Ceramica Cymru 2003
Over forty potters exhibited and sold their works throughout Llandeilo, based at two central locations, the disused Old Provisions Market, and Horeb Studio. Features of the festival were the awards made to potters that included the categories - Best Innovative Piece, Most Outstanding Piece and Most Improved Student. The event aims to provide a regular West Wales based sales and promotion event for professional potters, support tourism and boost local trade by extending the visitor season into the shoulder months and reinforce the reputation of Llandeilo as a vibrant centre for arts and crafts.
Small Nations Festival
The small nations festival is a multilingual celebration of the music of Wales alongside that of other small nations. There were a total of twelve acts from six countries across the world, representing seven different languages. The Festival was staged over two nights, Friday 18th and Saturday 19th July 2003. There were local food producers present, given the opportunity to promote their produce to both locals and visitors alike, organised by the Llandovery Farmers Market. The artists performed on two large stages, and a large field was provided for people to camp.
Maximising Tourism impact of Wales Rally GB in Carmarthenshire
The Wales Rally GB is the most highly watched single sports event in Great Britain, attracting an audience around the forests of Wales of approximately 200,000 every year, and a worldwide TV audience of 4.8 billion. Carmarthenshire County Council in conjunction with the Carmarthenshire Tourist Association has carried out world wide marketing to publicise Carmarthenshire and its businesses whilst the event was in the area. A double page advert was placed in the official programme, as well as the production of an A5 leaflet advertising businesses that was distributed to spectators.
Brechfa Community Shop
The grant enabled the shop to be rewired and refitted, and a new screenless sub Post Office opened in this rural area. Run by a team of around 40 volunteers, the shop now provides a focal point for the village, especially the very old and the very young. It is the key to local communications, advertises events, helps assimilate newcomers into the community, and develops the skills and confidence of volunteers. Everyone involved, very deservedly, takes pride in the achievements of their shop and the way it now looks.
Llandeilo Fawr Heritage Audit
This was published and launched in association with the Llandeilo Fawr Town Council. It is available in Welsh or English versions, and its aim is to contribute to the existing Sites & Monuments Records held by Cambria Archaeology, and is an extremely useful document to identify future heritage, cultural and tourism-based community projects in the community and surrounding area.
International Sheep Dog Trials
Carmarthenshire hosted the International Sheep Dog trials for the first time recently thanks to an RSTP grant. The event was held at Gelli Aur, Llandeilo, and attracted thousands of people from the UK and across the world, including the USA, Australia and New Zealand. Along with the trials, the event included a range of family entertainment including Animal shows; Cookery demonstrations; Trade stands with local produce; various Children’s activities; Stalls; Evening dinners and Receptions. Hotels, B&Bs, shops and businesses in the area all reported a boom in trade thanks to the trials.
Llandovery – Community Notice Boards
Llandovery was given its own community notice board thanks to an RSTP grant. There has been a need for a community notice board for some time, but until the completion of the patio at the rear of the Heritage Centre, there was no suitable location within the town. The town council decided to apply for the RSTP grant to purchase the aluminium board, and they were successfully awarded £470.90. The notice board is being used to display town council information, public notices and events that are being held locally.
Tregib Woodland Extension
Coed Tregib, a 69-acre ancient woodland occupying a prominent position on the Llandeilo skyline, has been extended by purchasing 32 acres of arable land. The extension has brought the woodland closer to Llandeilo, and an accessible footpath network now makes the woodland easier to access for pedestrians from the town centre. A leaflet was produced to highlight the woodland as a place to visit. A way-marked circular route will also hope to increase visitor numbers. The Woodland Trust undertook the site clearance and preparation works, followed by a series of tree planting events and arts & crafts performances.
Crychan Forest
£46,175.00 was given to undertake a project which will develop Crychan Forest as a strategic tourism destination. The project involved opening up over 55 kilometres of safe routes for use by horses, cyclists and walkers, and also creating 4 bespoke receptor sites in the forest for horse boxes and horse trailers. On completion, the project was launched with an event to promote all the hard work that was put into the area.
Feasibility Study - Station Road Llandeilo
£2,800 was awarded to undertake a feasibility study for the enhancement of Station Road in Llandeilo. Station Road is an important gateway to the town as it is the route passengers take when travelling to the town centre from the station. It is believed that the road gives a negative image of Llandeilo to visitors, and the feasibility study, the aim of which was to determine the viability of future funding, was the first step of a much larger project to regenerate the area.
