Keen-eyed passers-by will have noticed that scaffolding has recently been erected around the derelict building in Hebron Road, Clydach which the Swansea Canal Society are redeveloping into the Clydach Canal Centre (now to be known as the Swansea Canal Centre)

Builders are on site and work in earnest has started already. But these structural changes are not the only improvements planned. The adjacent land is roughly grassed and over the past two years society volunteers have cleared weeds and debris, planted fruit trees and created the first of several native flower borders in front of the canal mural.

Further ecological and environmental enhancements are planned, such as improving the grassed areas and planting up currently bare ground. The section of overgrown canal and the wasteland behind the building will also be cleaned, weeded and improved once the builders have finished.

These expanded green areas will all need regular upkeep and we are delighted to announce that the Monmouthshire Building Society Charitable Foundation (MBSCF) has given the society a generous donation to enable the purchase of garden machinery, hand tools, safety equipment, etc. specifically for maintenance of the Hebron Road site. We are indebted to MBSCF for their recognition of our work and their support as we transform this unsightly plot into an attractive and functional base for our continuing canal restoration activities.

As this and other exciting canal projects gather pace during 2023, providing more green spaces for man and nature alike is one of our highest priorities. MBSCF have really helped us take another step along that road, in this most prominent position in the centre of the village, and we value their partnership and support.