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Warren describes the River Llynfi:
"Throughout my life the river and its tributaries have been of great interest to me, and when young I enjoyed fishing, swimming and rafting on its pools.
On a fine day it has a more tranquil appeal. I sit on its banks watching the clear water flow, where trout wait patiently to leap and catch an unsuspecting fly. Spotting the birds, which abound along the river, such as herons, dippers, wagtails and enjoy the rare fly pass of a sparkling kingfisher with a minnow in its beak.
The river banks contain a variety of plants and trees native to the area and those introduced by man in the mid nineteenth century.
Proudly standing on its banks are Welsh oaks that have survived the industrial heritage of the valley. Witnesses of the contamination caused by the production of coal and iron. They now drink from the clear sparkling waters where a multitude of wildlife and insects survive.
At night it all changes, the moon reflecting on the babbling water as it passes through the valley, bats silently flying overhead with radar "locked" onto their prey, the sound of something "plopping" into the water, what was it? Too dark to ever know, and still birds to be heard. Now though it's the turn of the owls, and in spring the returning nightjars.
Though beware, the nature of the Llynfi can change quickly. It takes just a few hours of rainfall on the steep slopes of the valley for it to become a torrent.
A torrent raging down the valley, carrying in its wake, waste produced by both nature and man. Propelling it furiously towards the open sea several miles away, an exciting event to witness. And then, almost as quickly as it rises, the water level falls and the process begins again.
Over the last twenty or thirty years, as the industries have closed, and people have become more aware of the environment and the need to keep it clean, you can see how it has improved greatly over the last couple of years."
your comments
Mags Rimmer, Auckland, New Zealand
My house in Careau backed onto the Llynfi river which as kids we used for swimming and fishing. In the winter when the water level rose the rats came into our garden looking for scraps. Although we have lived in New Zealand for 5 years we still have fond memories of the Llynfi and Maesteg and yes the cone of chips from the Blue Pearl is all too familiar.
Brenda Smith New Zealand.
What memories of the LLynfi. I was born in Caerau and had to cross the river twice every day to go to Tyderwn School. I well remember the dislike I had for the geese that roamed along the side of the river and always walked close beside one of my brothers as they hissed towards us. My brother Reg was a great fisherman and was always looking for a good spot to fish.
Malcolm James
Born in Llangynwyd part of my childhood was spent playing in the River Llynfi which we called the Black River this was due to the the coal dust from the local colleries. The river that flowed down the Darren Valley was the White River - they meet just below the Tylers Arms Pub at Pontrhydycyff. Now the water is crystal clear - is is without doubt due to the closure of the mines.
Dave Byers, Bisley, Gloucester
I spent many hours playing in the river in the late 40s early 50s, sometimes with friends but mostly alone. I used to sit for ages just watching it flow, wondering where it was going. I recall a steel pipe spanning the river which we used to cross to reach the Celtic playing fields; if you slid along rather than walk you were ridiculed. Many fell off.
Aneurin Lewis
I have read Warren's article on the Llynfi with interest & oh how I wish all the river was as he describes it.Close to his home the Llynfi is clear, fish rise to the fly, kingfishers, dippers & herons all can find a meal.A few miles down stream below the discharges of the sewage treatment works and the paper mill there is another story.On a balmy summer day no fish rise to the fly and no kingfisher dives for his dinner in the lower Llynfi.For here the river is contaminated with amounts of ammonia so toxic no fish can survive in it.This is how the lower Llynfi has been since the pollution in 2003, which killed more than a hundred fish.The thousands of pounds spent by the Environment Agency and local anglers, restocking the river with salmon & sewin to regenerate the river following another major fish kill in the late eighties is now under threat. But who cares? It's only a Welsh ex mining valley, not a chalk stream in southern England or a tributary of a major Scottish salmon river. We should all be aware of our obligations to future generations in not destroying the environment we live in. But for those who live else where it appears by their actions they do not care. And so it is up to the anglers of the Llynfi Valley to continue to fight pollution so we all may enjoy the benefits of a clean river.
Patricia Gallagher, Manchester
I have really enjoyed both the Jackdaws and the River Llynfi short films and appreciate the nature and wildlife shown. Many thanks.
Melissa Allen, Maesteg
Gosh, I have never heard the river described in that way and it has made me think twice about its beauty. I remember the river bridge as a meeting point, I went to Plasnewydd Junior school. Running out to meet my mother or my nan after school and eating a cone of chips from Blue Pearl on the way home to Court Street. Thanks for bringing back memories. The river looks much better since it has been cared for by the River Group. No more ghastly trolleys taking a swim in the river Llynfi.
John Davies, Australia
I was born in Maesteg 1934 and emigrated to Australia 1965. I have fond memories of the old parish and the river Llynfi, red and white buses to Neath, Llynfi buses to Aberavon, even the steam train to Porthcawl and miners holidays in Rest Bay, and the annual bus trip from the Hibernian Club in Llwydarth Road where I was born. Cymru Am Byth.
Arthur Worsdale, Coquitlam, BC, Canada
My home is on the outskirts of Vancouver where the mountains come down to the sea. We, too, have our "Llynfis" that we have to beware of! Amongst my travel souvenirs is a miner's lamp bought decades ago in a corner store in Maesteg. Indeed the store featured in the Maesteg photo gallery could well be the very one. I don't remember the Llynfi River but I do recall the Llynfi bus service that came down to Aberavon beach in the days of my youth.
Dave Raymond, Llandeilo
A number of us boys used to play in the Llynfi near to Celtic Cricket Club. Half of us went down with scarlet fever, the others with diptheria. I don't know if this was because of playing in the river - this was in the 1930s.
