It is not often that I get to cut a ribbon, in fact, I believe that I have only wielded the ceremonial scissors once before in my 34-year political career. Today was an opportunity to repeat that experience.
The Deputy Lady Mayoress and I spent the afternoon at the Hengoed Court Care Home in Winch Wen. The complex is set in a fairly spectacular setting, perched on a ridge over-looking the Crymlyn Bog Nature Reserve. The former BP oil refinery which once dominated this area is long gone and instead, residents are able to look down on the Swansea University second campus in Crymlyn Burrows.
As they turn their gaze towards Llandarcy and Skewen the demonstration village, based on Poundbury and built to impress Prince Charles dominates the landscape. This is a small grouping of empty houses effectively stuck in the middle of nowhere, that kick-started the Coed Darcy estate, a development which will eventually engulf the pilot area and fill a large part of the area with 4,000 houses, a secondary school and two primary schools.
Residents need not fear though, the nature reserve remains protected, complete with its reed warblers,sedge warblers, Cetti’s warbler, grasshopper warbler, reed bunting, water rail and of course Britain’s largest and rarest spider, the fen raft spider Other birds they might be able to see there are the marsh harrier, bearded tit and the elusive bittern. They may also see buzzards, kestrels, sparrowhawks and the red kite if they are lucky.
Hengoed Court itself is huge and employs over 300 staff. I understand that the intention is to turn it into a care village, and a lot of work has gone into landscaping the grounds, including the creation of a lake, a vegetable garden and many more features.
The purpose of our visit was to officially open the new petting farm, which has been installed to upgrade the experience of residents and their families by enabling them to relax with the animals. A massive effort has gone into this venture, including the construction of stables and an aviary.
Many of the animals have come from the Woodfield Animal Sanctuary in Gower, a venture run by a husband and wife team on a voluntary basis. As a result of this partnership, Hengoed Court now boasts three ponies and three lambs. They also have peacocks, pheasants and doves in the aviary and more are to come.
We very much enjoyed the visit, meeting some of the residents, listening to the Salvation Army Band and experiencing the atmosphere in the complex. The petting farm will be a major asset.
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