consistently helpful, supportive and flexible in its dealings with us. It balances well its public obligations with minimal drain on the time and effort of its beneficiaries.” Dr. Alison Kidd, Eco Travel Network
“The Sustainable Development Fund has been and currently remains instrumental in supporting this scheme in its entirety. The fund however does more than provide cash. The networking and Project Officer support has been second to none. We should not lose sight of the fact that in this last round of funding SDF has accepted some elements of calculated risk in business as well as community enterprise, a fact that has helped (despite the challenges) to make an enormous difference.” Hugh Davies, Myddfai Community Hall & Visitor Centre
“SDF was invaluable as a lever to support the Youth Festival Pilot and therefore to prove the quality, diversity and value of the event to the audience and future potential funders. Ceri and the team have been extremely supportive, clear about requirements and great at communication. The opportunity to present to the panel was a joy and quite unusual.” Paula Redway, Brecon Youth Festival
“The fund gives projects / groups a great opportunity to grow and develop with an aim to create employment and build sustainable communities.” Rob Davies, Homemakers
“The SDF fund has proven and is continuing to prove invaluable to the Company. The fact that it was able to recognise and yet support the risks inherent in a relatively new company establishing itself commercially and within the boundaries of its Social Enterprise remit demonstrates an almost Venture Capital input from the fund. The project officer has been and continues to be understanding, responsive
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 8 and flexible on the application of the funds and sympathetic to the inherent challenges. There is no doubt that the fund to date has supported the Company and its project direction in a way that is enabling it to make slow but steady progress.” Myddfai Trading Company
“The SDF has been an excellent (and vital) resource and Helen has been extremely helpful, always quick to respond with very useful, realistic advice and information.” Jules Weston, Lluest
“It has helped us immensely by giving us a kick start to get our project up and running.” Julia Lewis, St. John’s Centre
“Extremely useful to have been able to get this relatively small grant approved quickly so that we were able to deliver the events with a short lead-in period.” Gareth Ellis, The Green Valleys
“Excellent fund. Support when needed. Helps to sustain and enable the organisation to grow.” Jackie Charlton, Llangattock Community Woodland Group
“The Sustainable Development Fund has been pivitol to the success of the Black Mountain Centre and has helped the organisation improve provision for Tourists and service users.” Sian Tucker, The Black Mountain Centre, Brynaman
“The fund has enabled an important piece of work to be undertaken which might result in a more sustainable future for the World Heritage Site.” Steve Rogers, Forgotten Landscapes Partnership
“It has enabled us to run an important and popular community hedgerow project involving a wide community including landowners and local authorities that we would not otherwise have been able to fund. We like the fact that SDF officers encourage the different local projects it supports to share expertise and work together where practicable.” Rachel Palmer, The Long Forest
“Exceptionally helpful staff administer the BBNPA SDF and look to the longer view of experimental work such as this seeing its broader possibility. As an individual applicant the work is not compromised by conflicting aims that may exist for an organisation application.” Pip Woolf, The Woollen Line
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 9 5. Projects Receiving Grants or Awarded Grants during 2012/13
Projects have been categorised based on the strongest element of each scheme, although many projects contribute to one or more key strategies in Wales.
Renewable Energy
Llangattock Green Valleys/LGV Ventures CIC
Following on from the success of the British Gas Green Streets competition both Llangattock Green Valleys CIC and its trading subsidiary LGV Ventures CIC have moved forward in the belief that breaking the reliance of grant funded monies is key to the success of both organisations and have continued the work in developing their community asset base where sustainable development will thrive.
2012/13 brought disappointment in that their partner for the proposed Anaerobic Digestion project decided not to proceed further with the proposed scheme. Having reached the stage of decision making on whether or not to enter the planning and permission stage, LGV’s partner The Glanusk Estate felt the risks of such a scheme at the Estate outweighed the benefits.
The disappointment in the above scheme focussed the organisation even more Micro Hydro, with 2012/13 seeing LGV Ventures build on its commitment of delivering Micro Hydro in Llangattock and the surrounding area. A pipeline of schemes at various stages of the journey demonstrates LGV’s commitment to break the reliance of grants through the development of its own asset base. They believe that micro hydro will provide the revenue to meet the group’s aims, with the second quarter of 2014 scheduled to see the construction of their first micro hydro scheme.
SDF awarded a grant of £4,500 to support LGV Ventures CIC with the provision of monies for feasibility studies on micro hydro sites on both the Glanusk Estate and the Beaufort Estate. Of the six schemes that make up the first development phase SDF have supported five out of the six schemes. The six schemes will give 136 kW of generation capacity and save over 300 tons of carbon with a
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 10 strong five digit revenue stream for the organisation over the Feed in Tariff period of 20 years.
A share offering to raise equity for the construction of the first six schemes is due for launch at the end of September 2013 with a target of £831,000 to be raised. LGV Ventures is using its £100,000 prize monies from the British Gas Green Streets competition as capital to part fund the risk capital element of schemes. This is where community energy groups generally struggle to provide the necessary catalyst as most grant funders have a state aid based source of capital which restricts what the risk capital can be used on within the design and permission stage if you are not to forgo the Feed in Tariffs.
The pipeline of schemes puts the organisation in a strong position with further development batches being lined up given the productive relationships forged with the likes of The Glanusk Estate and The Beaufort Estate.
LGV Ventures are also progressing, in conjunction with TGV Hydro Ltd., eight Forestry Commission sites which are being taken forward on a feasibility study/Natural Resources Wales pre application basis through a 50:50 joint venture.
SDF Pillars : Social, environmental & economic
Forgotten Landscapes Hydro Feasibility
The Forgotten Landscapes Partnership (FLP) has been supported through the Heritage Lottery Fund’s landscape partnership scheme. FLP was awarded a three year grant of £2.46 million in 2010 and the delivery period will end in 2013/2014. The partnership includes over 130 members ranging from Welsh Government departments, Local Authorities, NGO’s, town and community councils, local community groups and businesses. The main aim of the partnership is to conserve and promote the Blaenavon World Heritage Site (WHS) and to develop it as an internationally recognised visitor destination.
Projects include conserving and presenting industrial archaeology, improving access to the features of the WHS, producing new trail guides, offering informative events and guided walks intended to raise awareness of the global significance of the site, supporting community led heritage projects, training a volunteer workforce,
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 11 assisting local commoners with heathland restoration etc.
FLP, using Pico Energy, has already successfully installed a 25kw micro hydro system on the Afon Lwyd in Blaenavon (Including £12,000 from SDF in 2010/11). Its purpose is to generate income from a renewable resource which will enable the volunteer workforce and community groups to maintain and improve the heritage landscape. With an annual income of £20,000 in 2012/13 this money will go some way to this end. However by the end of 2013 FLP funding from the heritage lottery will have come to an end and the money being generated by the hydro system will be insufficient to maintain the on- going management of the 71 square km site. In response to this situation FLP has developed an exit strategy which will significantly reduce the partnership’s dependence on the public purse. Included in this exit strategy was the installation of up to 5 additional 25kw hydro systems. It was hoped that these would not only generate income through Feed In Tariffs but also reduce the size of electricity bills at community buildings where the electricity feeds into the grid.
SDF awarded £7,425 towards a project where a skilled consultancy would identify potential sites, verify their viability and establish precise costs on installation and expected annual incomes. The outcomes of the project would be:-
1. Up to 25 viability reports from map analysis, flow modelling data and cost models based on the following criteria: output; proximity to electricity infrastructure; ability of infrastructure to deal with ‘load’ potential; provide electricity to public or community buildings
2. Based on the results of the viability reports complete up to 5 full feasibility studies which will include site visits, initial discussion with landowners, Western Power Distribution, Environment Agency, proximity to local communities and buildings capable of using the power generated.
3. 5 Community Open days at developable sites to present findings and obtain feedback
4. Based on the findings and decisions reached a fully costed feasibility report will be developed recommending which sites should be developed
5. The information will be used by the FLP project team to submit recommendations to the Steering Group, relevant community groups and wider partnership for consent to proceed with both the installation of additional micro hydro sites and to begin the process of establishing a community enterprise whose purpose would be to continue the work begun by the time limited FLP.
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 12 The project was carried out by TGV Hydro Ltd over a 12 month period during 2012/13. During the project 22 sites were evaluated following desktop studies and 16 were deemed deliverable. The 5 best sites were subjected to full feasibilities. However several of these sites have multiple landowners or other landowner issues which means that progress with these hydro schemes is very difficult. Nevertheless the Forgotten Landscapes Partnership will push forward with the schemes during the latter half of 2013/14.
