A NORTH Ceredigion village has been left “shocked and saddened” and facing a four-figure clean-up bill after a heritage project was badly damaged by storm conditions on St David’s Day.

The ‘Poetry Path’ in Llandre to the rear of the church of Llanfihangel Genau’r Glyn was “ripped apart” by high winds caused by Storm Emma on 1 March - uprooting over 30 trees which crashed down on the route, smashing panels and damaging a footbridge.

Opened in 2012 by T James Jones, the Archdruid of Wales, the path is a celebration of the living poetic tradition of the area and something villagers are “incredibly proud of”, founder and landowner Wynne Melville Jones told the Cambrian News.

Mr Melville Jones said that despite the setback, he is “confident” and “determined” that the path will be rebuilt.

“I was so shocked and saddened to see what had happened,” he said.

“Over 30 trees were blown down and fell across the path.

“Panels showing some of the poets from the area were badly damaged, the footbridge was hit by one of the trees and parts of the path are now completely washed away.”

Costing £10,000 to build six years ago, Mr Melville Jones said that it would cost thousands of pounds to get the path back up and running again.

“The heritage society will assess the damage this week and come up with a way forward, but I am determined that the damage will be fixed,” he said.

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