About us

Who Are We?

With the vision of 4 of the founder members of the Invest Local Steering Group, along with community members and volunteers, Afon Gwreddiau was conceived. 

Afon-Gwreiddiau / (River-Roots in Welsh) Growers is a new group that has been set up specifically to focus on environmental, growing projects within the community. It will be constituted as a group under the banner of a Limited Company (Afon-Gwreiddiau Cyf), a profit for purpose enterprise, the scope of which is a much wider regeneration of the area

The remit of the group was (from its beginning) visionary, environmentally aware, actively pursuing income through community energy, innovation & entrepreneurial spirit, along with specialist community member’s skills and expertise. Our aim is to champion the local people, initiating projects that meet the environmental priorities outlined by the invest local Ynysowen Action Planning workshops and bettering life for all.

As a community group we have designed many inter-related projects that meet the priorities identified. We are a non-profit group, run by volunteers from the Ynysowen area (Merthyr Vale, Aberfan, and Mount Pleasant) and non-residents with a particular interest in our beautiful home in the valley. 

We aim to establish opportunities to sustain a safer, cleaner, and greener environment for the community.
We hope to make use of some of the stunning buildings in the area which have become derelict and unused, as spaces the whole community can enjoy.

Be sure to follow us on our social media groups and pages for up to date information on current projects and upcoming events, or visit the Upcoming Events section of this website!

Community growth plans for our Future Generations include the following


• Aquaponics for year-round fruits.
• Hydroponics for pesticide free growth.
• Fruit for “Hour” Future provides a fruit tree for every new baby born in our villages.
• Polytunnels to maximise growing
• Beekeeping
• Honey products for sale.
• Raised growing beds for families.
• An organic community garden and educational experience promoting our natural habitat and wildlife.
• A market garden & home from home tea rooms
• Flowers for all occasions
• Food for all occasions
• Adventures for all celebrations
A Fairy Garden, A Secret Garden, A Hanging Garden A Climbing Experience, Forest Schools.
• Permacultures
• Woodland Walks & Willow Wonders
• Art Trails & Adventure Trails
• Duck & chicken Hatching
• Woodland Cafes & Community Hubs
• Generating energy through natural resources
• Maximising tourism opportunities
• Building our own homes

Current growing Projects

Due to restrictions relating to Covid-19, some projects may be put on hold temporarily, and any active projects will be completed according to current government regulations for social distancing.

Nixonville Community Garden

Work has started on a community garden in Nixonville next to the St. John Ambulance Hall. It will be home to a polytunnel for growing, a shipping container for aquaponics and mushroom growing, and raised beds for growing flowers or produce. Information on hiring out spaces here can be found under our Community Growing section.
Miner's Park/Ex-Bowling Green
The old bowling green next to Trinity Day Care and Rhyd-Y-Grud primary school is a protected green space, we hope to transform it into a community hub with wildlife gardens, bird watching areas, and a cafe. This will provide a biodiversity hotspot to help protect our wildlife, as well as serve as an outdoor area for the community to enjoy, and a great learning space for local schools and after-school groups to teach children about wildlife, nature, and growing food.

Fruit 4 our Future.


An innovative project providing Fruit4our future. This project will plant a new tree for every child born in the villages. The three-year project aim is to further promote the five a day initiative by providing an ongoing source of fruit.

The Woodland Trust will provide the trees for replanting every November and May. The expertise to know which is most hardy trees is within our officer group.

The original project idea was developed by our marketing/ gardening Tutor Sam Holt. Sam and his wife Siobhan were aware that in reality five a day couldn’t be achieved as we did not have enough home-grown fruit. The idea to replicate the initiative here in Aberfan, Merthyr Vale and Mount Pleasant was developed May 4th.

The main difference in our area is our launch will plant fruit trees in 3 different woodland areas.

Launched in November 2019 we'll plant 116 fruit trees in each area, (The number of children who lost their lives in the Aberfan disaster), 28 more hardy trees will surround the fruit trees, which will embrace, nurturing and protect them, allowing them to flourish.

The first baby born after the launch will be the first to have a certificate to commemorate their tree. Grandparents and parents will be able to buy a certificate, visitors to the villages and the cemetery will be able to buy a sapling from our (planned) aquaponics station. The move towards community grown products with the benefit of future technologies maybe somewhat bold and adventurous. (It is an approach we also think we can use in a high number of our derelict buildings and unused cellars.)



NEW! The secret garden...housed in a ruined chapel, there are exiting plans for the future...

Meet Our Team of tree foster families!

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