At a special event, held at the Arts Hall on the Lampeter campus on Thursday 17th March 2022, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) launched the Canolfan Tir Glas project.
As the University marks its bicentenary this year, UWTSD has now launched this exciting new vision for the future of its campus in Lampeter which builds on its world-renowned reputation as a centre for the study of the Humanities and multi-cultural and interfaith dialogue. The aim is to create a long-term offer for the campus and the town, underpinned by the principles of resilience and sustainability, which offers an opportunity to promote the area’s strengths and rural context.
The term ‘Tir glas’ means a green and fertile landscape in Welsh which is derived from a series of short stories by D.J. Williams that portray the resilience and civility of the residents of Lampeter and North Carmarthenshire’s agricultural communities.
The University is working closely with Ceredigion County Council, Coleg Ceredigion and Coleg Sir Gâr, Lampeter Town Council, the Mid Wales Regional Skills Partnership, the Growing Mid Wales Partnership as well as the Welsh and UK Governments on developing Canolfan Tir Glas. The development has already received funding from the UK Government’s Community Renewal Fund and from Cynnal y Cardi, Ceredigion’s Rural Development (LEADER) Programme, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
The six key and complementary parts of Canolfan Tir Glas are:
1. The Pontfaen Food Village, which will enable UWTSD and discount food retailer Aldi to showcase and celebrate local food produce.
2. A Community Food Hub to provide a community facility to develop skills based on local food production.
3. The Academy of Contemporary Food Wales to establish a central hub for food education and training, working with partners across Mid and South West Wales.
4. A Rural Enterprise Hub to promote small businesses working in a rural context, specifically in the food and hospitality industries.
5. The Wales Centre for Resilience and Harmony developed in partnership with the Lampeter Resilience Hub to develop courses in areas related to adapting to and counteracting the effects of climate change including in agriculture, horticulture, energy and construction.
6. The CWIC Welsh Timber and Building Performance Development Centre in collaboration with Wood Knowledge Wales to provide resources and research to promote modern and sustainable methods of construction with the aim of decarbonising the construction industry in Wales.
To learn more visit: Tir Glas
