Dog trail opens in South Wales community woodland

A new activity trail for dogs has opened in a woodland on the site of a former colliery and industrial site in South Wales.

The dog trail at The Spirit of Llynfi Community Woodland, near Maesteg, has been developed with the Kennel Club and built by Natural Resources Wales’ South Central operations teams over the past two years.

There are five activities to try, including weaving through wooden posts, running through a tunnel, jumping over hurdles, and balancing along a log.

There are information boards beside each activity for tips to make sure dogs are safe while using the trail.

The Spirit of Llynfi Woodland also offers trails through a landscape of woodland, ponds, marshland, and heathland.

Aneurin Cox, Operations Manager for Natural Resources Wales, said: “The main reason for developing this woodland was to provide much needed green space in an urban community to improve the health and well-being of the residents.

“Turning old industrial sites into woodlands also helps us in our goal to plant more trees and restore habitats to tackle the climate and nature emergencies.

“This is a great example of how working collaboratively can benefit everyone, including our four-legged friends.”

The dog activity trail was funded through the Welsh Government Nature Fund and the Ford Motor Company Fund.