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The Centre's phone number is 721772
OR Email by clicking HERE!
Free Taster Courses
Intro to:
Sign Language
Welsh
Beginners Art
Salon Treatments
Massage Treatments
Family History
For mor information please phone the Centre on 01639 721 772
THE RHEOLA WALLED GARDEN PROJECT
Our existing allotments have now been developed to reach their full potential and to progress further we need more land locally. In addition, the rules of the allotment society prohibit the sale of anything we produce. We desperately need to take our Centre closer to complete sustainability. We have demonstrated over the past 6 years that there is a need for community growing and the business opportunities this project holds will strengthen our organisation still further.
A Feasibility study funded by the Welsh Assembly Government looked at all possibilities for expansion in the area and concluded that the Rheola Estate offered us all that we required.
Thanks to our Local Authority and Estate owner, Howard Rees, we have been given a 10 year lease on the walled garden area of the estate, which includes a large pond, a gardener’s cottage, old greenhouses and potting sheds. In order to fund the renovations and horticultural development of the walled garden, we applied to the Welsh Assembly Government and were successful.
From these pictures you can get an idea of the enormity of the task ahead, as much of the wall needs total renovation. After talking to experts from CADW it became obvious that the site has significant historical value and as such should be sympathetically renovated using traditional methods and lime mortar. We have many ideas for the use of the buildings including converting the gardener’s cottage into a small museum for the site.
This has turned into an even more exciting project than we first anticipated and increases the tourism potential of the whole site, because of the interest it will attract, not only the wall and buildings but because of the rare and exotic plants that have previously grown there.
Our vision is to provide, eventually, a total package which will appeal to local people and visitors alike. As well as the walled garden we intend to develop:
- A larger growing project which includes the walled garden area, orchard, polytunnels etc
- A composting scheme
- Shop that will sell produce from our growing project,
- Cafe using produce from the site which can offer catering services to other site users.
- Education and Training in practical skills and environmental issues.
This project will have the potential to:
- Reduce the levels of economic inactivity by providing employment and upskilling opportunities.
- Improve the quality of life by offering a healthy alternative both in our cafe and in the fresh affordable produce we will be selling.
- Support local businesses by offering them additional trading opportunities.
- Increase the level of tourism
- Create a comprehensive training programme for staff, volunteers and the community.
- Bring sustainability to our organisation as a whole
Rheola Project Trainees News
It is pleasing to note that two of the Stonework trainees working on our Rheola Walled Garden project have now secured full time employment.
One of the trainees has a stonework apprenticeship, working on the restoration of the stone buildings of the Rhondda Heritage Park near Pontypridd with local building firms, whilst another has been taken on as an apprentice with a local builder
Advertise on this site!
You will have your own web page within this site but you can customise it to suit your business and we will do all that work for you.
Glynneath businesses will be charged at a low preferential rate.
Average rates are £10 per month.
Phone 01639 721772 for details.
Introduction to Childcare for 10 weeks Tuesdays 1-3 pm leads to NVQ Level 2 in Childcare.
Ring the Centre for details, 721772
Low cost quality items for sale from the Glynneath Training Centre’s reuse/recycle shop on the High Street.
Thanks to funding from the Welsh Assembly Government the Revive Charity Shop has been expanded to offer an even wider range of quality re-used items. The shop will re-open on Tuesday March 23rd by our local celebrity Ruth Madoc.
All proceeds will be used to maintain services and staff at the Glynneath Training Centre — a registered charity—charity no 518523
Interested in volunteering to work in the shop? Please contact the Centre on 01639 721772 or click to 
Launch of the of the Citizens Advice Bureau service at the Centre.
Call 01639 721772 for details.