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Dignitaries including Mayor of Caerphilly borough Allan Williams next to artist Mamily Sheibani and Chair of Maesycymmer Council June June Rao officially opened the woodland gates

A PROJECT costing £90,000 was officially opened by the artist designer and dignitaries in Maesycwmmer at the weekend.

Iranian artist Mamily Sheibani opened the Maesycymmer Community Council project, financed by Cydcoed Woods for All, the Forestry Commission Wales funding programme financed by the EU (Objective One) and the Welsh Assembly, has opened up the ancient oak woodland.

Don Touhig MP and others were also at the event on Bank holiday Monday.

The community council has pulled the whole community together to have their say in the new wood. They have worked with Caerphilly County Borough Council, which owns the land.

As well as playing a key role in the design for the focal point of a new gateway villagers of all ages have helped with a bat survey, aboricultural work, fencing, construction of footpaths, creation of scrape pond, log circles, fire pit and seating.

And sessions have been held with local school children and the special school to encourage use of the wood as well as the commissioning and installation of the new gates.

"We have tried to involve everyone in making this new woodland a real community effort," said Community Council Chairman Mrs June Rao, who will open the gates on Monday, after which there will be guided tours of the wood and woodland themed games in the woods for the children.

"This is a great project which has really opened up an area of woodland which had tremendous potential for local people to enjoy," said Cydcoed programme manager Barbara Anglezarke.

"It provides the important social benefits of health and well-being in the outdoors as well as giving local people a sense of pride in their area, increasing biodiversity and ensuring sustainable management of ancient oak woodlands which are part of the living history of the area," she added.

Artist Mamily Sheibani who designed the gate said: "The idea for the gateway is based on the notion of a growing plant and the change it undergoes as it comes to fruition.

"Because of its highly reflective nature, the gate reflects the colours of natural and artificial light in its immediate surroundings.

"From a distance, the gate resembles not so mush a physical gate, but a glittering piece of jewel inviting the observers to the woodland."

4:24pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

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