New heritage trail for the Ogmore Valley

A new interactive heritage trail is set to reveal the history of the Ogmore Valley.

Starting at Bryngarw Country Park and winding up the valley along the cycling and walking route to Nantymoel, the trail will be dotted with information panels which will document the area’s past and highlight places of interest as well as additional walking and cycling routes.

A new smartphone app will be linked to the trail to help bring the valley’s history into the present, and the trail will climax with a new art feature on the site of the former Berwyn Centre.

The soon-to-be-renovated Memorial Hall in Nantymoel will become a Heritage Hub for the valley as part of the scheme, and will showcase memorabilia as well as a digital heritage display in the community café.

A total of £62,112 funding has been provided for the project by Bridgend County Borough Council’s Reach Rural Development team via the Thriving Rural Communities Fund and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wales via the Heritage Lottery Fund.

It is expected to take up to 18 months to complete and work will start in early September.

This exciting trail will provide a lasting legacy of the Ogmore Valley’s history. As it is being created along the cycle path and a self-service bike maintenance station will be included along the route, the project could potentially see new bike hire facilities becoming available at Bryngarw Country Park.

The local community will be heavily involved in this project, and will help design the art feature and catalogue local history as well as benefitting from a range of training opportunities.

The Reach team is also working closely with community volunteers, and have supported that has culminated in successful applications for grant funding.

Councillor Charles Smith, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Education