Erlas Victorian Walled Garden receives funding for new community woodland

A new woodland area for the whole community to enjoy is set to be created after grant funding was awarded to Erlas Victorian Walled Garden.

The charity, which provides opportunities for people with additional needs, has secured the backing of The Woodland Investment Grant (TWIG) scheme. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with the Welsh Government.

A grant of £99,600 has been awarded to help Erlas Victorian Walled Garden, based on Bryn Estyn Road, progress with plans to improve a current woodland and ensure it is accessible to all.

Extensive works are planned for the site, including the management of existing trees and the planting of new ones; along with the creation of accessible pathways to ensure that the woodland is available to all.

The woodland site requires management and without this grant from TWIG it would remain inaccessible to the community.

Stan Moore, Chairperson, from Erlas Victorian Walled Garden said: “We are thrilled to have received this grant.

“Thanks to this support from the Welsh Government via the TWIG scheme, we can now develop our plans to manage the area and create the most wonderful accessible woodland for the benefit of all”

The project also means that the newly named Erlas Woodland will become part of the National Forest for Wales – a venture led by the Welsh Government.

The National Forest will stretch the length and breadth of Wales, so that everyone can access it wherever they live. It will include both urban and rural areas – with an early commitment to create 30 new woodlands.