Clean energy projects provide playground equipment for pupils Pupils at Abercerdin Primary School in Gilfach Goch are having fun on brand new playground equipment – thanks to the first community grant by energy developer Pennant Walters. The south Wales renewable energy company has paid for a range of playground equipment, including a trim trail, climbing frame, staging, sail shade, wooden play train, seating, play panels and a five aside football court, as part of its policy of ensuring local communities benefit from its investments. And to show its appreciation for the donation, the school and Parent Teacher Association (PTA) has named the path through the playground ‘Pennant Walters Walk.’ Pennant Walters operates two new wind farms in the Gilfach Goch and Blackmill areas, Pant y Wal in the county of Bridgend, and Fforch Nest, which straddles the border of Bridgend and Rhondda Cynon Taf. The two sites have a total of 21 turbines producing 53 megawatts of clean electricity – enough to power the equivalent of 25,000 homes. At the formal opening of the new playground, managing director Dale Hart said, “We are in the process of setting up a community benefit fund for our local wind projects and it will be operational in 2014. Our aim is to provide assistance for community projects, with decisions taken by a panel involving local people and our company. We’ll ensure that information on the kind of support we can provide and how to apply for funding is widely available. “We received an early request from Abercerdin Primary School, which stated that it desperately needed new playground equipment. Although the community fund isn’t yet up and running we thought this a deserving request and were pleased to help.” Abercerdin’s Head Teacher, Helen Gentle, said, “For 110 years the school yard has been a bare, open space upon which the children have attempted to play. The lack of resources for playtime has been an ongoing concern for the whole school community. We are deeply grateful to Mr Dale Hart and Pennant Walters for their generous donation of a playground to the pupils of Abercerdin Primary School.” Ms Leanne Middleton, Chairperson of the PTA added, “Generations of Evanstown children will now be able to enjoy fun lessons and playtimes in an inspiring new school yard. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”