Local people making their corner of rural Britain unique
This week
Saturday 5 April Repeated Thursday 10 April
In this week’s Open Country presenter Caroline Sarll spends the day with a group of very special young people in Mid Wales.
At Longwood Community Woodland close to Lampeter, young carers drawn from across the region, enjoy a day of respite and confidence building out in the woodlands, trying their hand at green woodworking and den building, led by woodworker Tony Eames. For many, this is a welcome opportunity to have some time to themselves, without their daily responsibilities of caring for the needs of family members. In the therapeutic environment of lush woodland, they can relax and enjoy the company of other people their age and develop new skills.
It is estimated that more than 2,000 children, aged between eight and 18, across Mid Wales, are shopping, cooking and cleaning in families where adults can no longer cope, usually through long-term illness or disability.
The project was developed by Welsh Charity Tir Coed, who through making the most of the ample Welsh woodland, support woodland initiatives for socially disadvantaged communities in rural Wales. In rural areas the challenges associated with disadvantaged communities are often hidden and a lack of support infrastructure can increase feelings of isolation and marginalisation. Through Tir Coed’s WICKED Project (Woodland Initiatives as a Catalyst for Kids’ Education & Development), young people enjoy natural resources and a care free day of fun.
