A Powys community is set to benefit from an investment package to improve nature and walking access in the area.

Llanwrthwl and Rhayader is one of 18 communities across Wales the that will benefit from Ramblers Cymru’s Paths to Wellbeing project.

The flagship £1.2m funded project will run throughout 2022 and 2023, and is a key driver for the charity’s vision to put walking at the heart of communities by improving access to green spaces.

The selected communities will be given the tools and free training needed to identify and design new routes and enhance and upgrade existing ones, all with the support of their local regional project officer. 

In Mid Wales, Ramblers Cymru will be on the ground working with the people of Llechryd, Penparcau (Ceredigion) and Rhayader and Llanwrthwl to help put walking at the heart of their communities.

The ‘Rights of Way’ infrastructure targets are seen by the communities as vital work which could transform access to walking in their areas. The target for Mid Wales is to provide Rights of Way training to volunteers and landowners, and to install 30 mobility gates, 18 waymarker posts, and 132 waymarks.

The ‘Walking Routes, Access and Art’ portion of the project will not only focus on upgrading existing walking routes, but will also identify and develop new ones. Five routes per community are going to be developed, with a total of nine family friendly routes created in Mid Wales.

The project will also provide more information and motivation for walking with one new information board per community and two new benches per community created.

Paths to Wellbeing also has vital conservation goals for each region. The project will be working alongside the 22 local authorities, Wildlife Trust Wales and Coed Cadw, the Woodland Trust in Wales, to enhance the local environment for nature to thrive.

A key part of the project will be working together to ensure each region is more biodiverse. Not only will the groups be making their community greener for nature to thrive, but it will be a great opportunity to bring the community together with activities for all ages and backgrounds to get involved in.

With activities such as tree planting, wildflower sowing and wildlife activity days, as well as annual surveys, the project hopes that throughout Mid Wales 500 trees and 6kg of wildflower seed will be planted. 25 wildlife nesting boxes will hopefully be installed, as well as 150m of fencing to protect natural environment. It is also aimed that six invasive species days will be held.

The project has received funding through the Welsh Government’s Rural Communities-Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by both the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.

For more information on how you can support the project in your area, contact [email protected] or [email protected]