SDF Pillars : Social, environmental, economic & culture
Llangattock Community Woodland Group
Llangattock Community Woodland Group (LCWG) has continued to move forward during 2012/13. SDF provided match funding alongside The Brecon Beacons Trust to employ someone on a contractor basis to pilot the role and prove its scope and viability.
Subsequently Huw Lloyd was appointed to this role and took up post in June 2012. He has more than proved his worth not only in enabling the group to become more effective and efficient. Huw’s appointment has helped LCWG to work towards their key objectives including: • realising the potential for financial sustainability by 2014 • building on the volunteer base encouraging diversity and access to our activities • developing local sources of high-quality, sustainable wood fuel and wood products SDF Annual Report 2012/13 13 • improving the environment throughout the managed woodlands
As soon as Huw was in post, LCWG was able to move up several gears in its activity and increase the impact on the various woodlands and the supply of wood fuel. He significantly added to the administrative capacity enabling volunteers to be well- briefed in advance of each programmed session. Having a dedicated leader meant that the Tuesday daytime group could meet on a weekly basis for a full day—but with flexibility for those volunteers unable to commit this amount of time. This has resulted in a more cohesive volunteer group that quickly rises to the new challenges that have come along. Huw’s local knowledge and networking skills quickly secured further physical resources for the group to carry out its work more effectively. For example, the Canals and Rivers Trust were persuaded to make a canal barge available for moving timber for processing into wood fuel from the canal-side to where the wood processor could be set up at the Limekilns in Llangattock. Huw was soon in touch with the more established Blaen Brân Community Woodland Group, who work 200 acres of larch woodland to the north of Cwmbrân. As a result, LCWG’s firewood processor was loaned to Blaen Bran in exchange for a large log splitter and a small forwarder (used to transport felled logs to where they can be processed.)
Working on the woodlands 16 volunteers have worked for 1860 hours in 2012/13. During this time 60 cubic metres of wood has been extracted, with 35 cubic metres sold. 10 new volunteers have been trained and there is now a focus to include young people from the Duke of Edinburgh scheme. Currently 4 woodlands are being managed, with a further two under negotiation. The group is working in partnership with other local woodlands and other organisations and has advertised its equipment for use by others.
Working with the Canal & Rivers Trust the group has developed a log storage area at the lime kilns at Llangattock and has been able to use a barge for transporting the logs from the woodland sites to the storage area.
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 14 The Dan y Graig woodland was recently reviewed by James Pinder of Treecare Consulting and he states. “Coppice woodland can continue for many centuries and provide essential habitat for UK flora and forna. I am very impressed with the groups work. It is a rare sight indeed to see any woodland managed in the way that the Llangattock Community Woodlands Group is conducting at Dan y Graig Woodland. The group is devoting a lot of time and effort to ensure that once a tree has been selected for coppicing and subsequently felled, all the component parts such as main stem and branches are being used.
I noted carbon neutral wood fuel production and charcoal burning was being carried out in a safe and clear site. The attention to detail in the fuel production means that little or no waste occurs and a high quality product is being produced.
Whilst wood fuel is great for our short term needs the woodlands overall benefit by the creation of coppice stools. It is from these stools that new growth will generate and thus increasing the amount of future stems for coppicing – the process continues. This keeps our native broadleaf trees in the countryside and ensures seed stocks are always present for future generations. As the coppice woodland ages and the coppice re growth develops, the bio diversity of the woodland also benefits. Increasing and decreasing sunlight in the woodland enables various plants and animals to use the woodland at various stages of the year. The hard work is noted and the group should give each other a pat on the back for all the effort so far.”
The challenge for the group is how to secure true sustainability. In the future the group needs to increase its sources of income and plan an exit strategy. Either the group needs to earn enough from revenue streams to pay for the woodland manager/volunteer coordinator or the capacity of the volunteers needs to be increased to a point where the manager is no longer a necessity. The group is currently working on a revised business plan which will go a long way in addressing these issues.
SDF Pillars : Social, environmental, economic & culture
Sustainable Transport
B Bugs 2012 – Eco Travel Network
The Eco Travel Network, which began with £25,500 funding from SDF has been awarded the Scottish Green Travel Prize for 2013, a prize of £50,000.
The Eco Travel Network (ETN) has won a new Scottish Green Transport Prize after demonstrating the benefits of hiring lightweight Renault Twizys to visitors as a “cheap, green and fun” alternative to using 4x4s on country roads.
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 15 The Eco Travel Network (ETN) operates a fleet of low energy electric vehicles in the Brecon Beacons National Park. The Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund granted the ETN £25,500 to set up and part subsidise the first vehicles. It launched in July 2012 and now has 7 members and 40 charge points.
In the Brecon Beacons National Park, car journeys are short, 95% under 25 miles and 63% under 5 miles but they account for 40% of the rural carbon footprint These journeys are currently done in cars that can do 500 miles at 70mph in air- conditioned comfort. Forgoing some of the speed and comfort can save a lot of the energy and on a 5 mile trip, the difference between a 70mph and 30mph vehicle is negligible.
B Bugs became a fleet of Twizys
The ETN uses a fleet of Renault Twizys which weigh three times less than an average car and have limited space and comfort but are great fun to drive. Cutting range to 50 miles and top speed to 50 mph produces a cheap vehicle (£7)k with the same energy costs per passenger mile as a full urban train.
Twizys use so little electricity that they can be fully powered by the local renewable energy, produced via small scale solar PV and hydro.
ETN members fund, host and rent the Twizys from their own accommodation points across the Park. In addition, 40 businesses (pubs, restaurants, visitor attractions and activity providers) are signed up to welcome and re-charge visiting Twizys.
This creates a “virtuous circle” where the hosting businesses and the charge points promote each other and low energy transport.
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 16 So far the Twizys have done over 12,500 miles between them saving 2.8 tonnes of CO2, with over 200 people trying one.
The ETN expects to expand its fleet of electric vehicles over the coming months. For more visit www.ecotravelnetwork.co.uk
The Eco Travel Network is not for profit. All of its funding is used to buy, insure and maintain vehicles. Any rental income is retained by members, and this should cover membership costs or provide equivalent benefit in kind. (e.g. publicity, staff use of vehicles)
Dr Kidd, who is also a psychologist, said Twizys were winning people over, adding: “If you give them a fun experience and change their behaviour, you might change their attitudes in the longer term – and the Twizys are cool and fun. The highlight for the project for us has been the popularity of the vehicles, and businesses across the Park enthusiastically volunteering to be part of the charge network and promoting the scheme”
SDF were the principle funders of the project, enabling the purchase of the 5 initial Twizy’s and without SDF the project would not have gone ahead. 7 vehicles have now been purchased by the company and there are more in the pipeline. Talybont Energy is purchasing an electric van for the community through the ETN. The ETN’s fleet insurance policy and its “buying power” makes this an attractive arrangement all round. This wasn’t anticipated in the original proposal, but is certainly in line with the wider aims and objectives for the programme. In addition 5 Twizys have been bought by individuals in the BBNP as a direct result of trying one of the ETN vehicles.
SDF Pillars : Social, environmental & economic
Abergavenny Cycle Project
The Abergavenny Cycle Group has purchased an electric bike to encourage residents in the Abergavenny area to take up cycling. Because Abergavenny is a relatively hilly area the group believes that the use of electric assist would encourage more people to cycle thereby reducing car journeys. The aim of the project is for 50 people to try the electric bicycle. The group hope that at least 10% of those trialling will end up purchasing an electric bike. 6 people have taken the bike out so far and the comments from customers have included,
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 17 “The bike is good for hills, fresh air in the countryside & inclines”. Two people are definitely considering buying a bike after trying this one “suddenly the back roads of Monmouthshire feel cyclable.” On average two or three people ask about it every day – the main reason stopping them is that they want to go out in couples so the group are now trying to procure a second bike. SDF funding towards the project amounted to £490.
SDF Pillars : Social & environmental
The Sustainable Visitor Transport Initiative
This project was initiated by the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority following a report from CCW’s Transport Advisory Scheme (2007) outlining the importance of visitor transport in Wales’ National Parks and suggesting priorities for action in each. A partnership of public and private stakeholders was formed out of the pre-existing Beacons Bus Partnership with the intention of improving the provision for visitors and from this a project was developed to implement the 2007 report along with other actions. Between 2008/09 and 2012/13 the Sustainable Development Fund has supported the project with a grant of £90,000.
The progress made throughout the project is detailed below and it is especially pleasing to note that the project will be taken forward in the coming year through Rural Development Plan funding.
Visitor Transport Partnership - Meeting twice yearly, this developed into a valuable and supportive group, consisting primarily of transport representatives from local authorities. The Partnership has been able to negotiate cross-border extensions to both the SE Wales and Mid Wales Rover tickets, to the significant advantage of visitors. It has also been able to support the re-introduction of the T4 TrawsCymru bus route from Cardiff to Newtown via Brecon. Partnership working with Arriva Trains Wales has led to a major promotional campaign jointly with Abergavenny Tourism Association.
