I spent an enjoyable time at the weekend at an open day organised by the new management team at the Kenfig Nature Reserve.
This is a wonderful resource for the entire community with its hundreds of acres of dunes with Kenfig Pool nearby and many walks leading down to the coast.
The Reserve, which is owned by the Kenfig Corporation Trust, is now being managed directly by the Corporation Trust itself after many years of being managed by BCBC. It has set up a new charitable organisation to actually look after the reserve and director Brian Davies and manager Ceri John explained some of their plans to me.
The reserve has to generate income and they have made a good start with planning consent for a new cafe and a terrace area outside where people can enjoy the views as they eat. They have also been granted a licence to hold weddings and have created a lovely wedding venue which couples can use for the actual ceremony complete with full length windows and wonderful views.
Things are still at an early stage but at the moment, it would appear that they are moving in the right direction. The new body is recruiting volunteers to help manage this large area of protected landscape and there is much goodwill within the community which regards the reserve as the jewel in its crown.
I intend to make further visits as time goes by and more activities and developments take place.
I urge everyone who has never been there to pay a visit to what is a site of special scientific interest with its rare species like the fen orchid and the carver bumblebee.