Wanted your views on Cyfarthfa Castle!

The Cyfarthfa Story – HLF Parks for People programme for Cyfarthfa Park

A legacy and lasting symbol of Merthyr Tydfil’s national and international importance as arguably the birthplace of the industrial revolution, Cyfarthfa Park and its Castle are inextricably linked to the area’s ironworks and indeed its demise. Adopted by the Council in 1902 Cyfarthfa Park had the purpose of meeting the recreational needs of the local community.

Cyfarthfa Park is a public, grade II* Listed Historic Park located 1.5 miles north of Merthyr Tydfil town centre. It is the largest public park in the County Borough encompassing 160 acres of parkland & gardens. It offers a range of recreational facilities including Cyfarthfa Castle Museum and Art Gallery (refurbished April 2011), new Visitor Centre (Canolfan Cyfarthfa), a large lake, recently redeveloped model railway, Greenhouses, tennis courts, bowling green, sensory garden, woodland and open spaces.

Cyfarthfa Park – The Parks for People programme
The park has shown itself to be vulnerable to a number of pressures which have resulted in a deterioration of its heritage whilst its character, condition & connections no longer present a coherent whole.

The Council has secured funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund’s ‘Parks for People’ programme to develop key heritage and environmental proposals that help address identified issues. These will form part of a second-round application to fund the implementation of a five year programme. The fund is very competitive, with a limited number of applications being successful.

Should the application be successful key heritage features will be enhanced with better interpretation, improved access and links to the industrial hinterland. Disused structures such as the Icehouse will be reinstated and features, such as the Walled Garden / Kitchen Garden, will be more widely accessible. The range and number of volunteers will be increased and a Park Warden appointed to develop and facilitate practical management schemes.

Consultation
The Council has developed a Masterplan which identifies a number of recommendations for enhancement and improvements to the park. As a result of this, the Council want to find out what you think of the proposals.

Come and view the draft proposals at Canolfan Cyfarthfa, Cyfarthfa Park:
· Friday 13th May 2011 at 10am – 6pm
· Saturday 14th May 2011 at 10am – 1pm

Exhibition boards and comment forms will be available for a two week period following the event at Canolfan Cyfarthfa, Cyfarthfa Castle Museum, Town & Park Communities First, Central Library and the civic centre.