Weekday Network - Publicity and promotion for use of the weekday network by visitors has been generated by the publication of a series of Car free Days Out leaflets, Walks by bus booklets, concise pocket travel guides and the development of the travel website www.travelbreconbeacons.info Training for tourism businesses has also been important in trying to encourage visitors to take the car free option. The project is working together with Powys CC to promote the newT4 Traws Cymru service.
Marketing - Target markets were identified early on in the project and the information/promotional pieces orientated to them. As the project developed work evolved to take the key messages to these audiences, culminating in a Travel Challenge competition in 2011. This gave the project high levels of publicity linked to new media like Facebook.
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 18 Walking Campaign - Two walks by bus booklets with full map details were published and were well received. One was written to cater for family groups and the other for more experienced mountain walkers. Country Walking magazine o distributed the Mountain Walks by Bus booklet as an on-cover giveaway for one edition, giving very significant extra coverage.
Website - A new website, www.travelbreconbeacons.info was created linking into Traveline Cymru data and showing bus routes and walks on the new Park Explorer web mapping application.
Beacons Bus - The project has supported Beacons Bus, especially with publicity. Beacons Bus has continued to grow in usage with average annual increases of 13% during the project. This is exceptionally unusual in public transport terms and indicates the strength in communications that the project has been largely responsible for.
Private Sector - Training for the private sector whose customers are visitors is a key part of developing sustainable tourism in the National Park. Accommodation businesses can influence their customers’ behaviour and several familiarisation trips were organised so the businesses could recommend bus routes with confidence. A training programme was also devised for taxi drivers, equipping them with local information to pass on to their passengers, adding value to their experience and making them more likely to return. The training generated significant publicity for the project on radio, tv and in the press with 19 drivers from 15 taxi companies now trained in ‘National Park Knowledge’. Working with Visit Wales, this project will continue to develop training, by establishing Smart Travel for Tourism training for tourism businesses, developing travel champions and enabling them to use and provide visitors with sustainable transport information. The training will be delivered to three separate groups - smaller businesses, attractions and local business clusters.
Festivals - The project started with a major success based on partnership working between Hay Festival, Powys CC and BBNPA. A pilot Hereford-Hay bus service was organised for 2009 and over the project period this has become commercially viable. It is now an established feature of the Festival. Similar models have been discussed with Green Man, Brecon Jazz and Abergavenny Food Festivals and it is hoped these discussions will develop in the future.
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 19 Gateways & Interchanges - Improvements to the sense of arrival and welcome was seen as an important part of the visitor experience. The project successfully negotiated a grant worth £25,000 from TraCC to upgrade the information and interpretation at the Brecon bus interchange, and this was successfully completed and installed by March 2012.
Monitoring - Monitoring has been undertaken by volunteers in 2010 and 2011 and the project is currently working with students at Cardiff University to develop a new visitor focused survey for use in 2013. Powys CC commissions most of the major bus routes in the area and between 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 showed an increase an overall passenger usage of 4%, rising to 260,000 passenger journeys in the Brecknockshire area.
The Future - Under the Rural Development Plan, Sustainable Tourism Powys allocated funds in 2012 to the development of a plan to guide further project work across the county and the National Park. This was also supported by the South West Wales Integrated Travel Consortium. The Visitor Transport Plan has now been completed and provides a detailed action plan, subject to funding, to continue the important work this project has so successfully begun.
SDF Pillars : Social, environmental & economic
activities@Llanddeusant
In 2011 SDF supported Paul Smith, who runs the Youth Hostel in Llanddeusant, to provide a local network of workshops that offered bicycle maintenance skills to the local community and promoted cycling as a sustainable and healthy mode of transport.
The activities@Llanddeusant project develops this further, proposing to provide Llanddeusant Youth Hostel an exciting opportunity as a self-sustaining outdoor and activity base for groups to the West of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Between April and October 2013 the project will offer 20 days of activities to local groups to trial the Youth Hostel as an educational/activity base. The facilities at the Youth Hostel allow a series of activities to be immediately available including outdoor learning, natural environment experiences and bush craft; mountain biking (a series of interpretive MTB mountain bike trials have been developed by Paul Smith from the Youth Hostel), cycle maintenance, storytelling, visiting authors/poets, cooking, walking and potentially staying at the Youth Hostel. The SDF grant of £3,989 has specifically supported the purchase of 10 children specific mountain bikes to be used for activities during the project and Paul Smith has committed to maintaining the bicycles for a period of 5 years free of charge.
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 20 SDF Pillars : Social, environmental & economic
Sustainable Living
Myddfai Trading Company
Myddfai Trading Company was incorporated in June 2010 as a direct result of participation in the BBC and Big Lottery Village SOS scheme. It was established as part of a rural regeneration project to support rural and community regeneration in Myddfai and the surrounding area.
The company has developed a range of products for the giftware market based on the history and heritage of Myddfai, in particular the Physicians of Myddfai and Welsh herbal traditions. The business is established as a Social Enterprise with profits used for business growth and surplus available to: support the social, recreational and welfare opportunities of Myddfai; help develop economic activity and employment opportunity in Myddfai and surrounding area and support existing and new businesses and encourage entrepreneurial activity.
The commercial business has made good progress in developing an awareness of the Myddfai brand. It now needs to extend its customer base and reach beyond Wales with new products in order to grow income and profit and build a social capital base that takes it beyond its present position which is positive, but restricted. The company has moved premises to just outside Llangadog in order to professionalise its face to the world and allow it to develop efficiencies in logistics and storage and production. SDF is supporting the company drive to become more efficient and increase sales levels. Sales volumes
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 21 need to increase by 40% over last year’s levels to secure future sustainability and development. This presents a significant challenge to the company reflecting the commercial realities of operating in this market area in the present economic climate.
Myddfai Trading Company has created and owns the Myddfai brand which it shares under licence with Myddfai Ty Talcen Ltd. Both companies share the same social objectives, but are operationally independent.
SDF Pillars : Social & economic
The Green Valleys Community Fruit Pressing & Harvesting
This project set out to: Utilise all local fruit by encouraging community fruit harvesting. There are members within local communities that either couldn’t or didn’t want to pick the fruit in their trees. By offering to harvest the fruit, in exchange for some of the juice or pruning/tidying their trees The Green Valleys aims to make the most of the year’s harvest. Provide the kit, skills and knowledge for pressing fruit. The Green Valleys aims to make available a range of fruit pressing kits for use at local venues. Alongside the kit there are people who have pressed and preserved juice, and know about the different types of equipment available. Also, The Green Valleys have developed bilingual factsheets on collecting, juicing and preserving fruit, including the legal regulations for doing this and the sale of the product both locally and commercially. Compile local information on fruit trees accessible within the community by carrying out a fruit tree audit, alongside our volunteers. The type and size of yield from local trees, and species, wherever possible, were noted whenever possible. Gauge the public interest in holding larger scale events in the future. The 2012 project was intended as a pilot study to measure the interest and support for the scheme, and whether the community groups would benefit in the future purchase of a complete set of kit. The kit would be fully mobile, so that communities can book and run juicing days in their own communities.
Project Outline: The Green Valleys planned 9 juicing days across 7 communities, and each event was slightly different in design. A few examples are included below.
Abergavenny Sunday 14th October TGV had a stall within the Abergavenny Environment Fair in the market hall. The kit used was the TGV scratter (bought using the SDF funding), borrowed Vigo scratter x 2 and wooden Vigo barrel hand press x 2.
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 22 The press here is the 20 litre Vigo barrel apple press
The best quote of the day, was from a young man who was 9 and after seeing his apples crushed and squeezed into delicious juice said, “I’m saving up for my own apple press and my granddad has apple trees!” His granddad confirmed that he had apple trees, although not a good year, and that his grandson had been saving up for a scratter and press but until then had never used one, only seen them. He was truly the most satisfied customer of the day!
Brecon Two juicing events were held, both within the Cathedral grounds.
Volunteers in Brecon using the stainless steel hand kit to process Danywennalt YHA apples!
Here the Vigo 20 litre hydro press is in action, using the water pressure from the mains supply to effectively extract all of the juice from the apple pulp.
Cwmdu (including Crucorney) Two juicing events were held, both at the village hall in Cwmdu, and partly publicised by Cwmdu Sustainable Environment Group, using posters and local mail drops, funded by the SDF grant.
The scratter (on the right) and the press (on the left) are powered by the same belt motor. The apple pulp is formed into ‘cheeses’ and tightly wrapped in the ‘cheese cloths’, which the juice will be squeezed through as the pressure is applied.
