A new leaflet with Menai Bridge town and woodland walk, tree spotting, history and the countryside code was launched this week at Ysgol y Borth, Menai Bridge. The leaflet contains pictures and drawings created by the children during a workshop day in February.
Simon Hunt of Coed Cymru, on behalf of Menai Bridge Town Council, applied and received funding from the Forestry Commission Wales, to maintain the three woodland areas in the town. Part of the funding has helped create a leaflet to encourage local and visitor enjoyment of the woodland. The three woodlands are Coed Cyrnol Wood, Coed Marquis Wood and Coed Gorsedd Wood.
The Town Council asked the children of Ysgol y Borth to help. “We had a great day out in the Woodlands exploring the walking route, discussing the countryside code, planning the leaflet and learning how to recognise different species of tree,” said Gareth Hughes, Headmaster of Ysgol y Borth. Ideas and drawings from the children have been incorporated into the concept, words and design of the leaflet. The title of the leaflet ‘The Wonderful Woodlands of Menai Bridge’ was an idea from Abi Henderson in Year 6.
The leaflet includes information on the history of the woodland. Did you know on the flat, levelled ground of the Coed Gorsedd Wood, Thomas Telford’s workshops and offices stood during the building of the Menai Suspension Bridge, 1819 to 1826? Anne Benwell, who has extensively researched the history of Menai Bridge, assisted alongside the Menai Bridge Community Heritage Trust team in creating the history section.
“The funding has provided a resource for the Town Council to look after the woodland and the leaflet has been a great community project, with lots of different groups involved and helping,” said Simon Hunt Isle of Anglesey County Council’s Coed Cymru Officer.
The children at Ysgol y Borth were presented with a leaflet on Friday 15 April to take home. All the children who contributed to the leaflet were thanked by The Menai Bridge Town Council and Simon Hunt thanked them on behalf of the funders and supporters. Waitrose have sponsored an additional 1,000 leaflets to be printed.
The leaflet is available at Waitrose, the Menai Bridge Community Heritage Trust Canolfan Thomas Telford, St Mary’s Church and Menai Bridge Library. The leaflet is also on line at www.anglesey.gov.uk/doc.asp?cat=3780.
“I hope people can get out over the Bank Holidays and enjoy our woodlands by doing the walk, learning more about our history and spotting different types of trees,” said Cllr Hilary Hunt.
