A COMMUNITY woodland in Pontrhydfendigaid has been recognised at a national awards ceremony, while work continues to provide habitat for the reintroduced pine martens in the area.

Coed y Bont community woodland was one of the finalists in the biodiversity category of the Tidy Wales Awards, run by Keep Wales Tidy.

A 25-hectare woodland founded in 2008, the volunteers at Coed y Bont manage the woodland, promote environmental education, and run events informing the community of local flora and fauna.

Chris Harris, chair of Coed y Bont, said: “I am proud that we were nominated for the award and would like to thank Tidy Wales for their work in helping to promote groups like ours, also for the work and time that the volunteers of Coed y Bont have put in to achieve this award.”

The Tidy Wales Awards recognises schools, community groups and organisations who go the extra mile to improve their local environment.

At the woodland over the last month, volunteers have been busy helping the reintroduction of the pine marten to mid Wales.

During the three year reintroduction of the pine marten, led by the Vincent Wildlife Trust, the community group at Coed y Bont has worked together with the trust and pine martens are now visiting this woodland as part of their territory.

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition on Wednesday