Giving back to Carneddau communities
The Carneddau Community Grant Fund has helped support over £50,000 worth of community projects that help a broader range of people to understand and look after the Carneddau. The fund has been open to non-profit groups and organisations working with communities in and around the Carneddau area – including community groups, partnerships, third sector organisations and public bodies for grants up to £5000.
This fund has assisted in putting pioneering and creative projects into action and to help people of all ages and backgrounds to discover, conserve and celebrate their local heritage. Whether through art projects, new and creative interpretation, community fayres, tree nursery foundations, welfare initiatives, and much more.
Take a look at some of the community projects the Carneddau Community Grant Fund has assisted below!
Parc y Moch CIC is a family-owned woodland near Bethesda in the Ogwen Valley, managed by Harri Pickering. The woodland has been transformed these past few years into an amazing outdoor space for everyone. Hosting activities such as Forest School sessions, training and management such as to improve the biodiversity and pathways of the area.
Harri’s aim is to make Parc y Moch into a environmental hub for the valley, create good working relationships with local groups and schools and to practise and support environmental projects in the area.
The Carneddau Community Grant fund helped assist Harri and Parc y Moch’s aims through working with our community engagement officer, Tara. The fund has supported the creation of a micro-tree nursery, forest school sessions, arts and creative workshops and much more to ensure the longevity of Parc y Moch.
Caru Dolgarrog Community Group were looking at ways to bring the community of Dolgarrog together through sharing history, knowledge and celebration. Through artistic expeditions, workshops and community groups and organisers, Caru Dolgarrog had a successful community festival in 2023 as a chance to bring all of the surrounding work together.
A recurring theme in this festival was surrounded by the tale of ‘Y Garrog’, a dragon who legend has it, rests or has died in the surrounding hills.
Dôl-y-Garrog = Meadow-of-the-Garrog
The Carneddau Community Grant Fund helped the volunteers, children and storytellers perform this tale in the Caru Dolgarrog festival. The grant funded storytelling, artistic workshops and other activities to support the performance.
In 2022, Llanfairfechan Town Council were awarded a community grant for their incredible Carneddau interpretation of the foothills and mountains visible from the beach promenade. Twelve peaks are visible from this location!
The aim of this project was to help appreciate the surrounding foothills for those passing by to visit Glan y Môr Elias Nature Reserve and to point out and teach the names of the landscape features. It would also “allow residents and visitors to connect with the Carneddau range from a distance” as Jayne Neal, Llanfairfechan Town Council Chair, stated in their application.
The Carneddau Landscape Partnership also helped fund accompanying activities and events surrounding the excitement and delivery of this interpretation.
Head down to the West promenade in Llanfairfechan to see this beautiful piece for yourself!
