Tywi Afon yr Oesoedd is an exciting three year partnership project that is underway in Carmarthenshire. The aims of the project include increasing awareness of the special qualities of the Tywi valley; developing links between the community and landscape; encouraging access to the valley; and developing examples of sustainable practice in relation to the built and natural environment.

The project has four themes:

• Landscape and biodiversity action, working with farmers and communities to help them conserve, enhance and raise awareness of the landscape and biodiversity in the project area;
• Landscape investigation, exploring the archaeology and geology of the area;
• Interpretation of the Tywi valley community, history, language, landscape, culture and traditions;
• Traditional and sustainable building centre which will be based at Dinefwr Home Farm.

The project aims to engage the local community and recruit volunteers under all of the four themes.

A grant scheme, Tirwedd Tywi, is being run under the landscape and biodiversity element and offers farmers/ landowners and community groups funding to carry out projects that will enhance and conserve the Tywi valley. So far, twenty-one farmers have been offered grants which together total £100,000 and £10,000 has been awarded to community initiatives.

Work under the grant scheme will contribute to LBAP priority habitat actions of improving, restoring or expanding habitats, notably those falling under the woodland, farmland and wetland habitat WBP groupings. Species actions under the project include raising awareness of priority species on holdings and advising on appropriate management of habitats that support them. Priority species that stand to benefit from habitat work undertaken in the project area include brown hairstreak, dormouse, species of bat and tree sparrow.

It is estimated that over the course of the project, Tirwedd Tywi grants will enable:

• around 18,000m of hedgerows to be restored by gapping up and employing traditional methods of laying or coppicing;
• restoration or creation of 15 ponds;
• planting of around 300 trees.

Fencing will be funded to protect newly managed and planted hedgerows and to create river corridors which help protect riverine habitats and associated species. Also funded under the grant scheme are project gates made from Welsh oak and based on a traditional Carmarthenshire style.

The second Tirwedd Tywi grant application round will be open from the end of January until the end of March 2009. Anyone interested in applying should contact Anna Hobbs, Landscape and Biodiversity Officer on 01558 824271.

Tywi Afon yr Oeosedd has received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Rural Development Plan and Welsh Assembly Government, Carmarthenshire County Council and Countryside Council for Wales.