Llangattock Saturday 10th NovemberThe juicing event was held at the Llangattock allotments, and the Llangattock Allotment Society helped to publicise the event.
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 23 As the venue is next to a park and the families were working on their plots, there was a really good amount of children involved, and they all loved using the hand kit. The allotment plan to plant fruit trees, and so were keen that the event could be held in the future as part of the activities that the allotments hold. Also, with better planning and communication, with the community council and other active groups, the Primary School Eco club, etc. there were a lot of un-harvested apples in the village. The owners of the trees were happy to donate apples, as many were elderly and couldn’t collect the fruit, so this is something to pursue next year. A gentleman volunteer worked very hard all day and really helped out. His sister remarked that he wasn’t usually so sociable and often struggled in these sorts of situations. Yet she couldn’t believe how engaged he was and said how he had really enjoyed the day. This was the real triumph of the day.
Outcomes: Firstly, from the feedback it was evident that the 2012 year was an extremely poor harvest year, and not just for fruit. According to the experts it was caused by the extended wet weather during the pollination period. Even with taking this into account there was a very positive response from the communities. People came to see the method and kit on display even though their trees had produced no apples!
Pilot Study As a pilot study the response from the public was really positive. Those that brought apples really enjoyed the experience and said that they would return next year.
Communication of skills The transference of skills was clearly evident at every event held, from the younger volunteers who had never seen apples turned into apple juice before to the adults who didn’t realize that cooking apples make excellence juice. There were many people who were keen to purchase their own equipment and now knew what type of kit suited them and how to use it correctly. Perhaps one of the biggest benefits was the event creating a platform for social inclusion, with people from the community meeting each other and discussing apples and chatting.
Fruit Tree Audit
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 24 Some information was collected detailing the species of tree, locality of fruiting trees, etc.
Contacts An added outcome to successfully completing the project this year, is that now The Green Valleys has made and established excellent contacts within the communities and with other organisations. For example the group worked with members of the Marcher Apple Network (MAN) and were able to offer some books, advice, etc., that they had put together to the public on the juicing days. Also, the MAN are keen to support The Green Valleys in 2013. These new connections put The Green Valleys in a better position to organise and hold larger scale events next year and in the future.
SDF Pillars : Social, environmental, economic & culture
A Greener Future for Ystradgynlais
This community recycling initiative has been started and is managed by Ystradgynlais Volunteer Centre. It involves volunteering, skill building and work placement opportunities. It is based at the site of the former Remploy factory at Glanrhyd, Ystradgynlais. At this site they now organise activities to recycle wood, recycle tools and more recently recycle furniture, using volunteer time.
Volunteers come from all sorts of backgrounds and learn basic tool use, carpentry and employability skills to enhance CV’s. The project promotes social interaction, reduces isolation and encourages new friendships. SDF has provided a grant to employ an operations co-ordinator to develop the furniture project activity.
The SDF grant award, which totalled £14,418 over two years has enabled the employment of an operations co-ordinator who has been instrumental in developing the furniture project activity. He also keeps all the records for audit, records statistics, undertakes monitoring and arranges deliveries for items sold.
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 25 Initially one long term unemployed person was employed for 25 hours a week and this has now been increased to 37 hours a week. This project has also provided volunteering opportunities to 77 people over twelve months, with a magnificent number of hours being input, at just under 9,000. In addition this project saves in excess of 4 tonnes a month of furniture recycled which would have otherwise ended in landfill.
SDF Pillars : Social, environmental & economic
Homemakers Bulky Collection Service
At the other end of the Brecon Beacons National Park Homemakers in Abergavenny are helping to divert bulky household items from landfill too. Homemakers Community Recycling is a registered charity based in Abergavenny and works throughout the Brecon Beacons areas of Powys, Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire.
The SDF grant award has enabled the charity to take over the whole of the collection service for Monmouthshire of Bulky Household items. The £16,200 grant will enable the employment of a driver over the next three years to assist with the collections. This position has also provided an increase in volunteering opportunities. In this instance 73 volunteers have given up 12,697 hours of their time to assist in the project.
In the first year of operation the service has recycled 221 tonnes of furniture destined for landfill against a first year target of 180 tonnes.
SDF Pillars : Social, environmental & economic
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 26 Rebound Books
L’Arche Brecon Community is part of an International Federation of 134 communities in 31 countries, where people with and without learning disabilities live and work together.
The L’Arche vision is to create a society where the gifts of people with learning disabilities are recognised and utilised, enabling them to take a full part in society.
Rebound Books is a social enterprise operating from the L’Arche Brecon Community’s small workshop in Brecon Town Centre. It is a project that saves old books that are destined for landfill and transforms them into journals, notebooks, sketchbooks and diaries. Each book is unique and can be custom made to order.
Each book is made by hand using high quality reclaimed paper and wire bindings to a high standard. The project integrates adults with learning disabilities with others from the wider community.
SDF is supporting the organisation through help with purchasing equipment and training. The aims of the project are:- 1. To reduce the amount of books being discarded and put into landfill, by reusing them to create beautiful and unique products - The purchase of further equipment has enabled the group to double the amount of machinery available at any one time. Also whilst some equipment is fixed other newer items are mobile, allowing training and awareness sessions to be held at different locations.
2. To create activities and employment for people with learning disabilities - The workshop is now open every day and this has enabled more than double the amount of books to be diverted from landfill.
3. To make the skills and gifts of people with learning disabilities more visible and valued by everyone in society
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 27 4. To create a strong community network of diverse people, committed to recycling, who through working together can make the enterprise sustainable and mutually beneficial
To date 18 training courses have been run, with 54 participants against a target of 8 courses and 48 participants. The project has been successful in strengthening the links of L’Arche with the wider community and has enabled people with learning difficulties to train participants. As a result of the courses, L’Arche has been asked by Social Services to provide opportunities for other people with learning disabilities in the area. Moving forward the project, run as a social enterprise, will distribute any profits not reinvested to its members.
SDF Pillars : Social, environmental & economic
Wild Garlic Festival
About 140 people joined the second Wild Garlic Festival on the weekend of April 14 and 15. This was a celebration of woodland and wild food, a chance to experience the beauty of spring in the Black Mountains. The first day of the event was at Llwyn Ffranc, the second in Arcadia Wood in the nearby hamlet of Pantygelli. Participants had the chance to forage for wild garlic in the woodland at Llwyn Ffranc and at both venues were provided with wild food, expert speakers and a relaxing festival atmosphere. The speakers on the first day were Emily Stokes, talking about the work of the Woodland Trust, and Brigit Strawbridge, talking about wild bees. On day two Franco Taruschio, the chef who made the Walnut Tree Inn famous, showed participants how to cook with wild garlic. They also had Raoul Van der Brouke (TV wild food expert and forager) and Christopher Robbins (herbalist, published writer and lecturer). Arcadia Wood is a venue for eco-health projects, courses and training. It also hosts local community woodland members and those interested in traditional woodland management. See www.arcadiawood.co.uk.
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 28 Llwyn Ffranc held its first Wild Garlic Festival last April. About 50 people, adults and children, went to the farm. Many foraged in the woodland and everyone had the chance to eat a fine wild garlic soup. The annual festival has now continued in 2013 without SDF funding.
SDF Pillars : Social, environmental, economic & culture
The Rural Housing Enabler
The Rural Housing Enabler (RHE) project has been run by Monmouthshire Housing Association over recent years, in partnership with a number of housing associations, local authorities, Welsh Government and the Brecon Beacons National Park. The project has been in place since 2003 with the main aim of promoting sustainable affordable housing in rural areas of the National Park. The RHE project in the BBNP was the first in Wales and as a result of its success there are now nine RHEs working in a number of different local authority areas.
The highlight of this final year of the project has been the completion of eight affordable homes for local people in Bwlch, which lies within the Cwmdu and District Community Council area. The site was recently officially opened by the Minister for Housing and Regeneration Carl Sargeant who spoke to some of the new residents and was welcomed into their homes.
In the Vale of Grwyney Community Council area,
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 29 planning permission has now been granted for the two open market and six affordable homes in Llanbedr, subject to certain conditions. The development cannot be started until these conditions have been met, but it is hoped that they can soon be addressed and that Wales and West Housing Association can commence work on site.
In Llangynidr the RHE has liaised with the landowner, planning agent and housing association to ensure that ten new affordable homes will be built. Work on these new affordable homes will commence shortly with Melin Homes being the developing housing association.
