Plas Heulwen Official Opening

Official opening of Plas Heulwen and the Nant Gwrtheyrn walking paths

Yesterday, at Nant Gwrtheyrn, the official opening of Plas Heulwen and the Nant’s new walking paths was held by Liz Saville Roberts MP. It was an event marking the culmination of a significant project that has transformed the Nant’s landscape over the past two years. A special group of staff, workers and contractors involved in the work, members of the Nant Board, members of the local community, some of our main partners, and old friends came together to celebrate the opening.

The event was held at Plas Heulwen, a striking timber structure built by the local company Davies-Hughes and Sons. This new and unique space offers a multipurpose area to be used as an outdoor classroom, a venue for various events, a meeting place, and a welcoming space.

The building is named in memory of Heulwen Richards from Trearddur Bay, Anglesey, one of Nant Gwrtheyrn’s great benefactors. During a crucial period in the centre’s history, she contributed generously by donating her home and property to support the dream that brought her so much joy and hope. A tribute to her was led during the event by Edward Morus Jones, who knew her well.

Speeches were also heard from Huw Jones, Chair of Nant Gwrtheyrn, as well as Siwan Tomos, the Chief Executive, who spoke about the importance of the building to the Nant’s plan to “develop high-quality learning spaces… where language and landscape can work together to provide inspiring learning experiences.” A special poem to mark the occasion was recited by the Chief Bard, Myrddin ap Dafydd. We will be sharing the poem in due course.

The day also celebrated the wider project: an ambitious scheme to restore the landscape by clearing conifer trees and creating new woodland of native trees better suited to the local environment. The development also includes two new walking routes for visitors. One is a short circular walk designed to be fully accessible.

The second is a route of about 1km in length, extending from the Centre towards the Nant’s upper car park. Although some sections are steep, new benches have been placed along the path, offering places to rest and enjoy the view. Siwan said of the paths: “A path is more than a way of getting from A to B. Paths connect people with a place, and with each other. They reveal stories—stories of the village, the sea, work and craft, nature, migration and return. By opening a path, we also open a way to learn: to learn the language in its natural context, to discover local heritage, and to create a richer visitor experience.”

A special app was also launched, which visitors can use to learn about Nant Gwrtheyrn. These are digital guided tours that allow users to listen to information about the landscape and its rich history. Some of the tours follow the new paths, while others explore the village itself, and the content can also be accessed from home.

We extend special thanks to Liz Saville Roberts for officially opening the building and for her inspiring words about the Nant and her early connection with the organisation in the early 1980s.

A significant portion of the funding for this project came through the Welsh Government’s Timber Investment Grant (TWIG), and we are very grateful for their support.

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