Happy 25^th birthday Bryngarw!

A quarter of a century ago Bryngarw Country Park was born!

And now, to mark its 25^th birthday, the Bridgend County Borough Council-run park in Brynmenyn, Bridgend is planning a new development phase to build on its success as a major visitor and tourism attraction, as part of the One Historic Garden project, funded by the Welsh Government.

In conjunction with Visit Wales this initiative aims to develop centres of excellence and to encourage more sustainable tourism with a focus on celebrating Wales’ natural environment.

Councillor Lyn Morgan, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing said: “There is obviously a great desire among local people to engage with and learn more about the natural environment at Bryngarw. The park has a wealth of diverse habitats and is uniquely placed to enable visitors to fully immerse themselves in the beauty of the borough’s countryside. There are more exciting developments on the horizon, so there is plenty more for people to look forward to in the future.”

With 2011 being both the International Year of Forests and also the Year of the Bat, Bryngarw has once again been at the forefront of efforts to raise awareness, inspire local people and engage with communities throughout Bridgend County Borough.

Throughout the year, the award-winning park has held a number of events and initiatives such as volunteer activities, schools visits, nature rambles, bird walks plus lots more all aimed at educating and inspiring visitors by giving them a new perspective on their local natural environment.

Particularly successful was the ever-popular bat walk in June which saw more than 40 people experience a night-time walk around the park, using the expert knowledge of the rangers to track down and identify these elusive creatures. Visitors were treated to the spectacle of some of the five known species of bat as they hunted and foraged among the trees and over the wetland landscapes.

Even after 25 years, Bryngarw continues to go from strength to strength. In the last 18 months alone, the rangers have been recognised with awards from within the council, volunteers have received Mayor’s Citizenship awards for their work, and Bryngarw Country Park itself has been officially recognised as being among the best of its kind in the country after winning a prestigious Green Flag Award for excellence.

Upcoming events include nature walks, outdoor arts events and themed family fun days. For more information about events at the park or to know more about volunteering opportunities, call 01656 725155.