MEMBERS of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority have backed a business plan which seeks to secure the future of Cilrhedyn Woodland Centre.

Located at the head of the Gwaun Valley and managed by the National Park, the saw mill and workshop produce a variety of sustainable timber products, such as footpath signs, benches and gateways for the coast path.

Following a review of budgets, the National Park decided that the workshop presence should be scaled back due to staff requirements, and the proposal beyond 2015-16 is to maintain the site as a warden and ranger base only.

Coed Cymru has been directly involved with Cilrhedyn over many years and in July, it and the charity Tir Coed presented the National Park with an alternative vision for the site which would see the two organisations come together to form the partnership Wise Woods Wales.

Their business plan was presented to a meeting of the National Park last Wednesday (November 18), where members were asked to endorse it ‘in principle’.

Speaking at the meeting, the director of Tir Coed, Ffion Farnell said: “The aim of the joint venture would be to revive the Cilrhedyn Woodland Centre and develop its future to support the environment and people of the region.”

She explained the plan is to sustain the manufacturing base at the site through the successful marketing of timber products, provide a base for various officers and park rangers, create employment and offer accredited training to young people and those furthest from the job market.

National Park Members were unanimous in backing the plan and delegated authority to their chief executive to begin negotiations on an appropriate lease arrangement.

They also agreed to the scaling back of present activities at Cilrhedyn in order to meet 2016-17 budgetary targets.