We've upgraded a picnic area at Gilwern to make it more accessible on the Mon & Brec

We've been able to make the upgrades thanks to Monmouthshire County Council’s access improvement scheme funded by the UK Government’s shared prosperity fund.

The works are part of the community-led celebrations for this year's 225th anniversary of the canal with construction of the waterway starting near Gilwern in 1796.

David Morgan, development manager for Wales at Glandŵr Cymru, said: "As a charity, we want to make sure that everyone can enjoy our canals, and the improvements to the pathways and picnic site at Gilwern will enable all canal lovers to reap the benefits of spending time by water.

"We’re grateful to Monmouthshire County Council for their support of this project, and of our Brecon 225 anniversary celebrations, which will see us mark this special anniversary for the northern section of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal throughout the year with a series of community events.

"Our colleagues and volunteers do a wonderful job in making the canal a fantastic place to be. Their hard work to upgrade this site will offer people a place to relax and enjoy being next to the canal."

The improvements at Gilwern follow the recent move to secure an emergency supply of water this summer to keep the 35-mile long Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal topped up for boats and for the benefit of local people and wildlife. This is after restrictions to the canal’s historic water supply from the River Usk came into force at the end of last year, exacerbated by the unseasonably dry start to 2025.

This investment in improving access to the canal helps illustrate the waterway’s importance to the community and the need for Welsh Government and others to help find a sustainable long-term solution to the water supply issue. A petition has been set up calling for the future of the water supply for the canal to be debated in the Senedd. It has already reached over 13,500 signatures.

The Brecon 225 celebrations mark the anniversary of the completion of the northern Brecon Canal, when the first cargo of coal reached Brecon Basin on Christmas Eve 1800.