How to turn mining waste sites into local treasures | Natalie Sargent | TEDxNantymoel

Summary

The speaker discusses the importance of green spaces for health, wellbeing, and climate resilience, highlighting Wales' legislative efforts to protect these areas. They reflect on the legacy of coal mining, particularly the creation of welfare parks by miners, and the challenges posed by derelict industrial sites. The speaker emphasizes the need for community engagement and innovative approaches to transform these brownfield sites into sustainable, green spaces that benefit local communities. The aim is to inspire action in creating spaces that address inequalities and environmental concerns for future generations.

Takeaways

• 😀 Green spaces are essential for health, wellbeing, sport, recreation, education, heritage, tourism, biodiversity, climate change adaptation, and flood management.
• 😀 In 2015, Wales introduced groundbreaking legislation requiring public bodies to consider the long-term impact of decisions on future generations' wellbeing.
• 😀 In 2020, the Future Generations Commissioner in Wales called for a standard ensuring everyone has access to a green space within 300m (a four-minute walk) from their home.
• 😀 6.3 million people in the UK lack access to a green space within a 10-minute walk from their home, highlighting inequalities in green space distribution.
• 😀 The coal mining industry in Wales left a legacy of brownfield sites and waste tips, but also the creation of welfare parks by miners between 1922 and 1939.
• 😀 Miners funded, built, maintained, and protected welfare parks to ensure future generations could enjoy them, demonstrating a commitment to green spaces.
• 😀 Wales has numerous derelict industrial sites, many of which are brownfield sites in the heart of communities, which are not attractive to developers despite their proximity to infrastructure.
• 😀 The legacy of coal mining also includes waste tips, some of which are unstable, leading to concerns after incidents like the Aberfan disaster, in which coal tips caused a deadly landslide in 1966.
• 😀 There are currently around 2,500 tips in Wales, 350 of which are considered to be of serious concern. These tips are now being monitored, with a focus on safety and restoration.
• 😀 Restoring these coal tips presents an opportunity to involve communities in creating green spaces that could contribute to biodiversity, flood management, renewable energy, and community-led projects.
• 😀 The creation of a scoping tool for brownfield sites in Wales will help identify both constraints and opportunities, aiming to transform derelict sites into places for biodiversity, renewable energy, active travel routes, and community development.

Q & A

What is the main reason the speaker became an active campaigner for green spaces?

The speaker became an active campaigner for green spaces after realizing how important they are for health, wellbeing, and various societal benefits. The speaker also noted that these spaces should not be taken for granted, especially in light of increasing challenges such as climate change and urban development.

What significant legislation was introduced in Wales in 2015, and what was its purpose?

In 2015, Wales introduced groundbreaking legislation that placed a duty on public bodies to consider the long-term impact their decisions would have on the wellbeing of future generations. The legislation aimed to ensure that no future generation would be worse off due to decisions made today.

What was the goal of the Future Generations Commissioner in 2020 regarding green spaces?

In 2020, the Future Generations Commissioner called on the Welsh Government to introduce a standard ensuring that everyone would have access to a green space within 300 meters, or a short four-minute walk, from their home. This was to address the inequality in access to green spaces.

How many people in the UK do not have access to a green space within a ten-minute walk from their home?

In the UK, 6.3 million people do not have access to a green space within a ten-minute walk from their home.

What were the welfare parks and welfare grounds created by miners in Wales?

Between 1922 and 1939, miners in Wales helped create almost 400 welfare parks and welfare grounds. These parks were funded, built, maintained, and protected by the mining communities to provide green spaces for future generations.

How did the legacy of coal mining in Wales impact the environment, specifically concerning coal tips?

The legacy of coal mining in Wales includes the waste left behind in the form of colliery spoil, which was dumped into tips across the communities. Some of these tips have become man-made mountains, which now pose environmental and safety concerns, especially after incidents like the Aberfan disaster.

What happened in the Aberfan disaster of 1966, and why is it still significant today?

The Aberfan disaster occurred on October 21, 1966, when a coal tip collapsed due to heavy rainfall, engulfing a school and nearby houses. It resulted in the deaths of 116 children and 28 adults. The tragedy is significant because the community had warned about the dangers, but their concerns were ignored, highlighting the importance of listening to local voices in decision-making.

How many coal tips are there in Wales, and how many are considered to be of serious concern?

There are actually 2,500 coal tips in Wales, not the 150 previously believed. Of these, 350 are considered to be of serious concern due to their proximity to communities and potential safety risks.

What is the proposed solution to address the derelict brownfield sites in Wales?

The proposed solution is to develop a scoping tool for brownfield sites, which would not only identify constraints but also highlight opportunities such as improving biodiversity, renewable energy projects, food growing initiatives, and active travel routes. This would empower communities to take part in transforming derelict sites into valuable spaces.

How does the Penallta Park exemplify the transformation of industrial sites in Wales?

Penallta Park, built on a former coal tip, is an example of how industrial sites can be transformed into green spaces. The park now features a rich biodiversity, community activities, and a memorial to its industrial past, including a sculpture of a pit pony. It has become a community asset enjoyed by people of all ages.