Friends of Forest Farm

Local conservation group, the Friends of Forest Farm are celebrating 20 years since their launch but how many of you know about Forest Farm or the Friends group that helps protect it?

Increasing awareness is a priority for the friends group and this will be aided by the launch of their new website and a £20,000 refurbishment on the Wardens Centre where most of the activites are based. Friends of Forest Farm is a voluntary group with over 200 members and the main objective is to protect the Forest Farm nature reserve and what remains of the Glamorganshire Canal located on the borders of Whitchurch, Radyr and Tongwynlais and to provide educational experiences in a friendly and hands-on way.

The area is a protected nature reserve and the Long Wood is a site of specific scientific interest (sssi) and is home to some great wildlife such as Kingfishers, Woodpeckers, a number of damselflies and dragonflies, frogs, snakes, sparrowhawks, salmon and trout to name just a few plus 2 large ponds at the wetlands and 2 bird hides.

There is over 200 years of industrial history with the Melingriffiths Tin Works and the old railway that was used to transport iron from the quarries at Pentyrch.
Regular volunteer events are held in the area and there is a childrens club run by the Rangers Service and a representitive from the RSPB runs monthly walks through Forest Farm.

Many people travel through Forest Farm without realising it either on the Taff Trail cycle path or even walking/jogging or excersizing dogs on the canal.
For more information please visit the website: www.forestfarm.org.uk
Membership costs just £5 a year per household – a tiny contribution to a really great local cause.

So next time you’re on the taff trail or trying to spot some fish at Radyr Weir why not pop along to the Wardens Centre to see what’s going on, just a few minutes walk away.

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Tags: charity, community, forest farm, nature, wildlife