In Talgarth the RHE has continued to support the Town Council and the Talgarth and District Regeneration Group in an attempt to get affordable housing built in the town as well as bring empty properties back into use. The RHE was interviewed for Britain’s Empty Homes Revisited, which was aired on BBC 1. The footage in Talgarth totalled nearly ten minutes and highlighted a success story in Talgarth of bringing a pair of previously empty cottages back into use. The RHE has also supported the Town Council in responding to various planning matters including the BBNPA Deposit LDP.
In terms of the LDP the RHE attended many of the Hearing Sessions to give evidence to the Planning Inspector about various housing matters. Beforehand the RHE communicated with a number of community councils to ensure the points he raised at the Hearing Sessions reflected local opinions.
In the Monmouthshire part of the National Park work has commenced on site in Llanfihangel Crucorney for the development of eight new affordable homes. These new homes are likely to be completed in September 2013. The RHE made a presentation to the local community about the allocation of the new homes and has subsequently being liaising with local residents about the allocation process as well as other sustainable development issues within the area.
Outside of the Brecon Beacons National Park, the RHE has been working closely with Monmouthshire planners to ensure sites allocated in their LDP are deliverable and that supplementary planning guidance related to affordable housing is realistic and workable.
Most recently the RHE was invited to a lunch reception with HRH Prince Charles. The RHE is in regular communication with AMs across all parties and provides support and advice to them as and when required.
Although the funding of the RHE project has ceased from the BBNPA, the post continues to work in Monmouthshire with the support of the local authority, Welsh Government and three housing associations.
SDF Pillars : Social & economic
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 30 Community Pride
Myddfai Community Hall & Visitor Centre
The achievements to date have been remarkable in a short space of time at Myddfai. The Sustainable Development Fund and the Welsh Government’s CFAP fund alongside the Big Lottery Village SOS fund and others have been essential in getting Myddfai to this point of having a fantastic facility in the village. There have been risks and Myddfai also needs to pursue the objective of partnership; rural regeneration and employment further, grow all elements of income generation and further increase community activity. The range and scope of what is possible on their record of delivery is ambitious but is in keeping with the ethic of the plan and that of funders and supporters.
The capital build and the construction of a wonderful new facility in the centre of Myddfai has been step one. The challenge over the last year has been for the centre to explore true financial viability. The encouragement to install renewable energy measures into the construction of the new hall is proving to be extremely cost effective. The net total fuel costs for running the hall have averaged less than £100 a month during its first 15 months of operation. The challenge now is to ensure that the centre is able to become sustainable in the longer term and SDF has supported Myddfai in 2012/13 to employ two part-time staff to manage the café , its volunteers and the shop to ensure a professional and commercial vistor experience.
Alongside the two part-time jobs created, 55 people have been involved in volunteering at the centre and have generated an impressive 10,800 volunteer hours. Total sales in 2012/13 were £63,837. The cost of sales of £24,069 represents the concessionaries passed to local craft and artmakers for the items made for sale in the shop.
Over its first year of operation it is estimated that 6,000 people visited Myddfai and the local community has been able to participate in a range of courses held in the hall including food hygiene, health & safety and digital photography, film editing and computer competency courses.
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 31 During the year the most significant element, aided by SDF, has been the creation of a legal licence and the protection of the intellectual property and commercial asset of the Myddfai brand. This formulises the relationship between Myddfai Ty Talcen Ltd, looking after the community hall and visitor centre and Myddfai Trading Company Ltd, which operates commercially in a very competitive market.
The highlights in terms of the current project have been : A steady increase in income and financial contribution to local micro businesses Despite some issues there continues to be a steady increase in community involvement Improvements in marketing and differentiation with Myddfai Trading Co. Ltd through reciprocal websites and leafleting
At the end of this year of SDF support the plan is now to retain the two jobs created with the grant aid. Many opportunities still exist to build on the momentum created to maximise economic opportunities for the immediate and wider community.
SDF Pillars : Social, environmental, economic & culture
Canolfan Gymunedol Ystradowen Community Centre
The Ystradowen community centre was formerly known as “Ystradowen Workingmen’s Club and Institute and locally known as Clwb Bach or The Kitchen. The building was purchased in 1996 by the then Dyfed County Council and with some renovation work has been used since then as a Day Centre. Clwb Bach has also occupied the main building too since 1997. Despite large opposition Carmarthenshire County Council closed the Day Club at Ystradowen in May 2011. After being closed for a week, a group of concerned local volunteers formed a committee to take over the day to day running of the club with a view to purchasing the building and running it as a community centre.
Two public meetings were held in March & April and attended by 80 plus people from the village, of which 26 offered to volunteer their time to assist with the future running of the day centre. Following this a committee was formed to take the project forward.
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 32
The mission statement of Canolfan Gymunedol Ystradowen Community Centre is “a community led project which will provide a variety of services to the local community including health related advice, surgeries etc., a neighbourhood college and community involvement work”. The aims and objectives of the group are:- 1. To extend the day centre facilities to the surrounding areas, including Cwmtwrch, Gurnos, Rhiwfawr, Cwmlynfell, Cefnbrynbrain, Rhosamman and Brynaman.
2. To provide a building to serve as a community hub to facilitate a variety of activities for the people of Ystradowen and its surrounding areas/parishes.
3. These activities will promote the health, well-being, intergenerational activity and social cohesion of the local community.
4. The activities to be provided are those activities identified by the community itself.
SDF has supported the project with £17,000 over two years, which has helped to complete the necessary building alterations and has provided match funding for the employment of a centre manager to help with project development.
There are currently 24 volunteers helping at the centre, committing 2,251 hours of their time. The centre is now becoming the community hub. Participation has increased at all of the groups including fitness and a new group, the “intergenerational computer group” has been formed. Activities continue to increase also with a 3 volunteers running a fuel club which has attracted 350 members, making savings of over £14,000 in its first five months of operation. Private hire & the number of concerts held have increased and a befriending group has been created. A new minibus has made it much easier to bring in users from the wider community. As a result the numbers using the centre continue to grow.
SDF Pillars : Social, economic & culture SDF Annual Report 2012/13 33 Canolfan Y Mynydd Du/The Black Mountain Centre
Over the years the Sustainable Development Fund has been pivotal to the success of the Black Mountain Centre and has helped the organisation improve provision for tourists and service users.
The Building a Sound Future project began in the summer of 2011 following a root and branch review of the centre building & services. Following consultation with service users, service providers and funders the Building a Sound Future Strategic Plan was drawn up. This plan has seen the redevelopment of the centre. SDF has supported this project with a grant of £2,140 to partition off the previous kitchen and thereby establish storage space and self-contained kitchen area. The partitioning off of the old kitchen has enabled the Centre to provide catering facilities for local social enterprises. The Centre is in discussion with Coleg Sir Gar to further develop catering opportunities within the organisation, aiming to provide an NVQ in catering for the 2013/14 academic year. In addition three storage rooms have been created for excess furniture. This makes the facility more pleasing for service users and visitors.
The centre is now home for the local library, doctor’s surgery, café, tourist information point and meeting space for all sorts of activities. It is of critical importance for the people of Brynaman that this centre is successful and manages to achieve financial viability.
SDF Pillars : Social, economic & culture
Mountains & Lakes – Merched Y Wawr
SDF supported this project with £650 in the year in which Brecknock was the feature county at the Royal Welsh Show. The objectives of the project were:-
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 34 To offer an environmental art exhibit depicting the landscape of the Brecon Beacons including key landmarks Inform Merched Y Wawr members and visitors visiting the area of Welsh heritage and culture To demonstrate the use of recyclable materials in an innovative way To highlight and educate on 4 key areas of the National Park in Welsh & English through the use of poetry, photography and hand crafted items. Enhance our cultural heritage through the use of Welsh Language and to encourage, support and mentor those learning Welsh To offer a touring exhibition piece of the Brecon Beacons National Park Landscape. The exhibition was created by 17 volunteers, devoting 583 hours of their time to produce the exhibition. The project was seen and appreciated by thousands at the Royal Welsh Show 2012 and through TV and newspaper coverage too. At the Show members took it in turns to be on duty and this was rewarded by the praise and interest received from the public. Since the show the exhibition has been displayed at many venues including the National Park Visitor Centre, Brecon Beacons National Park headquarters in Brecon, St. Mary’s Church, Brecon, the Thomas Art Gallery in Pen- Y-Bont near Llandrindod Wells and the exhibition will make its permanent home in the Museum in Brecon.
SDF Pillars : Social, environmental, economic & culture
The Green Catalyst – The Green Valleys Community Interest Company
The Green Valleys Community Interest Company was set up with the following objects:-
1. The generation and use of sustainable energy coupled with the reduction of energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions.
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 35 2. Implementing, supporting and advising on projects or works that deliver sustainable improvements to the local environment.
