Clyne Valley Country Park facts for kids
The Clyne Valley Country Park is a large park in Swansea, south Wales. It stretches over 700 acres along the Clyne River. The park goes from the sea at Blackpill all the way to Gowerton.
You'll find amazing woodlands here, with huge beech, ash, and oak trees. One side of the valley has thick woods, while the other side has grown back naturally over an old landfill. The valley is a key part of a natural pathway for animals and plants. This pathway connects the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountain to the Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Long ago, the valley was part of the Vivian family's land. In the 1700s and 1800s, it was a busy industrial area. People mined coal, worked with minerals, made bricks, and burned charcoal. There were also railways and canals here. Today, it's a peaceful place for nature to thrive.
Clyne Valley Community Project
The Clyne Valley Community Project (CVCP) is a group started by local people. They want to make sure the valley, which is a valuable local treasure, is looked after and used more often.
Their main goals are:
- To make it easier for people to get around the Clyne Valley. They do this by clearing and fixing old tracks and paths.
- To help people use the valley more. They organize events and support activities for communities around the valley.
- To protect and improve the natural homes for plants and animals. They want to help different kinds of living things grow here.
- To find, explore, and record the valley's long history.
Cycling and Mountain Biking
A special cycle track runs through the middle of the valley. It connects Blackpill on Swansea Bay with the village of Gowerton. This track is part of National Cycle Route 4. It also passes near the towns of Killay and Dunvant. This path was once used by the Heart of Wales Line railway. You can still see signs of its industrial past along the track.
The wooded hillsides of the Clyne Valley have many dirt trails. These trails are perfect for mountain biking and walking.
In 2009, Swansea Council started a plan for the Clyne Valley. This plan helps develop the valley for fun outdoor activities. The plan gets money from the Forestry Commission's 'Better Woodlands for Wales' program. A lot of this money is being used to build new mountain bike trails in Clyne. Several kilometers of new, marked trails are being built. A group called Clyne Riders was created especially for this job.