Dolaucothi Gold Mines
Dolaucothi is the only known Roman Gold mine in the UK and one of only a handful in existence today. Due to the techniques used by the Roman miners and more recently during Victorian times in the 1930’s when Dolaucothi was last mined, the adits accessible to visitors are at the top of the open cast pit some 60 - 70 ft above the mine yard. Opening up of the previously unused Long Adit now allows visitors, especially those less abled, to experience the underground workings at Dolaucothi and learn about the miners who worked there, the techniques they used as well as the fascinating geology that the site has to offer.
Llandeilo Heritage Railings
This project involved the replacement and construction of new Heritage Railings along the East side of Crescent Road, Llandeilo. The old-fashioned ‘scaffolding-type’ fencing made up of galvanized piping was not in keeping with the heritage theme of the town, especially as it lies along one of the best scenic views and lookout points of the town. The original fencing has now been replaced by a cast iron construction stretching 114 meters, and the double-gate mid-way along the railings has also been replaced. The new Heritage Railings enhance the Crescent, and restore it to the superb viewpoint it once was.
Cae William, Llandeilo
This project was aimed specifically at improving the conditions of the ceiling and the kitchen area in the Community Room within Cae William. This room is regularly used by a wide range of community groups and local organisations for concerts and events. A new suspended ceiling has been installed, along with a new kitchen partition and entrance for the benefit of community groups.
Aberglasney Events Canopy
During 2003, Aberglasney Gardens hosted a series of very successful outdoor performances of musical and theatrical events. In order to continue the promotion of such outdoor events, the Trust wished to improve its facilities and eliminate the risk of cancellation of events due to poor weather, by purchasing an events canopy for suitable covered protection for performers. The need to hire a canopy for specific events, which is very costly, has been eliminated through the provision of the canopy, saving the Trust a substantial amount of money that can be invested elsewhere in the gardens.
Llandeilo Festival of Music and Flowers, 2004
The Llandeilo Festival of Music and Flowers was established in 2000 and each year the organizers have built on the festivals success by staging more events at the historic venues of Newton House, St.Teilo’s Church and Aberglasney Gardens. The 2004 festival took place from the 10th to the 17th of July. Over the course of eight days, major concerts took place in the three venues, a combination of organ, piano and clarinet recitals, as well as the flower festival on daily display at St.Teilo’s church.
Ysgol Berfformio Dyffryn Tywi
Ysgol Berfformio Dyffryn Tywi secured funding to hold a series of workshops based on the story of a local character Jac Ty Isha of Tumble who was a member of the Rebecca Riots. The members of the school had the opportunity to develop their performing skills during these sessions as well as enhance their knowledge on local history. The sessions culminated with the production of a rock opera through the medium of Welsh. The production involved approximately 50 young people drawn from the local community
Morgan Rhys Memorial at Cilycwm
In 1968 members of the local community erected a memorial tablet on the outside of one of the main walls of Efail Fach house in memory of Morgan Rhys, to commemorate the birthplace of the well-known local writer and hymn composer. Cilycwm Community Council applied for the grant to restore the external wall of the cottage on which the stone tablet lies, to replace the post-and-rail fencing, to undertake scrub clearance and cut back some overhanging branches, as well as to create a better lay-by for visitors to pull their vehicles in, safely off the highway.
Brechfa Forest School
Forest Schools offer a unique experience to all age and ability groups. The funding has enabled the Brechfa project to become well resourced in equipment and materials as well as in the skills base of local Forest School Leaders. Through working with craftspeople and musicians, all of whom use local sustainable materials, new approaches to learning have been developed using sound as well as visual and tactile stimuli.
Gwynfe Community Association
Gwynfe Community Association was awarded £5993.00 to build an ancillary storage space that would leave the existing hall clear and increase the capacity, safety and comfort levels for all to benefit. When the hall was originally designed it was on a very small site and no provisions were made for storage, but the community association have become a victim of their own success and now need this space, and will make very good use of it.
Llanfihangel Aberbythych
Llanfihangel Aberbythych received a grant to purchase 4 notice boards. There are a number of voluntary groups in the community including the Women’s Institute, two Hall Committees, local chapels, School PTAs, Gelli Aur Village Association and May Day Fayre Committee and Community Association, all of which will benefit from being able to publicise their events more effectively in the central locations of Carmel, Milo, Gelli Aur and Gate Square. The purchase of the notice boards is a great asset to the community and has helped increase community participation.
Heart of Wales Line
The Heart of Wales Line Association received a grant to enhance the Heart of Wales line, encourage community participation and boost the use of this sustainable transport facility. The four main strands to the grant were: - setting up the post of Station Host at Llandovery, development of community based station gardens, provision of interpretation boards, state of the art information points, and improvement and signing of walks at each station. Seven stations have benefited from this funding, which are Llangennech, Ammanford, Ffairfach, Llandeilo, Llandovery, Llangadog and Llanwrda.
