Taff Bargoed facts for kids
The Taff Bargoed (which is called Afon Taf Bargoed in Welsh) is a river and a valley in South Wales. It's close to Pontypridd and about 14 miles from Cardiff. You can find it near the Abercynon roundabout on the A470 road. Several towns and villages are located in the valley, including Nelson, Edwardsville, Quakers Yard, Treharris, Trelewis, and Bedlinog. This valley is special because it's where three different areas meet: Caerphilly, Rhondda Cynon Taff, and Merthyr Tydfil.
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The Taff Bargoed Valley's Past
From Farms to Coal Mines
Long ago, the Taff Bargoed valley was mostly a quiet place with many farms. But in the early 1800s, things began to change a lot. The valley became a busy industrial area. This was mainly because of coal mining.
This period was part of the Industrial Revolution. The valley became very important for its coal. Many large coal mines, called collieries, opened here. These included the Trelewis Drift Mine, the Taff Merthyr Colliery, and the Deep Navigation colliery.
The End of Mining and New Beginnings
The coal mines in the Taff Bargoed valley closed down in the 1980s. After the mines shut, the valley started a big transformation. People worked hard to clean up and redevelop the area.
The river, which used to flow through a hidden tunnel, was set free. Now, the river flows naturally again. Two new lakes were also created. Special areas with weirs were built for canoeing.
Fun Activities and Green Spaces
New paths and bridleways were made. These paths connect the towns of Treharris and Trelewis. The old site of the Trelewis Drift Mine was turned into a new place called the Taff Bargoed Centre. This was made possible with help from the Millennium Commission.
The Taff Bargoed Centre is now home to the Welsh International Indoor Climbing Centre. It has one of the largest climbing walls in the United Kingdom. This means it's a great place for people to learn and practice climbing.
Parc Taf Bargoed: A Green Flag Park
Parc Taf Bargoed is a beautiful parkland area. It's located in the Merthyr Tydfil County Borough. You can find it between Trelewis, Treharris, and Bedlinog. This park used to be a colliery site. Now, it has been completely changed into a wonderful place for wildlife. It's also a hub for community activities.
The park has a special award called a Green Flag Park award. This means it's a high-quality green space. At the park gates, there is a pavilion building. Here, you can find the park warden. Visitors can get information about the park's history and the animals and plants that live there.
The pavilion also has space for community meetings and events. The park encourages people to enjoy walking, cycling, and horse riding. The Aberfan Canoe Club and the Parc Taff Bargoed Anglers Club meet here. Sometimes, you can even join in canoeing, kayaking, and raft building activities.
