The Cambrian Railway Partnership has successfully secured funding from the Community Rail Development Fund (CRDF) to support Cors Dyfi in developing an educational interpretation wall exploring the history of the railway and its link to the reserve’s wildlife.
Cors Dyfi nature reserve is a sanctuary for wildlife and home to the world-famous Dyfi Osprey Project. Last year, the nature reserve (which is located adjacent to Dyfi Junction Railway Station) opened a brand-new Wildlife Centre using the latest energy efficient technologies to bring its visitors a sustainable wildlife watching experience.
Thanks to CRDF, the Cambrian Railway Partnership will work with the Dyfi Wildlife Centre to develop and install various train and transport-themed interpretation projects. These will be displayed as panels, both digital and artwork, in the upstairs Galeri of the new centre. They will focus on how the onset of the train system on the Dyfi has changed the environment and communities over the last 160 years, promoting the history and heritage of the mid-Wales train and rail system.
In addition, the project will fund a large mural depicting “The Volunteer”, which was the very first locomotive that crossed the newly built Glandyfi trestle bridge in 1865, shortly before the bridge was opened to passenger-carrying services.
Emyr Evans, Dyfi Projects Manager, said: “This funding will allow us to tell the stories of our past and how the changes over time in the shipping, and particularly railway system, of this area has defined the environment and the people who live here.
“We will now be able to combine art, culture, history and heritage in a cohesive and educational way, enabling visitors to the Dyfi Wildlife Centre to understand and learn how the transportation system over the last two centuries has shaped and contributed to the lives of local people.”
Stuart Williams, Chair of the Cambrian Railway Partnership, said: “We are delighted to have secured the external funding to help up deliver this exciting project for Cors Dyfi. The Cambrian Line was the reason the unique habitat of the reserve exists, so being able to tell the story of the history of how they are interwoven into the landscape is fantastic.”
It is hoped that visitors will be able to enjoy and explore the new display by mid-December. Keep up to date with future events and projects from the Cambrian Railway Partnership via their website.