Over the last few years, Young People and Leaders from the 1st Cowbridge Scout Group have enjoyed hikes around the Vale, mostly using paths and routes protected and maintained by the volunteers from Valeways.
When the Scouts were asked to choose a local organisation to work with on a Community project as part of their World Challenge Award, they chose to support Valeways and help look after some of the great natural resources that make the Rural Vale such a beautiful place to spend time in.
After discussing with Valeways staff where our efforts would be most useful, 21 Scouts along with leaders and a few parents gave up 6 hours last Sunday (11th June) to clear a section of the old Roman Road from the Clump (By the radio masts near the A48) to Primrose Hill.
This half mile section used to be enjoyed by cyclists and horse riders but had become so overgrown that you couldn't even walk some sections without ducking.
As well as cutting back bushes and removing 2 fallen trees, our volunteers also removed several bags of litter, all the way from Primrose Hill to the Bryn Owain restaurant - we even removed a TV from one hedge!
As well as the Scouts, Leaders and Parents who turned out to help, we'd like to thank the managers at Co-op, Tesco and Waitrose in Cowbridge who all donated bottles of water to keep our team safely hydrated as they worked on what turned out to be a very warm day, and of course the hundreds of other volunteers from Valeways who carry out projects like this all over the Vale to keep the paths open and the countryside accessible.
The Roman Road is now fully open for use by walkers, cyclists and horseriders.
We've shared some of the pictures from the day in the hope that the people enjoying the reopened path will realise the effort that goes in to keeping the countryside open and maybe think twice before dropping their cans and sweet wrappers (and televisions!) as they go
You can find out more about Valeways at www.valeways.org.uk
