The Lead Field is a Council owned parks land on your doorstep with amazing panoramic views, natural springs, an historic well, a silted-up pond, many ancient rights of way, allocation for allotments and a World War 2 bomb crater. This public open space that separates and unites Morriston and Mynydd-bach Wards is one of our greatest local assets and absolutely steeped in history.

Around 1767 the industrialist John Morris (founder of "Morris Town", or Morriston, as we know it today) aquired this site and built his mansion house, where Lord Nelson & Lady Hamilton apparently once stayed, maybe on their way to the naval dockyard in Pembrokeshire? The house was later dismantled brick by brick and rebuilt in Sketty.

An opportunity exists to preserve this historic site for future generations and, by engaging local people, encourage environmental awareness of the area; promoting community involvement & maintaining the theme of local ownership are some of the essential ingredients that will enable this venture to be successful in the long term.

There is additional scope to link in with the surrounding primary and secondary schools to utilise the field's facilities as an outdoor learning experience.

Ideas put forward by the community so far include: planting sustainable woodland; restoration of the pond area; securing and improving access to the rights of way; rebuilding the well-spring; establishing viewing areas & information boards; allotment provision; building a play area from natural materials, safeguarding wildlife, flora & fauna; a designated areas to demonstrate woodland skills, conservation, build earth ovens, etc; protection of site-sensitive areas; providing a peaceful relaxed atmosphere, with nature & open spaces as the focus.

In all probability the success of a project like this will lead to further regeneration of the Clase, Caemawr & Pinewood area by residents in conjunction with agencies. Appreciation of the environment and developing the relevant skills locally will help to aid sustainability, which on a large scale project like this is paramount.

Initial interest in the project has been immense, with local radio and The Evening Post taking up the story. Over thirty agencies and organisations have shown a keen interest in supporting the Environment Group, the field has been identified as one of the first 17 sites in the Cyd Coed funding bid for the Swansea area which is an initiative to enhance a network of woods to meet needs for community recreation, health & wellbeing, learning, enterprise and bio-diversity. We hope to plant 3,500 trees and shrubs this spring. The Lead Field site, slap-bang in the middle of a Communities First area with active and enthusiastic community groups is an ideal candidate for this and other funding.

Things are moving ahead at a great pace, there is far too much work for our small Environment Group to cope with and we need your help! As well as looking for people to join the group we need photographs, newspaper articles, personal and historic stories and anything else related to the field so that we can develop and maintain an exciting area that is sympathetic to the history and the nature associated with the site.

The Environment Group is heading the Lead Field project as well as other local concerns, we are always looking for people to join us and help to develop the undervalued areas of our estates, we hold regular open meetings around Clase and Caemawr so keep a look out for posters and come along.

To be a part of this project and for further information about the Environment Group, contact the Clase Caemawr Community Partnership office.