Ffos-y-fran Land Reclamation Scheme, Land reclamation project in Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.
Ffos-y-fran is a land reclamation project that has transformed over 300 hectares of former mining land into a landscape of meadows, woodlands, and wetlands. Walking trails and viewing platforms allow visitors to see how nature is reclaiming what was once an industrial site.
A opencast coal mine operated here from 2007 until its closure in 2023, extracting coal from deep within the land. Following this period, restoration work began to transform the site back into a natural landscape.
The site contains remnants of former mining settlements that tell the story of the region's industrial past and the communities that worked here. Visitors walking through can see how the landscape itself carries the marks of that heritage.
Walking trails of varying difficulty make the site accessible to most visitors, though sturdy footwear is recommended as the terrain can be muddy or uneven. The best time to visit is during dry conditions when paths are easiest to navigate and wildlife is most active.
Profits from coal extraction funded the very transformation of the industrial areas into housing and recreational spaces. This arrangement meant the mining operation itself paid for its own environmental restoration.
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