Green light for new visitor centre at Penllergare Valley Woods

The Penllergare Trust is celebrating after receiving planning permission from the local authority to build a new visitor centre at its historic site.

The new building will have a low carbon footprint and use green technology such as solar power and utilise the Trust’s Archimedes screw water pump to generate energy.

It will be clad with timber shingles sourced from the woods and be located in a spot that will enhance the sensitive Grade II registered picturesque landscape of Penllergare Valley Woods.

There will also be extra toilets in the new centre and there will be more parking spaces available for local visitors and tourists from farther afield.

Work on the visitor centre – which will tell the incredible story of the Penllergare estate and its 19^th Century owner John Dillwyn Llewelyn, will start soon.

The Penllergare Trust has been managing and restoring the historic estate since 2000 and the hard work of its army of over 100 volunteers has helped attract up to 120,000 visitors annually to the site.

Funding provided by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales – along with visitors’ donations, has helped pay for much of the infrastructure work, the new visitor centre and restoration of the walled gardens.

With attractions including a waterfall and lakes, spring flowers and rhododendron, Penllergare Valley Woods has been an important and valued green space for local people during the pandemic.

Paul Baker Chairman of the Penllergare Trust said: “We’re delighted that we’ve received the support of Swansea City Council for the latest phase in the development of Penllergare Valley Woods.

“We’re indebted to the National Heritage Lottery Fund for its grant funding and of course all the people who play the National Lottery. 

“Penllergare Valley Woods is a special place and we have a very special team of volunteers and staff who work tirelessly to improve our visitors’ experiences.

“To date we have lacked a building in which to tell its amazing story and international importance. The new building will allow us to host visitors, schools and communities in an environmentally-friendly, pleasant atmosphere and enable them to learn about everything that Penllergare Valley Woods has to offer, its history, ecology and biodiversity.

“An added bonus will be the incorporation of indoor seating within our extended coffee shop.”

Andrew White, director of The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales said: “The granting of planning permission for the new visitor centre is a landmark moment for the Penllergare Trust during its restoration of this important heritage site.

“This announcement will help ensure that Penllergare Valley Woods can flourish and be enjoyed by current and future generations and help encourage tourism to boost the economy of North Swansea.”