Tag Archives: rural alliances

Discover Llangorse & Bwlch highly commended in National Park Awards

National Awards highly commend local Volunteer group

The Discover Llangorse and Bwlch Alliance group were recently highly commended in the group category of the 2015 National Park Volunteer Awards. The awards are presented to individuals, projects, and groups that have gone above and beyond the expectations of volunteers. Each year thousands of hours are given by volunteers throughout  National Parks across the UK and the Volunteer Awards are a way of saying “thank you”.

The Alliance group was formed when the two communities of Llangorse and Bwlch – two villages within the boundaries of Brecon Beacons National Park, decided to join together to encourage visits to the area which include Llangorse Lake, the largest natural lake in South Wales and the castles, ancient Iron Age forts and standing stones of Bwlch. Another of the group’s aims is to educate visitors on how best to enjoy and help protect the area through new signage and a new website. Achievements that were recognised by the Awards include developing a 12-mile walking route that links the two communities, and organising stargazing evenings that capitalise on the Brecon Beacons’ Dark Skies status.

Norman Lowe, Chair of the Discover Llangorse and Bwlch Alliance group:
“ Our volunteers and community have worked  incredibly hard to promote this area and we are pleased that this work has been recognised with this National commendation.  We look forward to even more visitors coming in 2016 to experience the wide variety of attractions the area has to offer, including our Awesome Walks and the Dark Skies events.”

Member Champion for Business and Communities at the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, Councillor Gareth Ratcliffe added:
“ Llangorse and Bwlch are just two of the beautiful places to visit within the Brecon Beacons National Park and the work which this group has done to promote how special these places are is outstanding. Congratulations to all involved, this recognition is well deserved.”

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Discover Llangorse & Bwlch in for top parks award

The Discover Llangorse and Bwlch Alliance group has been nominated for a major award in the Group category at the UK National Parks Volunteer Awards 2015.

The nomination recognises what the Discover Llangorse and Bwlch Alliance group has achieved in the two communities with the installation of new signs, the production and distribution of brochures and a new website all promoting the area.

To read more, visit The Brecon & Radnor Express…

L /R: Richard Tyler, Rachel Morgan, Adrian Humpage, Nina Davies, Norman Lowe and Garnet Davies

New welcome signs unveiled at Llangorse

Visitors and residents in Llangorse will notice something different if they walk down to Llangorse Common today.

Situated at the entrance to Llangorse Lake and Common new ‘Welcome to Llangorse Lake and Common’ panels are designed to encourage visitors to explore the area and take a stroll around Llangorse Lake and the Common to discover more.

The initiative is part of Rural Alliances, which is funded by the EU’s Interreg 1VB NWE programme and was created in partnership with the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, The Discover Llangorse and Bwlch Rural Alliance group and Antomic (who came up with the concepts for the signage) as part of a local strategy to improve the direction and welcome visitors experience.

Richard Tyler, Sustainable Tourism Manager, for Brecon Beacons National Park Authority said, “We have been working hard with the Llangorse and Bwlch Rural Alliance group to implement some of the recommendations put forward in line with a signage study produced in September 2013. We hope that by improving the signage at Llangorse Lake and Common we will encourage more visitors to the area who will stay longer once they realize the abundance of activities they can enjoy in and around the Lake.”

Norman Lowe, Chair of Discover Llangorse and Bwlch Rural Alliances group said, “The new signs have been crafted in oak to make sure that they will be attractive as well as informative for a long time to come. They emphasise to both local people and visitors the beauty of Llangorse Lake and Common and are in keeping with the high quality of scenery and visitor attractions here.”

Main Image – L / R: Richard Tyler, Rachel Morgan, Adrian Humpage, Nina Davies, Norman Lowe and Garnet Davies