Welcome

This blog has sadly come to the end of its life. A new website has been launched in January 2015 combining key information as well as restoration features from this blog. We hope that you will visit us at www.penllergare.org and will continue to support us there in the future.

On the northern fringe of the city of Swansea, and within sight of the M4 motorway, lies Penllergare Valley Woods. Here, deep in the valley, away from the noise and fumes of the passing traffic and encroaching development, you’ll find the overgrown but still discernable remnants of an important historic picturesque landscape.

It is a secret and magical place. A place where you can enjoy the sound of birds, delight in the profusion of wild flowers, discover evidence of exotic plantings and uncover for yourself the hidden features of a grand design. The romantic and picturesque Penllergare was once created for the enjoyment of its creator John Dillwyn Llewelyn – a pioneering mover in science, nature, photography and astronomy in the 19th century. After over half a century of neglect, today, it is a place that can be enjoyed and explored by everyone. It is a landscape that is gradually being revived, restored and regenerated by us all.

This blog is dedicated to the progress of the restoration project and the hard work of the Trustees, staff, volunteers, Friends, visitors and supporters that are making this project a reality. It also provides details on how you can join us by helping us to restore and look after Valley Woods.

To find out more about the Penllergare Trust and the history of the Penllergare estate, please visit the Trust’s website: www.penllergare.org

Click here to read the Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2013.

We hope to see you soon!

The Penllergare Trust
January 2013

About The Penllergare Trust

The Penllergare Trust was formed as an independent charity in 2000 - completely independent of the local authority and of Government. It has relied on donations, legacies and money raised from activities and commercial operations for income and thankfully it has been supported by a Friends group and many volunteers without whom it simply could not manage. Together with its supporters, The Penllergare Trust aims to protect Penllergare Valley Woods and open them to the public as a valuable community amenity and asset for the whole of Swansea and beyond.

The leases of Valley Woods were finally assigned to the Penllergare Trust on 26th April 2012, effectively securing them for public benefit until 2116 – that’s 104 years! This in turn initiated the award of £2.4m by the Heritage Lottery Fund through it’s Parks for People programme to support the first phase of an ambitious £2.9m restoration scheme focussed on the upper end of the valley.