More volunteers are being sought to maintain one of Neath Port Talbot’s most beautiful wildlife havens.
Craig Gwladus Country Park, which straddles Cadoxton and Cilfrew around two miles from Neath, is shrouded in ancient and planted forests and at this time of year its cool, shady paths, babbling brooks and cascades offer welcome refuge from the heat of summer.
Situated on a wooded hillside offering spectacular views of the lower Neath Valley it is also rich with flora, birds and other wildlife and Craig Gwladus features numerous trees fitted with “fairy doors” to charm the children of visitors.
But the park now needs more local people to take a hand in the management of the woods where some paths and ponds are disappearing amongst the woodland, steps need replacing and general woodland management is required.
A ranger-guided “working with nature” ramble through the park is taking place on August 2nd (places can be booked by contacting n.hinds@npt.gov.uk) when the work by the Friends of Craig Gwladus group, which already carries out much needed volunteer work, will be explained.
The ramble will also examine the park’s long history and look at the future of the park - which will require more volunteer help to be assured.
The park has a busy schedule of events – on 1st August a Fungi Walk and Talk gets under way led by Mark Steer from the Glamorgan Fungus group.
Those interested should meet at 11am in the middle car park – look out for a colourful steel container there featuring a mural designed by Llangatwg Comprehensive School pupils under the guidance of local artist David Marchant using images created by Catwg and Cirlfew primary school pupils.
Monthly activity days are now being planned on the first Friday of every month.
The next date is August 3rd, 10am – 2pm. The activity days will be headed by “Ed”, an experienced woodland manager and will include hazel coppicing, path maintenance and much more and there will be opportunities for those taking part to try their hands at woodland crafts – an excellent idea for would-be park volunteers! Refreshments will be provided.
There will be activities to suit all ages and abilities and as well as physical activities there are plenty of other opportunities to help, such as researching into the park’s history and wildlife surveying.
The Friends of Craig Gwladus warmly welcome new members.
If you can spare any time to help the park, however little, or would just like to have your say on how the park is managed / developed in the future, please come along to one of the many activities that are taking place over the next few months or come along to the next Friends of Craig Gwladus meeting which will be held in the Green Dragon pub, Cadoxton at 7pm on September 3rd. (Contact Ian at ian.davies60@gmail.com for more information).
Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Sustainable Development, Cllr Annette Wingrave said: “We welcome volunteers from the community who would be prepared to give some of their time to help maintain this wonderful countryside haven.”
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Mae yna alwad am fwy o wirfoddolwyr i gynnal un o hafanau bywyd gwyllt hyfrytaf Castell-nedd Port Talbot.
Mae Parc Gwledig Craig Gwladys yn ymestyn o Langatwg i Gil-ffriw rhyw ddwy filltir o Gastell-nedd. Mae wedi'i orchuddio gan goetiroedd hynafol a choed a ailblannwyd ac ar yr adeg hon o'r flwyddyn mae ei ardaloedd picnic, ei ffrydiau a'i sgydau murmurog wedi'u hategu gan gymylau o ieir bach yr haf lliwgar.
Mae’r parc hwn leoli ar ochr bryn coediog sy'n cynnig golygfeydd godidog o Gwm Nedd isaf ac mae'n llawn planhigion, adar a bywyd gwyllt arall. Mae Craig Gwladys hefyd yn cynnwys nifer o goed gyda 'drysau tylwyth-teg' wedi'u gosod arnynt er mwyn swyno plant ymwelwyr.
Bellach mae angen help llaw mwy o bobl leol ar y parc er mwyn rheoli'r goedwig. Mae rhai o'r llwybrau a'r pyllau'n diflannu ymysg y coed, mae angen ailosod grisiau ac mae angen rheoli'r goedwig yn gyffredinol.
Ar 2 Awst bydd taith gerdded 'gweithio gyda natur', wedi'i harwain gan geidwad, yn cael ei chynnal (gellir cadw lle drwy e-bostio n.hinds@npt.gov.uk). Bydd y daith yn cynnwys eglurhad o waith Cyfeillion Craig Gwladys, grwp sydd eisoes yn cynnal llawer o'r gwaith gwirfoddol mawr ei angen.
Bydd y daith gerdded hefyd yn nodi hanes hir y parc ac yn edrych at ddyfodol y parc - ac yn sicr fe fydd angen mwy o gymorth gan wirfoddolwyr ar gyfer hyn.
Mae gan y parc amserlen brysur o ddigwyddiadau - bydd Taith a Sgwrs Ffyngau ar 1 Awst, wedi'i harwain gan Mark Steer o Grwp Ffyngau Morgannwg.
Dylai'r rhai sydd â diddordeb gwrdd yn y maes parcio canol am 11am - edrychwch am gynhwysydd dur lliwgar sy'n cynnwys murlun a ddyluniwyd gan ddisgyblion Ysgol Gyfun Llangatwg, dan arweiniad yr artist lleol David Marchant, gan ddefnyddio delweddau a grëwyd gan ddisgyblion ysgolion cynradd Catwg a Chil-ffriw.
Mae diwrnodau gweithgareddau misol hefyd yn cael eu trefnu ar hyn o bryd a fydd yn cael eu cynnal ar ddydd Gwener cyntaf bob mis.
Y dyddiad nesaf yw 3 Awst, 10am tan 2pm. Caiff y diwrnodau gweithgareddau eu harwain gan "Ed", rheolwr coedwig profiadol, a byddant yn cynnwys prysgoedio coed cyll, cynnal a chadw llwybrau a llawer mwy. Bydd yna hefyd gyfleoedd i'r rhai sy'n cymryd rhan roi cynnig ar grefftau coed - syniad gwych ar gyfer darpar wirfoddolwyr parc! Darperir lluniaeth.
Bydd gweithgareddau addas ar gyfer pob oedran a gallu ac ynghyd â gweithgareddau corfforol, bydd digonedd o gyfleoedd eraill i chi helpu, megis ymchwilio i hanes y parc ac archwilio bywyd gwyllt.
Mae Cyfeillion Craig Gwladys yn edrych ymlaen at estyn croeso cynnes i aelodau newydd. Os oes gennych unrhyw amser i helpu'r parc, ni waeth faint, neu os hoffech ddweud eich dweud ar sut caiff y parc ei reoli/ddatblygu yn y dyfodol, dewch i un o'r digwyddiadau sy'n cael eu cynnal dros y misoedd nesaf neu dewch i gyfarfod nesaf Cyfeillion Craig Gwladys a gaiff ei gynnal yn nhafarn y Green Dragon, Llangatwg ar 3 Medi am 7pm.
Meddai'r Cynghorydd Annette Wingrave, Aelod Cabinet Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot dros Adfywio a Datblygu Cynaliadwy, “Rydym yn croesawu gwirfoddolwyr o'r gymuned a fyddai’n barod i roi eu hamser i helpu i gynnal yr hafan wledig wych hon.”
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