3. The promotion and delivery of education and training into communities to support the objectives of reducing energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions plus increasing local environmental awareness.
4. Acquiring and distributing funds, guidance and support to the local groups and other community interest projects that support the objectives of reducing non-sustainable energy usage and greenhouse gas emission and deliver sustainable improvements to the local environment. The aim of this project is to capture and promote sustainable community projects that are emerging within the Brecon Beacons through the creation of community made videos, photographs and internet resources.
Over the past few years there have been some outstanding successes in developing sustainable projects by local community groups (including The Green Valleys). Part of The Green Valley’s role in the coming years is to act as the network hub for existing local groups and projects and to act as an enabler for future initiatives. This project is the start of the The Green Valleys enabling process and will include the creation of a new website suitable for multi-media resources and helpful guides with particular emphasis on creating short films on the way local projects have been established and managed.
Rather than opting to pay for an external contractor to come in and make the films the group has bought equipment for themselves and other member groups to use (at the lower end of the good quality range). This will prove cheaper than commissioning someone to make the films and will enable the stories to be revised over the coming years and enable emerging opportunities to also be filmed.
The Green Valleys plans to make the equipment available to other local groups developing low carbon and biodiversity enhancing projects.
Alongside a new website all of the videos and photos will also be posted on You tube, Vimeo and Flickr (and any new iterations) enabling local groups to reach a wider audience and share success.
The project covered the purchase of equipment including a video recorder, sound equipment, desktop editing suite, cameras and an Infrared Camera for the production of images to show where heat was being lost from buildings.
The infrared camera has been used 5 times to date and the experience of the Cwmdu Sustainable Energy Group is detailed http://www.cseg.org.uk/energy_insulation.html
One of the first videos to be made by The Green Valleys can be found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnXdPi2Xm00
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 36 Five community groups have used the video equipment too, with over 8 hours of footage taken to date.
SDF Pillars : Social, environmental & economic
The Gliss Project, Hay on Wye Town Council
Hay Town Council currently manages an area of ground adjacent to the river Wye known as The Gliss. The Gliss lies at the bottom of Wyeford Road just outside the old town wall and the Water Gate. It is an area of land approx. 1 acre between the former railway line and the River Wye.
The area has historically been used by the town as a common amenity allowing access to fishing and to the eastern end of the Bailey Walk. In the C18th and early C19th it was the access point on the southern (town) bank of the river to the ford and ferry across to the Radnorshire bank. The River Wye is notable for its exceptional canoeing and kayaking and a public right of navigation runs from Hay Town Bridge downstream to where the Wye joins the Severn below Chepstow. Since the removal of the old railway bridge, vehicles have been able to access the land and the Gliss is currently an extremely popular and frequently used canoe landing point. Before the implementation of this project the access point was quite steep and in need of upgrading to ensure it remained a serviceable location. The project addressed the existing issues by developing the site to offer greatly improved access and opportunities for water recreation to a far wider audience than were able to make use of the site at that time. The improvements at the site include a disabled access point and a new novice/junior fishing platform also with disabled access.
Following project implementation the feedback from users, including canoe companies and non-users including both local residents and visitors has been very positive. The SDF contribution to total project costs was £9,100.
SDF Pillars : Social, environmental, economic & culture
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 37 Social Inclusion, Education & Conservation
The Woollen Line, Pip Woolf
The Woollen Line, has been named winner of the 2013 Council for National Parks “Park Protector” Award in recognition of its innovative approach.
Woollen Line is a drawing begun in 2010 as a 300 metre line of wool. It explores the conservation value of low-grade wool and has created a line of communication among disparate interests and hundreds of people that have been involved so far. For 34 years no solution had been found as to repairing the damage caused by fire in 1976 which left 7 hectares of peat exposed to erosion. Since the first line provided a guide for subsequent lines to follow, a thread to connect ideas, actions and understanding, 2700m of wool, 300 “sausages” and 1500 cuttings have been installed
The Woollen Lines has raised the consciousness of a problem few people knew about. The project has engaged communities whose livelihoods depend on the uplands as well as those who use them recreationally. It directly supports the local economy of the Brecon Beacons through the use of wool sourced from farms grazing Pen Trumau. The project continues to draw woollen lines to both restore the landscape and communication, building an ever increasing spectrum of public participation. Using low grade wool and pony transport the project aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, exploring low energy solutions to this problem.
Prior to this project relationships in this area had broken down between stakeholders to such an extent that no conservation work was likely to happen. The use of wool in this unconventional manner by an extraordinary lady has provided a mechanism not only for conservation, but has been exemplary in developing dialogue. Participants in the project have included farmers, local residents, officers from CCW and BBNP, the British Wool Marketing Board and visitors to the area. The active engagement of school pupils and socially excluded youngsters in each installation event has seen demonstrable benefits for the individuals.
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 38 The project is innovative as it takes the most ancient form of textile, using it in a completely new way as a tool for conservation. The woollen lines themselves are made of felted wool, laid in long lines across bare peat. The felt provides a cover for the peat, temporarily stabilising it to allow plants to establish from seed. In erosion channels “wool sausages”, nets stuffed with wool are placed. These absorb water and release it slowly reducing the erosive power of water. As the wool lines and sausages break down they provide nutrients to the plants.
Best practice has been achieved through wide-scale involvement. Volunteers have advised on and participated in event design, planning & delivery, design of saddlebags, net manufacture, felt making, wool supply and testing and installation. Communication has been key to the project. A major art exhibition two years ago, an active blog and another exhibition planned during Climate Change Week in 2013 all share the work and raise awareness of this motivational project. In addition the propagation of native cotton grass seed by community volunteers to be planted on the mountain is further increasing the conservation effect of the project.
The SDF grant in 2012/13 amounted to £19,160. The project continues, without SDF currently.
SDF Pillars : Social, environmental, economic & culture
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 39 Lower Mellte Plant Survey
This project was managed by SWOAPG – the South Wales Activity Providers Group. The aim of the group is to provide representation on behalf of all activity providers in South Wales and the Brecon Beacons and provide a focal point for projects and initiatives relating to the delivery of environmentally sustainable Outdoor Activities in these areas.
The purpose of this project, supported by £2,300 from SDF, was to undertake a survey of lower plants at particular points of access and egress on the Afon Mellte used by gorge walking groups operating in Waterfall Country.
As a result of the survey the code of conduct for Gorge Walking Activity Providers has been further developed and refined to ensure that environmentally sensitive areas are avoided. The picture here shows an extract from that code of conduct.
SDF Pillars : Social & environmental
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 40
Waterfall Volunteer Scheme
SDF awarded the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority £950 to set up a volunteer scheme in the Waterfalls area and to provide the waterfall country volunteers with a gazebo and flags to increase their visibility to visitors allowing them a sheltered area to speak to visitors and better promote the work of the Authority and partner organisations within the Waterfalls area.
The project is aimed at, and first year results reinforce that as a result of the project there has been
A reduction in the issues surrounding parking at Clun Gwyn Common A visible BBNPA presence at the 3 sites during the peak visitor season Active promotion of the safety message Active promotion of the gorge walking code of conduct to groups using the car parks Increased security Promotion of the work of the BBNPA and partner organisations
At the end of season training day and meal a workshop was held to capture the views of the volunteers on three different topics areas:
Highlights of the 2012 season. Ways of enhancing the scheme in 2013 Training requirements
SDF Pillars : Social, environmental, economic & culture
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 41 Lluest Horse & Pony Trust
Lluest Horse and Pony Trust is an equine rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing charity, based on Beili Bedw farm, 3 miles south of Llangadog, within the Brecon Beacons National Park. Their mission is to rehabilitate and re-home rescued ponies and provide an education and training resource for local community groups of disadvantaged young people and adults in a sustainable rural environment. Working on the farm with the rescued horses and ponies forms the basis of this unique training, development and rehabilitation process.
The need for the toilet block and hand-washing/shower facility development has been identified by all user groups including: Coleg Elidyr (specialist college for people with moderate to severe learning disabilities); Interplay (project to integrate young people into play and leisure opportunities); Forest Lodge (care home for young adults) and Probation Service Powys (offenders project). The need has also been identified by potential partners keen to work with them on developing woodland walks around the farm, attracting public visitors and so promoting sustainable tourism that provides healthy, low impact activities in the Brecon Beacons National Park.
The SDF grant of £14,008 was used to convert one of the farm outbuildings into a disabled toilet block and hand washing with showering facility. This redevelopment has been essential for Lluest to proceed with the infrastructure development for their education programmes for community groups such as children with disabilities, young people and adults with a learning disability and vulnerable young adults in care.
