UWTSD-hosted UNESCO BRIDGES Hub helps shape £1.4m Teifi Fyw (Living Teifi) Project
The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) is playing a leading role in a major new initiative to support the future of one of Wales’ most important rivers, following the award of £1.4 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The funding will support the development phase of Teifi Fyw (Living Teifi): People and Nature Together, an ambitious partnership bringing together environmental organisations, communities, researchers and cultural bodies to help restore and celebrate the Afon Teifi. The development phase will lay the groundwork for a five-year delivery programme, bringing investment to the project of over £10m, subject to future funding.
This initial two year development phase will bring together scientific evidence with local history, lived experience, and creative expression to ensure restoration work reflects the values of those who live and work in the river catchment.
UWTSD’s UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES UK Hub is a core partner in the project and is helping to shape its innovative approach, which combines scientific research with local knowledge, culture, heritage and community participation. The two-year development phase is the first step towards a wider programme that could attract up to £10 million of investment for the Teifi catchment over the coming years.
Associate Professor Luci Attala, Director of the UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES UK Hub at UWTSD, said:
“This project uses the UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES methodology to nurture a new way of thinking about river restoration. Rather than being simply an ecological intervention, Teifi Fyw is a process of reconnecting relationships between people, place, culture and the natural world.
I believe it marks an important transdisciplinary step forward; one that recognises meaningful environmental restoration cannot grow from the sciences alone. It depends on dialogue, listening and the weaving together of different forms of knowledge, including community perspectives, local histories, lived experience and scientific expertise. I’m very excited about this project because the restoration of the Afon Teifi offers an important opportunity - the potential to demonstrate and cultivate more inclusive and connected approaches to environmental renewal.”
The project is coordinated by Natural Resources Wales in partnership with the West Wales Rivers Trust; Mining Remediation Authority; Strata Florida Trust; Mentera; Ceredigion County Council; UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES - University of Wales Trinity Saint David and The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales.
Jon Goldsworthy, Head of Strategic Projects at Natural Resources Wales, said:
“This announcement marks a significant milestone for one of Wales’s most important rivers and showcases the power of collaboration. No one organisation could deliver the scale of change we hope to achieve with Teifi Fyw. The project is driven by the expertise, lived experience, and commitment of communities and organisations who care deeply about the river.”
As the home of the UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES UK Hub, UWTSD brings expertise in transdisciplinary research and community engagement, helping to ensure that environmental restoration is informed by a broad range of knowledge, perspectives and lived experiences.
The project has also been welcomed by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, whose support has enabled the partnership to begin developing its long-term vision for the river and the communities connected to it.
Andrew White, Director for Wales at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“Teifi Fyw recognises the Afon Teifi as a living landscape shaped by nature and people over generations. Thanks to National Lottery players, this project will help protect the river’s natural and cultural heritage while supporting communities to care for its biodiversity and stories long into the future.”
Further updates will be shared as the project enters its development phase.
Further Information
Arwel Lloyd
Principal PR and Communications Officer
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: arwel.lloyd@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 07384 467076