A popular visitor attraction which was closed for six years due to diseased trees has finally reopened today - and it has a completely new look.
Cwmcarn Forest Drive in Caerphilly borough welcomed visitors on Monday after hundreds of thousands of larch trees were felled in the area.
Contractors cut down the trees to prevent the spread of the fungal disease Phytophthora ramorum, also known as sudden oak death. Phytophthora ramorum was first discovered in the Afan Valley, in Neath Port Talbot, but trees have been felled across Wales.
About £2m has been spent preparing the site for reopening, including developing the ‘Valley Floor’ to improve the campsite, the lake and surrounding area, enhancing the overall visitor experience, Caerphilly County Borough Council said.
With the summer holiday period approaching, visitors will be able explore all seven miles of the new-look Forest Drive by car following the completion of major restoration and improvement works undertaken in partnership by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Caerphilly County Borough Council.
The changes also include several new all-ability trails, new picnic seating areas, glamping pods, three new play areas, a wooden outdoor learning cabin, sensory tunnels and a woodland sculpture trail.
A wooden cabin with panoramic views over the valley will provide opportunities for outdoor learning and well being activities.
NRW said they had been faced with "an environmental crisis that was very challenging to deal with, but also had massive cost implications and we had to move very very fast indeed".
Geminie Drinkwater, project manager from Natural Resources Wales, said: “The communities surrounding Cwmcarn Forest hold it extremely close to their hearts.
“Capturing the vision and ideas of local people for the redevelopment has been fundamental to the success of this project and it has been a personal privilege for me to work with local groups and individuals to see that vision come to life in this very special place.
“Today’s reopening is a milestone moment for what has been a really successful partnership between NRW, Caerphilly County Borough Council and the local community. I’m delighted to see the gates to the Forest Drive open once again today and look forward to seeing visitors old and new discovering and enjoying everything it has to offer for many years to come.”
Caerphilly County Borough Council will continue to manage the drive in partnership with Natural Resources Wales.
Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, Cllr Philippa Marsden, said: “Today is a landmark day for us to see this beautiful and unique place opened back up to the community. The work that has been undertaken is outstanding and the entire site has so much to offer residents and visitors. It has been a pleasure to work with Natural Resources Wales on a project that is so close to the heart of the community, to see it brought back to life is wonderful.”
The admission costs for the drive will be £8 for a car, £4 for a motorbike, £15 for a minibus and £30 for a coach. The payment is cash only at the barrier or tokens can be obtained from reception onsite. The drive operates a one-way system and there are no time constraints for visitors.
An official ceremony to mark the reopening of the drive will take place once Covid-19 restrictions are further relaxed.
