Wikipedia

Bryn Bach Park

Bryn Bach Park (Welsh: Parc Bryn Bach) is a country park, nature reserve and recreational ground located in Blaenau Gwent, situated on the outskirts of Tredegar in the South Wales Valleys.[2]

Bryn Bach Park
Parc Bryn Bach (Welsh)
A view from a bench in a meadow overlooking the Bryn Bach lake with the visitor centre in the distance
Map
TypeCountry park
LocationBlaenau Gwent, Wales
Nearest townTredegar
Coordinates51°46′57″N 3°16′3″W / 51.78250°N 3.26750°W / 51.78250; -3.26750
Area340 acres (140 ha)
Elevation280 m (920 ft)
Created1980 (1980)
Operated byAneurin Leisure Trust
StatusOpen year-round
AwardsGreen Flag Award[1]
Websitewww.parcbrynbach.co.uk

The site covers 340 acres (140 ha) of reclaimed industrial mining land and is home to a recreational lake, adventure park, a driving range, golf course, a campsite and bunk house.[3]

The site is owned by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and managed by the Aneurin Leisure Trust.[4][5]

History

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Bryn Bach Park is located on the site of a former iron ore "patch" mine, a type of Open-pit mining where small areas are excavated close to the surface to extract ore. The first recorded excavation took place in 1747 and grew over the next three centuries expanding with the opening of Sirhowy Ironworks in 1778 and Tredegar Ironworks in 1800.[6][7]

The newly opened ironworks required a supply of water for their steam powered machinery which led to the excavation of the pond in 1818. During the same period iron excavation was expanded with the excavation of bell pits and the opening of collierys for the first time leading to the abandonment of the original patch mines. The mining activity destroyed the local landscape and environment with the creation of the industrial waste alongside the excavation.[8][9]

The collieries remained active through the 19th and 20th centuries contributing greatly to the boom of the South Wales Coalfield throughout the industrial revolution and the early 20th century.[9]

In 1926, miners from the Bryn Bach pits took part in the general strike in protest of the poor and dangerous working conditions miners faced. During the strikes some miners were to be found foraging for coal to heat their homes in the old patch mines which were perceived as less dangerous.[10][11][12]

The 1926 strike damaged the mining industry which began the process of decline in the South Wales pits. Following the Aberfan disaster in 1966, large scale land reclamation began across the South Wales coalfield to prevent further disasters. Work began on the tree planting and lake formation that removed industrial waste, repaired damaged and transformed the area from an industrial zone into a country park in the 1980s.[13][14]

In 1990, the site was used as the location for the National Eisteddfod. Although the event was hosted by the close-by Rhymney Valley, the location of the maes was within the park, a part of Blaenau Gwent. The Gorsedd stones used as part of the festival can still be visited in the park.[15]

Wildlife

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At the centre of Bryn Bach Park is a 26 acres (11 ha) lake populated by carp, pike, roach and rudd as well as some other small species of fish.[16][17]

 
Cormorants resting on an island in the centre of the lake

The park is designated as a local nature reserve (LNR) and contains woodland, grassland, lake, pond and ditch, heathland and hedgerow habitats.[2] These habitats home some of the most vulnerable UK species that include five bird species of conservation concern included on the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) including the skylark and lapwing, endangered invertebrate species, such as the Scarce blue-tailed damselfly and brown hawker dragonfly and rare plant species like the narrow leaved bittercress and ivy leaved bellflower, which are listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List.[2]

The park is also home to various species of; mammals such as bats, foxes and hedgehogs; amphibians like the common frog and palmate newt; migratory and non-migratory waterbirds such as the great crested grebe, canada goose, Mute Swan, coot, mallard and tufted ducks; as well as insects like the orange tipped butterfly, damselflies, dragonflies, bumblebees and honeybees. The park is also home to some nesting red kites, barn owls and short-eared owl.[17]

Facilities

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The park's entrance sign during winter covered with snow

Bryn Bach Park has been awarded the Green Flag Award every year between 2016 - 202024 and was shortlisted for the UK's Favourite Park in 2022.[1][18]

The park has a 26 acres (11 ha) lake that is used for fishing and watersports such as kayaking, Paddleboarding and open-water swimming. The perimeter of the lake is a designated Park Run and is the highest above sea-level in the UK.[19] The perimeter of the park is also used by the Running Club who organise an annual cross-country running competition.[20]

There is an onsite visitors centre which has a cafe open daily as well as a AALA approved education and activities centre.[21][22]

In 2023, the park opened a "workhub" which is a free workspace for those with remote working possibilities. [23]

The park also hosts a play park, a sensory garden, driving range, miniature golf, a climbing wall, a mountain bike trail, a nature trail, an archery range, caravan park, bunk house and campsite.[24]

Bryn Bach Park is also home to Met Office surface weather station.[25]

References

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  1. ^ a b Mosalski, Ruth (21 July 2024). "The 291 parts of Wales that have been officially recognised as world class". Wales Online. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Parc Bryn Bach LNR" (PDF). Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Parc Bryn Bach". Valleys Regional Park. Archived from the original on 9 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Parc Bryn Bach". VisitWales. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Our History". Parc Bryn Bach. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Tredegar Pits". Coal Mines, collieries, drifts, welsh mining disasters. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  7. ^ "Bryn Bach Colliery, Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent, Wales, UK". Mindat.org. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  8. ^ "A look at Old Tredegar in photographs" Volume 1 Philip Prosser Old Bakehouse Publications 1990
  9. ^ a b "Tredegar Iron Works;Tredegar Ironworks". Coflein. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  10. ^ Vaughan, Adrian (1985). Grub, water & relief Tales of the Great Western 1835-1892. London: John Murray. p. 3-4. ISBN 0-7195-4176-X.
  11. ^ "Tredegar Iron and Coal Co., Ltd". Durham Mining Museum. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  12. ^ Roberts, R. 2005 Southeast Wales Industrial Ironworks Landscapes, Year 1: the core ironworks areas Report for Cadw by GGAT p65
  13. ^ Aberfan: The Fight for Justice, 18 October 2016, Event occurs at 54:50–56:35.
  14. ^ McLean & Johnes 2000, pp. 146–47.
  15. ^ "BACK to normal this week, folks, as I try to remember all that has happened over the past two weeks". Wales Online. 27 June 2007. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  16. ^ "Parc Bryn Bach". Fishing in Wales. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Nature Reserve". Parc Bryn Bach. Archived from the original on 9 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  18. ^ Rowlands, Eve (9 August 2022). "The Welsh parks named among some of the UK's favourites". Wales Online. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  19. ^ "news". Bryn Bach parkrun. 7 February 2024. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  20. ^ Chown, Jake (13 January 2016). "Chepstow women battle mud and snow to win Parc Bryn Bach race". Monmouthshire Beacon. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  21. ^ "Parc Bryn Bach". AALS. 19 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  22. ^ "Education & Training". Parc Bryn Bach. Archived from the original on 9 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  23. ^ "PARC BRYN BACH'S WELLBEING WORKHUB". Welcome to the Blaenau Gwent Business Hub. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  24. ^ "Parc Bryn Bach". Parc Bryn Bach. Archived from the original on 9 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  25. ^ "Detailed List of Met Office surface stations". CEDA. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.

Bibliography

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  • Aberfan: The Fight for Justice (Television production). BBC. 18 October 2016.
  • McLean, Iain; Johnes, Martin (2000). Aberfan: Government and Disasters. Cardiff: Welsh Academic Press. ISBN 978-1860-570-339.
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