The project is a partnership led by Neath Port Talbot Council, funded through our Landscape Connections strategic initiative. Working across the Afan, Neath, Upper Cynon and Rhondda Valleys, it will restore and enhance peatlands, heathlands, grasslands and woodlands.
Over three years, conservation work will take place across 16 sites, helping to improve habitats for wildlife and restore peatland. The project will also strengthen links between important natural areas and increase their climate resilience.
Alongside the environmental work, local people will connect with nature through volunteering opportunities, outdoor learning, wellbeing activities, heritage skills training, public events and creative projects.
Digital resources, including an explorer app, virtual reality experiences and a podcast series will share the area's natural and cultural heritage with wider audiences. New walking routes and interpretation features will also help more people explore and enjoy these upland landscapes.
By bringing together communities, organisations and habitats, the project aims to create lasting benefits for both people and nature across the South Wales Valleys.
Richard Pulman, Project Manager, says: "Lost Peatlands Connections is helping people rediscover the landscapes, heritage and stories on their doorstep. Over the coming years, we will restore and enhance almost 870 hectares of valuable habitats whilst creating thousands of opportunities for people to volunteer, learn new skills, improve their wellbeing and connect with their local heritage. Our aim is simple: to leave both the landscape and our communities in a better place for future generations."
