Americans in Alliance with the National Trust of England, Wales & Northern Ireland

Grants

Newman's Own Foundation and Royal Oak Support the National Trust's Conservation of Llyndy Isaf in North Wales

The Royal Oak Foundation has received a grant of £50,000 ($82,000) from Newman's Own Foundation to support the National Trust's construction and restoration of public footpaths at Llyndy Isaf in Snowdonia National Park in North Wales.

Royal Oak has also made a special grant from the foundation's capital of $15,000 to the Trust to assist with the purchase of the 614-acre Llyndy Isaf farm in honor of the marriage of Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Llyndy Isaf: Natural Splendor in Northwest Wales

Llyndy Isaf, in the Nant Gwynant valley near Beddgelert, is one of the most well-known and environmentally important stretches of countryside in Snowdonia and part of a European-designated Special Area of Conservation.

Extending from the lake of Llyn Dinas and the Afon Glaslyn River, to the summit of Moel y Dyniewyd, the property includes extensive areas of woodland, mire and heath of exceptional conservation value and a range of archaeological sites, including the remains of the Llwyn Du copper mine.

Llyndy Isaf Farm

Sensitive management of the farm has resulted in abundant natural regeneration of rowans, birch and oaks above and beyond the enclosed woodlands which produces a rich succession of upland plant communities, a rare and precious environmental asset in Wales.

The farm is home to some of Snowdonia's endangered choughs as well as precious songbirds like pied flycatchers, redstarts and willow warblers. During the winter months the lake is an important feeding spot for visiting waders, while peregrine falcons depend on the farm's habitats for their prey.

Llyn Dinas is also the mythical birthplace of the red dragon, the Welsh national symbol, and the place where it defeated the white dragon of the Saxons, banishing it to the depths of the lake.

Protecting Llyndy Isaf's Future

The farm's present owner is retiring from farming and is concerned about ensuring that the land continues to be managed in a traditionally sustainable way. The Trust has launched a public appeal for the £1,000,000 required for the acquisition and has raised £800,000 to date. Royal Oak's grant to the acquisition appeal is intended to recognize the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's strong ties to this beautiful and environmentally significant area. If you would like to support the appeal, please contact Sean Sawyer at 212.564.2807 or ssawyer@royal-oak.org.

The Newman's Own Foundation grant will support the construction and restoration of two critical public footpaths utilizing age-old stonework techniques. A new footpath will be constructed around Llyn Dinas to reduce the detrimental effects and erosion caused by informal pathways and to make it a more enjoyable and safe experience for visitors. It will also draw visitors away from highly-sensitive wildlife areas.

Newman's Own Foundation funds will also support the restoration of the footpath up to the Llyn Du copper mine. This is a zig-zag path that tens of thousands of people walk every year. It is a historical path, trodden for centuries, but is badly worn and is in urgent need of repair to reduce erosion. Both projects will utilize traditional stonework techniques methods. All materials and labor would be sourced locally, making this project not only environmentally sustainable but economically sustaining for the local economy.