12/3/2002

A wildlife centre and museum in a mid Wales beauty spot has been given a new lease of life.

On Thursday 14 March the Kite Centre and Museum at Tregaron will officially be re-established as a valuable centre for both the local community and visitors. Iolo Williams, the popular television and radio nature programmes presenter, will kick off the celebrations, and welcome visitors to a newly refurbished Centre.

The Kite Centre and Museum will become a treasure trove of information – with exhibitions on the fortunes of the red kite in Wales, and Cors Caron – one of the most visited National Nature Reserves in Wales. The younger visitors will have a chance to learn about schools of yesteryear in the Victorian classroom that has been created, under the guidance of Michael Freeman, curator of Aberystwyth Museum. The Museum has also produced a display packed with interesting facts about Tregaron’s local history.

Jo Lewis of the Tregaron Kite Centre and Museum said: “The official opening is the culmination of a lot of hard work by the local community. Under the watchful eye of community artist, Pod Clare, supported by the Countryside Council for Wales, pupils from Tregaron High School and the three local primary schools at Tregaron, Pontrhydfendigaid and Swyddffynnon, have been busy over the last two terms – and their work is now on show at the Centre.”

Sixth form students at Tregaron High School have created life size models of 12 birds that are seen at Cors Caron. Now the curlew, red kite, teal and hen harrier, amongst others, are suspended from a height of twenty foot in the roof space of the Centre.

The primary schools had an opportunity to visit Cors Caron National Nature Reserve. They wrote poems about their visit and collected materials like reeds, feathers, moss, cotton grass from the bog. Once back in school, the children made collages based on these poems. These are now part of a large land art collage in the Centre.

“After visiting the Centre I hope that more and more people will learn more about the wealth of wildlife, Welsh culture and local history here at Tregaron, and that their appreciation and understanding of the area helps them enjoy its tranquil beauty. In the future we hope that the Kite Centre will be of real service to the local community and visitors, and will become a lively centre where all sorts of activities and events are held” added Jo Lewis.

Source:	Countryside Council for Wales
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