Popular country park closes after more than 100 trees significantly damaged in storm

A historic park has been forced to close indefinitely after Storm Darragh saw over 100 trees fall. Craig-y-Nos Country Park in Bannau Brycheiniog has been closed while staff deal with the debris, saying the landscape of the site has been "significantly" altered. Storm Darragh which swept over the UK over the weekend caused chaos in Wales as gales of up to 93mph battered the country.

A rare red warning to life was issued on Friday night into Saturday, December 7, due to the storm, with one police force declaring a major emergency and people asked to stay at home. Tens of thousands of homes across Wales were left without power, with some still waiting to be restored. You can read more about that here.



Across Wales, hundreds of trees fell as a result of the storm's winds, blocking roads, rail lines and crushing cars in the process. Cardiff Council said the strength of the winds during Storm Darragh brought more trees down in the city in one night than in 20 years. Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news.

You will receive updates from us daily. Now, Craig-y-Nos have said the park will remain closed this week and potentially longer while the clean up on the site continues. Bosses said that over 100 trees were brought down during the storm, "significantly altering the landscape of this much-loved and historically significant site.

" They said that the park will remain closed this week and possibly longer to allow teams to safely assess the damage and carry out essential clearance and repair work. They said that due to the scale of the damage the park requires specialist contractors to clear the area, who are currently in high demand following the widespread impact of the storm. The closure is part of a broader response across the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, as warden teams work to evaluate and repair damage from Storm Darragh.

This comes on the heels of Storm Bert, just two weeks ago, which caused extensive destruction, including the loss of several bridges and widespread footpath damage. Park wardens are currently prioritising clearing blocked paths, repairing infrastructure, and making the wider park safe for visitors. Any visitors to the park who encounter problems are asked to report it here: https://bit.

ly/3Bopmn6 Craig y Nos Country Park Manager Paul Chapman said: “The scale of the damage caused by Storm Darragh is truly devastating, particularly so soon after Storm Bert. Staff and volunteers are working tirelessly to ensure the park is made safe and to begin the long process of recovery. We would like to thank regular visitors for their patience and understanding during this challenging time.

Park bosses added that while the loss of trees is deeply felt, restoration efforts will focus on ensuring the park remains a haven for nature, wildlife, and the community with historical and heritage features being repaired and replaced with care. For those wishing to support the park’s recovery efforts, donations can be made at https://bit.ly/3BcmoC5 Although the park itself will be off limits other facilities such as the car park and toilets, Dwy Afon cafe and Emporium, Fairy Cwtch & Fibre are all able to open and operate as usual.

Craig-y-Nos Country Park spans 40 acres and forms part of the historic grounds of the Victorian Craig-y-nos Castle . The historic grounds were once home to the internationally famous opera singer Adelina Patti. The gardens are listed on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales while the castle is a Grade II* listed building and its theatre built by Patti has a separate Grade I listing.

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