Clywedog Valley Partnership led by Groundwork North Wales to benefit from Heritage Lottery Funding.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has announced £15.6m funding to make getting out into nature easier. From urban walking routes and dramatic landscapes to Regency period gardens, helping people to get outside to explore and enjoy nature is the focus of £15.6m funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Funding has been awarded to several organisations to develop their plans to preserve and improve access to natural heritage across the UK such as the Clywedog Valley Partnership in Wrexham as well as awards to deliver projects post the development stage.

The Clywedog Valley Partnership led by Groundwork North Wales aims to transform the valley into a vibrant cultural attraction, by reopening heritage sites along the valley, and offering visitors and the local community a diverse programme of events and activities. (Grant – £246,530 towards a delivery grant of £1.2m).

Groundwork North Wales is leading the Clywedog Valley Partnership which is a range of organisations and community groups all with an interest in the heritage of the Clywedog Valley, running from the moors above Minera Quarry to King’s Mill just south of Wrexham city centre.

Our partnership has a vision to restore and enhance the heritage of the Clywedog Valley, to transform it into a thriving, resilient, vibrant and inclusive cultural attraction and resource; a place to experience history and nature through both quiet enjoyment and a diverse programme of events with wide appeal, benefitting people both locally and from further afield.

The newly funded projects will revive landscapes, support nature recovery, and enhance connectivity for people and wildlife across rural, suburban and urban areas. The transformative projects join well over 215 walking routes already funded by the Heritage Fund across the length and breadth of the UK.

Since 1994, The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded £2 billion to 4,700 land, nature and biodiversity projects across the UK. These initiatives have been made possible through the generous support of the National Lottery players, whose contributions continue to make a profound impact on the conservation and celebration of the UK's unique landscapes and biodiversity.

As part of Heritage 2033, Heritage Fund’s 10-year strategy, the organisation will be introducing new strategic funding streams including a landscape and nature focused initiative to be announced later in the year which is set to support large-scale projects that preserves natural heritage and enhance connectivity for people and wildlife.

Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “I am thrilled we are announcing support for such a fantastic group of heritage projects that will not only protect our environment but also allow more people to experience the benefits of nature across the UK. Preserving natural heritage is core to what we do, and thanks to National Lottery players, we look forward to seeing people across the UK enjoying the incredible variety that nature has to offer, and ensure that these outstanding natural sites are valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future”.

Find out more about what projects have been funded and what projects have been awarded funding to develop projects https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/.

To find out more about the Clywedog Valley Partnership you can contact Groundwork North Wales via 01978 757 524 / info@groundworknorthwales.org.uk