Furthermore without the development of a toilet/handwashing facility they would be unable to attract tourists and visitors to the Farm and future woodland walk and thus secure a sustainable future for the core work of Lluest Horse and Pony Trust. During the development of the facilities the highest standards of sustainability were adhered to in order to save on energy and water including the installation of end timer taps, low flush toilet cisterns and a low energy boiler, heater and hand driers. SDF Annual Report 2012/13 42
Unfortunately since June this year there have been an outbreak of the infectious horse disease, strangles, on the farm which has meant that Lluest has had to close to public visitors during their busiest time. However the facilities remain the most critical element to working with visitors from all backgrounds when the farm reopens in September.
SDF Pillars : Social, environmental & economic
St. John’s Centre
The St. John’s Centre is based in the Old Priory School building on Pendre Close in Brecon. St. John’s is based in a deprived area of Brecon. It aims to support and advise families within the St. John’s ward and is providing low cost childcare, basic skills and parenting courses, and training courses to help parents to return to work. The family centre is providing much needed family and child support facilities in a one stop centre. It is easily accessed from within the local community and is working closely with partner organisations in order to improve the well-being of children and families.
With the help of a grant from SDF of £7,950 over two years the project has managed to reach 300 young people and 50 older people in its first year. Various playgroups are being run, including a Ti a Fi session, hosting of TWF for six weeks and a Welsh family fun day was held. A variety of courses have been held and open days have been held to encourage the community to fully utilise the centre.
The challenge for the centre is to fully establish its facilities, to become widely used by the community to make a real difference to that community and achieve true sustainability.
SDF Pillars : Social & economic
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 43 Dark Skies
Brecon Beacons National Park has some of the darkest skies in the UK making it the perfect destination to visit to get a better view of the stars in the sky. As part of the project, awarded £4,950 from SDF, this project run by the Brecon Beacons Park Society with the assistance of the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, has achieved the status of the first “Dark Sky Reserve in Wales”. (Picture by Michael Sinclair)
This highly coveted status has only ever been given to a handful of international destinations. The project has aimed to combat the growing encroachment of light pollution into the Park and to mitigate its adverse effects. The project sought to raise awareness and understanding of this special quality of the Park through an awareness campaign, public events and an education programme designed to reach every school in the National Park and surrounding area.
Across the Park 12 school were visited and 627 pupils took part in the project. Access to the night sky has been achieved through increased awareness and an observatory initiative. Individuals, companies and local government are all being asked to reduce their light pollution and this remains work in progress. In addition work is ongoing on a joint GIS database of biodiversity and night sky quality.
The project has received widespread media coverage, on TV, radio, newspaper and magazine articles and the internet, which has also helped to spread the awareness of the quality of the night sky in the Park.
SDF Pillars : Social, environmental, economic & culture
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 44 The Long Forest, a community hedgerow project from Keep Wales Tidy
This project, awarded £60,000 over three years, involves a wide community in caring for the network of farm, wayside and garden hedgerows that form an important landscape feature of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Well managed, native species hedgerows are an asset to local farms and an important habitat for wildlife.
The project is open to all within the National Park:
Community Groups Schools & Colleges Farmers & Landowners Local Authorities & contractors Businesses Natural historians & specialist organisations Project participants will develop an informed interest in local hedgerows, their appearance, their practical and landscape value and the diversity of species found in and around them. Volunteers are being trained and supported to undertake wildlife surveys and to learn traditional hedge-laying, infilling, coppicing and planting of mixed native species hedges and sustainable harvesting. Landowners are being encouraged to plan for sensitive seasonal management of hedgerows and associated features. The project is also championing the garden hedge, lost from many housing developments and other community areas.
During the year the first Long Forest hedgerow was planted at Maendu Well, Brecon. Hedge laying training has proved extremely popular, with 17 training places filled on a Long Forest hedge-laying training course at Cwmdu on the first day of publicising it and a waiting list for further courses.
In this first phase of the project 90
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 45 volunteers have been trained. 15 landowners are currently involved with the project, 5 farm advisory visits have been held and 25 enquiries received.
Overall 926 volunteer hours have been recorded in the first year, 7 schools and 282 children have been involved. This project is supporting 5 part-time jobs.
SDF Pillars : Social, environmental, economic & culture
CALCH
CALCH is a partnership project between Dyfed Archaeological Trust, the National Museum of Wales, Brecon Beacons National Park Authority and the Black Mountain Centre in Brynaman.
The CALCH project takes its name from the Welsh word for ‘Lime’ and will work to discover, celebrate and repair the remains of the lime industry at Herbert’s Quarry on the Black Mountain. Herbert’s Quarry is situated within the Brecon Beacons National Park, adjacent to a car park, in a spectacular location on the A4069 mountain road between Llangadog and Brynaman. The site is included within the Black Mountain and Mynydd Myddfai registered landscape of outstanding historic interest in Wales, is part of a SSSI in recognition of the significance of its geology and also lies within the Forest Fawr Geopark.
The project plan is to produce conservation, management and interpretation plans for the site, followed by a programme of conservation works to the industrial remains and the development of interpretative and education material. Recognition of the diversity of community benefits that could be achieved as part of the project has meant that community involvement is an important aspect of the project. Specifically the CALCH project objectives are:-
To develop understanding of the industrial remains on the Black Mountain by assessing their extent, significance and condition. To inform the future management of the industrial remains on the Black Mountain, by identifying the conservation requirements of various bodies and highlighting links between the industrial archaeology, its landscape, geology, ecology and cultural heritage. To undertake prioritised structural conservation, access and site safety work To celebrate the industrial heritage of the Black Mountain and Herbert’s Quarry by engaging with communities who actively use the mountain,
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 46 including local communities, graziers, walkers and tourists in the discovery of their industrial heritage To develop the Herbert’s Quarry area as a learning resource for local schools and others, by collating, disseminating and improving access to information and educational resources. To forge stronger community links between north and south of the mountain and to reach new and wider audiences by developing the site as a visitor destination and thereby increasing economic and other associated benefits to existing enterprises and communities in the area.
In its first year 50 volunteers have signed up to the project, with 12 actively involved, completing 178 hours of work. In total 160 individuals have attended CALCH activities and/or events. Volunteers have undertaken documentary research into census returns. In spite of some awful weather fieldwork was undertaken with the volunteers up on the mountain. In this first year stakeholder meetings were held, consultation with statutory bodies and organisations was undertaken, awareness raising sessions were held and research undertaken. The CALCH project is receiving grant funding of £34,300 over three years.
SDF Pillars : Social, environmental, economic & culture
Brecon Youth Festival
SDF awarded Theatr Brycheiniog £10,000 to run the first Youth Festival in Brecon. The festival is aimed at the 0-25 age group, but all ages are welcomed and families are encouraged. The aim of the first festival was to encourage young people to take part in the many activities which are available to them locally by providing them with an accessible and “fun” atmosphere on one day. The festival provided a showcase of local community groups and activities which they were able to find out more about in an informal and festival atmosphere way. The outcomes of the project were anticipated to be:-
Increased awareness of/and interest in local activities and groups etc. among young people
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 47 Increased confidence among young people in approaching groups and joining in on a regular basis Greater awareness of initiatives in the area e.g. environmental, community, cultural Integration within the local community and greater appreciation of the BBNP area Stronger ties between Theatr Brycheiniog and local community Opportunities for ownership of youth festival project in future years for young people Increased patronage of facilities and businesses in Brecon and locality Increased opportunities for volunteering Increased cultural awareness among young people
The results from the day, held on 18th August were extremely positive and the festival will be held once again in 2013.
An estimated footfall of 1,000 young people and their families enjoyed the wide range of arts, sports and community activities which were programmed; most activities were fully subscribed. Over 60 young people took part as performers in the festival and over 500 people, approximately 60% of whom were under 26 years of age attended the arts based activities including music, puppetry, theatre performances and taster session workshops. Many youngsters were able to have a go at activities that they had never tried before, with several inspired to continue to develop these new skills and interest further. The festival brought visitors to the town, with approximately 50% of attendees not from Brecon. It also introduced people to ways in which they can potentially make a living in rural mid Wales. The festival partnership included over 40 key individuals and organisations. New partnerships began to be developed between festival partners on the day too. The festival was successful in raising the profile of environmental issues and the use of the Welsh Language.
27 people volunteered in running the festival on the day, 20 of them were young people.
SDF Pillars : Social, environmental, economic & culture
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 48 Community Marquee 2012-2013 (SDF Grant 2011/12)
SDF supported the cost of a marquee for community use within the Brecon Beacons National Park. A successful marquee loan scheme had been running since 2006 but after extensive use the original equipment was no longer viable for public service. In February 2012 an SDF award of £1017 bought a replacement marquee along with several accessories including ground bar ramps for users with wheelchairs or pushchairs.
