Launch of Blaenau Gwent's Well-being Plan

In June 2018, Blaenau Gwent Public Services Board (PSB) launched its Well-being Plan; “The Blaenau Gwent We Want 2018-2023” at South Wales’ biggest biodiversity event.

Thousands of visitors flocked to Parc Bryn Bach, Tredegar for GoWild, the flagship event during Nature Week. The fun filled family day aims to connect people with nature and celebrate local biodiversity.

As part of the launch, several commemorative plaques were unveiled at the park, including a Future Poem written by Charlotte, former pupil of St Illtyds Primary School and  Blaenau Gwent Children’s Grand Council. The plaque also includes information about the planting of over 4,000 native trees and wild meadows sponsored by the PSB.

Charlotte said ‘I was honoured to be a part of such a special occasion and to share this experience with my family and friends. I will regularly visit Parc Bryn Bach in years to come to watch the trees grow!’

The plan has been developed with the help of local people and communities from the area and aims to improve the well-being of the area, now and for future generations.

This year’s Go Wild theme was ‘Eco Friendly Futures’, to raise awareness of being more environmentally friendly, discovering ways to be more sustainable for the future; whilst learning about what we can do for nature and what nature can do for us.

Visitors had a chance to get up close and personal with honey bees in the Bee Tent Experience, meet wild owls, Rocky the bat, a hedgehog and badger faced sheep. They could join a guided nature walk or try geo-caching and have fun with lots of eco craft activities. The local school children’s reused plastic bottle flowers created a colourful display over 1500 plastic flowers to highlight plastic pollution and the importance to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Another  lasting legacy of the day is the bespoke bench created by the wood carver Chris Wood-Wood Art Works, from a failed beech tree in Bedwellty Park which will grace the park for many years to come.

Visitors had a chance to speak to experts about the rich wildlife resources in Blaenau Gwent and how to get involved with Beaufort Ponds and Woodlands Group were also on hand to demonstrate what can be achieved when local communities get involved in managing local green space.

For more information about the Blaenau Gwent We Want Well-being Plan 2018-23, click here