Bethlehem Old School
This project involved the acquisition of the old school premises by Cymdeithas Bethlehem Dyffryn Ceidrych Association. There are plans to greatly extend the range of services on offer, including more evening and day classes, IT services, youth club and other community activities. A wider variety of social activities for older people in the village could also possibly tie into the opening times of the attached Post Office, as well as gardening and history clubs, regular craft fairs over the summer months, keep fit classes and quiz nights for fundraising.
Ty Talcen
The overall aim of this project was to build a new community building for the use of the inhabitants of the village and surrounding area on the site of the existing derelict hall. Public consultation has taken place within the community in the form of a public questionnaire, a series of public meetings and consultation with existing and potential user groups e.g. youth groups, community groups, voluntary associations and charitable organisations. This RSTP assistance was primarily for the architect’s professional fees to prepare detailed plans and drawings for the new build.
Llandovery Theatre Company
Llandovery Theatre Company secured a grant to purchase filming equipment to film the productions of Shakespeare. The video will be professionally directed, filmed and edited, enabling the company to show rushes in order to clarify the work achieved. The company also received funding to run workshops for children and youths, after school and at weekends, offering training in voice, movement, poetry and script study. This project will be ongoing for years to come to help youngsters in the area and also raise the profile of the community.
The Aberglasney Restoration Trust
£4000 was awarded to complete a consultant’s report on the Potential Development of the Coach House Centre at Aberglasney. The coach house centre is the name given to the former estate / agricultural buildings. Various options of how to develop the centre had been considered by the board of trustees but it was believed that the best way forward was to complete a professional report. The feasibility study will provide sound proposals for the future development of the Coach House.
Llansawel Site Clearance
Pobl y Fforest has secured funding to convert the old Carmarthen and Pumsaint Farmers site in Llansawel into a Community Resource Centre. The Resource Centre will include a shop, tea room and community office with a caretaker flat above. RSTP funding was secured for phase 1, which involved demolition and clearance of all existing structures on the site apart from the house. This project demonstrated community involvement with everyone eager to help and give of their time voluntarily
Llansawel Topographical Survey
Pobl y Fforest secured funding in addition to the previous Llansawel Site Clearance application in order to carry out a topographical survey to form the basis for the plans. This gave consideration to the various ground levels as well as ensuring that a detailed floorplan of the house is available.
West Wales Wood Fair
A grant was given to financially assist the West Wales Wood Fair held at Parc Dinefwr. The grant was given to cover the cost of items such as seminars, working demonstrations, translation costs, advertising and the hire of a marquee. One objective of the event was to strengthen links across the supply chain by bringing together a variety of individual businesses. The event helped to broaden the economic base in Carmarthenshire.
Manordeilo & Salem Notice Boards
Community notice boards have been erected in the Manordeilo and Salem community, helping villagers and visitors to learn more about community events and its historical importance. The project follows a request from residents for improved communications throughout the area. The Manordeilo and Salem community covers a large geographical area with a number of very rural villages and hamlets. The notice boards now serve as the main method of communication to advertise and publicise the various community events and activities.
Seating for Concerts and Events at Aberglasney Gardens
In 2004, an RSTP funded grant to provide the gardens with an events canopy was awarded to the trust that has been used to host a series of very successful performances. In order to continue the successful promotion and economic viability of events the trust wished to improve its facilities by the acquisition of chairs for such events.
Painting of Exterior of Building at Keepers
This project has contributed to the preservation of a vernacular forestry building in the heart of the Brechfa Forest area. The external work of repainting the badly deteriorated corrugated iron shell retains the original character of the exterior of the building which now has a completely new interior. A once derelict and decaying eyesore has been transformed into a very special location for community and wood related craft, education and training events.
‘Hwyrnos’ – Traditional Welsh Folk Evening
RSTP funding enabled the holding of an evening event in the traditional Welsh folk style, combining music by a traditional Welsh folk group, dancing, and a traditional supper held in the beautiful and historic mansion at Aberglasney Gardens.
Networking and Marketing Reception to Promote Llandeilo Heritage Group
In 2003, an RSTP grant was awarded to Llandeilo Town Council to undertake a heritage audit. The heritage audit identified various possible future developments in Llandeilo. In order to proceed, the first initiative needed to be the founding of the Llandeilo Heritage Group. It was identified that the most effective way of getting this off the ground was to hold a formal networking and marketing reception, with the main objectives being to highlight what RSTP has funded, what the audit has identified, and to encourage relevant interested bodies to join the heritage group.