From May 2012 to April 2013 the marquee received 17 community bookings. Despite a couple of bookings being cancelled due to the weather the marquee was used by 15 events of a varying nature including ; allotment society gatherings, Young Farmers Club, village fetes, gardening shows, a bike festival, the local Pony Club and several jubilee celebrations! The loan scheme remains free of charge (other than requiring the group to have event insurance) and continues to enable smaller, traditional events to keep their costs to a minimum, sustaining local events which might otherwise no longer be viable.
All of the events supported rely on volunteers and during 2012 – 13 volunteer time recorded from the group bookings was in excess of 1500 volunteer hours.
‘The marquee was used for our open weekend in conjunction with National Garden Scheme. The general public was invited to view the allotment site and community orchard. In addition displays in the Marquee of our future plans and our links with the local primary school were received with interest. The event was supported by 15 local volunteers who contributed approximately 100 hours of their time. We had 150 people visit over the weekend. The weather was far from kind so the highlight of the event was the use of the marquee for tea and SDF Annual Report 2012/13 49 conversation - we are keen to do it again next year!’ - Crucorney Allotments July 2012
‘We had a fantastic day for our show on Saturday, we could not believe how good the weather was considering the wet summer we have had! Thank you so much, having the BBNP Community Marquee available to groups like ours is invaluable’. Llangattock Allotments Sept 2012.
The Future
The Sustainable Development Fund is key to the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority’s ability to develop projects in partnership with communities to further joint ambitions in areas such as renewable energy, sustainable transport, sustainable living, community pride, social inclusion, education and conservation. The strength of the Fund is its ability to support a wide range of projects demonstrating a diversity of positive improvements across the Park.
Applicants find the Sustainable Development Fund process an easy one to follow, it is quick and officers are readily available and willing to help. The fund is essential for projects within the National Park, providing an excellent method of engaging with and shaping projects which deliver on the Park Authority’s Annual Objectives, but also the Welsh Government’s Vision for a more Sustainable Wales.
The focus for the fund going forward will be to continue to support projects which find innovative solutions which ensure sustainable development and enhancement of the community for all, while sustaining the countryside in which we live. Our priority is to support projects which best demonstrate economic, social, environmental and cultural integration.
Mitigating & adapting to climate change, sustainable living and social inclusion (addressing poverty and access to services) will continue to provide next years’ challenges and we will be looking for new innovative projects which can help to address these issues.
Regenerating life within our rural communities, improving the wellbeing of those living in the Park and enabling the Park & Park communities to play a central role in taking forward a vision for a Sustainable Wales will be the focus for the Sustainable Development Fund over the coming twelve months.
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 50 Sustainable Development Fund Performance Indicators & Output Measures April 2012 – March 2013 Overall Aim: Through partnership, to develop and test ways of achieving a more sustainable way of living in a countryside of great natural beauty and diversity in which local characteristics of culture, wildlife, landscape, land use and community are conserved and enhanced.
Objectives: 1. Explore ways of meeting as far as practicable the 4 principles of sustainability and of breaking down barriers that can act as obstacles to sustainability. 2. To develop and support community based projects promoting sustainable development objectives. 3. Generate greater awareness & understanding of sustainability.
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS April 2012 – March 2013 % of decisions on completed applications notified to 100% of all applications (under applicant on time – target is 95% within 14 days of & over £1k) notified within 14 consideration by Panel for applications over £1,000. days of Panel. Under £1,000 – 28 days from receipt of completed application. 100% Number of jobs created & safeguarded 30 (Full or part-time incl. temporary & permanent) Number of volunteering opportunities 1287
OUTPUT MEASURES RESULTS On Grants Awarded in 2012/13 April 2012 – March 2013 Amount of money levered in from other sources Total - £741,138 Ratio 1:3
Grand total levered in to date (June
2000 – March 2013) - £9 million Value of in kind & volunteer donations £146,229
Public : Private ratio of match funding 1: 2.36
No. of training days/awareness raising sessions carried out on 2 sustainability and SDF with business organisations No. of projects which support two or more of the key 100% principles of sustainable development as set out in the operational guidelines
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 51
Finance Report - Grant Payments Made in 2012/13 Total SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FUND Project Code PROJECT NAME 2012/13 Grant sgg O Gwmpas Y Llyn - Around the Lake 29,390 ecd Sustainable Visitor Transport Initiative 2,225 90,000 sht Rural Housing Enabler Continuation 5,000 24,000 siz Abergavenny Electric Bike Project 490 490 sjb Crucorney Allotment Development 2,500 2,500 sji A Geener Future - Ystradgynlais Volunteer Centre 8,671 14,418 sjk L'Arche Rebound Books 1,930 6,859 sjl Green Catalyst - Green Valleys 1,633 5,634 sjm LGV Woodland/Volunteer Manager 5,665 5,665 sjp Lower Mellte Survey, SWOAPG 2,300 2,300 Canolfan Gymunedol Ystradowen Community sjq Centre 10,000 17,000 sjt The Gliss River Access Project 9,100 9,100 sju The Wild Garlic Festival 800 800 sjv Waterfall Country Volunteer Warden Scheme 950 950 sjx Mountains & Lakes-Merched Y Wawr 650 650 sjy Learn with Grandma 177 177 sjz Party in the Park 750 750 ska Forgotten Landscapes Hydro Feasibility 7,425 7,425 skb B Bugs 2012 25,500 25,500 skc Myddfai Visitor Centre Growth 14,677 19,192 skd Woollen Line 19,160 19,160 ske Youth Festival Theatr Brycheiniog 10,000 10,000 skf Brecon Beacons Dark Skies 4,950 4,950 skg Homemakers Bulky Collection 5,250 16,200 skh Myddfai Trading Company 2,910 10,000 skj Lluest Horse & Pony Trust Facilities 14,008 14,008 skk The Long Forest Project - KWT 20,330 60,000 skl Calch - Dyfed Archaological Trust 9,480 34,300 skm St. John's Family Centre 5,345 7,950 skn Community Fruit Harvesting & Pressing 928 928 skq Building a Sound Future - Canolfan Y Mynydd Du 2,140 2,140 skr activities @ Llandeusant 3,989 3,989 skt DSWA Certification 2013 1,500 3,000 sku LGV Ventures Hydro Feasibilities 4,500 4,500 Total Available for New Projects 0
Total Project Grants in 2012/13 204,933
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 52
Grant Awards Made & Match Funding 2012/13
Private Private Private Public Public Public Total Own SDF Volunteer Time Charitable income European/ Community Other Match & or Grant Goods/Services Trusts services Lottery Council/LA Funding provided Micro Hydro Feasibility - FLP 7,425 7,425 7,425 Eco Travel Network - B Bugs 2012 25,500 6,918 20,000 26,918 Myddfai Hall & Visitor Centre Growth 19,192 51,408 3,500 54,908 Woollen Line - Pip Woolf 19,160 12,710 27,020 39,730 Youth Festival - Theatr Brycheiniog 10,000 5,000 2,000 2,500 500 10,000 Brecon Beacons Dark Skies 4,950 19,050 15,000 1,500 35,550 Waterfall Volunteer Warden 950 10,790 3,100 13,890 Mynyddoedd & Llunoedd 650 5,073 250 5,323 Intergeneration Network in BBNP 500 1,152 1,152 Party in the Park - BBNPA 750 4,290 260 4,550 Homemakers Bulky Collection 16,200 122,340 122,340 Myddfai Trading Company 10,000 6,720 9,000 25,000 40,720 Lluest Horse & Pony Trust Facilities 14,008 9,400 15,444 4,000 28,844 The Long Forest Project - KWT 60,000 100,000 100,000 Calch - Dyfed Archaological Trust 34,300 14,900 100,500 115,400 St. John's Family Centre 7,950 28,500 17,740 23,610 10,000 79,850 Fruit Harvesting & Pressing 1,000 2,908 2,908 Llangattock Woodland Manager 2,500 7,000 3,165 2,000 12,000 24,165 Canolfan Y Mynydd Du 2,140 2,140 2,140 activities @ Llandeusant 6,750 3,300 5,000 8,300 Monmouthshire Eco Open Doors 1,085 3,000 1,085 2,900 1,085 8,070 DSWA Certification 2013 3,000 2,800 1,655 4,455 LGV Ventures Hydro Feasibilities 4,500 4,500 4,500
Totals 252,510 146,229 176,770 197,545 12,425 77,484 130,685 741,138
Total Matched Resources 741,138
Match Funding Ratio 3 :1
SDF Annual Report 2012/13 53 BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY
PARCSDF CENEDLAETHOL Annual Report 2012/13 BANNAU BRYCHEINIOG 54