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Tonna, Neath facts for kids

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Tonna
Grade II listed St Anne's Church, Tonna - geograph.org.uk - 4942356.jpg
St Anne's Church in Tonna.
Tonna is located in Neath Port Talbot
Tonna
Tonna
Population 2,499 (2011 census)
OS grid reference SS774990
Principal area
  • Neath Port Talbot
Ceremonial county
Country Wales
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town NEATH
Postcode district SA11
Dialling code 01639
Police South Wales
Fire Mid and West Wales
Ambulance Welsh
EU Parliament Wales
UK Parliament
  • Neath
Welsh Assembly
  • Neath
Councillors
  • Leanne Jones (Labour)
List of places
UK
Wales
Neath Port Talbot
51°40′34″N 3°46′19″W / 51.676°N 3.772°W / 51.676; -3.772

Tonna is a village and a local area, known as a community, in Neath Port Talbot, Wales. You can find it to the north-east of the town of Neath. In 2011, about 2,499 people called Tonna home. It is a place with a mix of history and natural beauty.

Discovering Tonna

Tonna is a charming village in the Welsh countryside. It is part of the larger Neath Port Talbot area. The village is surrounded by green fields and offers a peaceful environment.

The Meaning Behind the Name

The name Tonna comes from an old Welsh word, tonnau. This word means "lea" or "grassland". Many years ago, this area was mostly open fields used for farming. Even today, you can still see some of these green pastures. It is interesting to know that the name does not mean "waves," as some people might think.

Famous Connections in Tonna

Tonna has a special link to a very important scientist named Alfred Russel Wallace. He was an engineer and a naturalist, someone who studies nature. Wallace lived in a cottage located between Tonna and the nearby area of Llanilltud.

Alfred Russel Wallace is famous for developing his own ideas about evolution. This is the process by which living things change over many generations. He came up with his ideas independently, meaning on his own, at the same time as another famous scientist, Charles Darwin.

Wallace and Darwin later worked together. They presented their ideas about Natural Selection to the Linnean Society. This was a big moment in science, as it helped explain how life on Earth has developed.

Sports in Tonna

Like many places in Wales, Tonna has a strong love for rugby union. The village has its own rugby team, called Tonna RFC. Sports teams like this are a big part of local community life.

Ivy Tower near Tonna in 2007
Ivy Tower, a local landmark near Tonna.
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