Free photography workshops are being run in Neath Port Talbot Council’s Craig Gwladus Country Park during every month of 2019 with an associated photo competition which will see the work of winning entrants appearing on a new website.
The workshops are being led by professional photographers Dan Santillo and Nick Jenkins.
Popular Craig Gwladus Country Park, which straddles Cadoxton and Cilfrew in Neath, is predominantly woodland with dramatic rocky outcrops and it enjoys spectacular views over the Neath valley.
The park is rich in unusual wildlife (a millipede new to science was found in the park just a few weeks ago attracting worldwide publicity) and also features old colliery structures, streams and waterfalls as well as a wealth of majestic trees.
The photographic potential in this picturesque country park is wonderful.
There are only 10 places available for each workshop so booking is essential. Priority will be given to anyone who volunteers in the park. To book a place or to find out about volunteer opportunities, contact Lisa Kirman – L.Kirman@npt.gov.uk.
Early workshop dates confirmed 9th March and 9th April.
The photo competition running alongside the workshops will have a monthly winner judged by the Friends of Craig Gwladus and the two professional photographers running the workshops.
The photos should be posted on Instagram using the hashtag #CraigGwladusPhotoComp or emailed to l.kirman@npt.gov.uk before the 21st of the month to be considered for that month’s ‘photo of the month’. Winning photos will be used to raise awareness of the variety of wonders to be found in the park and will feature on a new website currently being developed for Craig Gwladus and on our new Instagram page, CraigGwladus.
The photography workshops and monthly competitions are just one of many types of event being run in the park over the year. Please visit www.npt.gov.uk/whatson for a full list.
Subjects include wildlife, history and geology walks, talks and training events as well as the twice monthly woodland skills and action days. The latter is an opportunity for anyone and everyone to help look after the park.
The events have been made possible thanks to £86,000 of funding handed to the park last November with the money coming from National Lottery players through the Heritage Lotttery Fund and Natural Resources Wales as well as Neath Port Talbot Council and the Council’s Members’ Fund (via Councillors Annette Wingrave and Doreen Jones).
The funding is aiding those running the park to establish new nature trails, involve more people in conservation and to throw new light on the park’s fascinating wildlife, geology and industrial heritage.
Councillor Annette Wingrave, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Sustainable Development, said:
”This is a wonderful opportunity for local people to have their photography skills enhanced and competition winners will see their work helping to promote Craig Gwladus Country Park which is a wonderful natural resource for this part of Neath Port Talbot.”
