Interpretation board unveiled

Valleyfield Environment and Recreation Trust (VERT) officially opened their latest project with the unveiling of an interpretation board located on Woodhead Street, High Valleyfield, outlining the history of the former Valleyfield Estate in human and natural terms.

This is the first of three interpretation boards to be installed (the other locations being Newmills and Shiresmill) with funding from Fife Council, Fife Environment Trust and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The structures housing the boards were manufactured by trainees from Fife Council’s Inclusion and Employability team, as part of the Fife Intermediate Labour Market partnership between Fife Council and ERDF.

A major component in this project has been the significant input from pupils of Torryburn and St Serf’s primary schools.

Children first visited the former Valleyfield Estate, now Valleyfield Wood, with John Le Marie from VERT and Fife Countryside Ranger Service’s Stephanie Little, where they learned of the area’s rich natural and man-made features and of its importance in heritage terms. Their experiences were recorded in artwork which has been incorporated into the panels.

According to VERT’s chair, Sylvia Maxwell “The children can be rightly proud of their contribution to the board which we expect to enlighten both local people and visitors.

“The area has a lot to be proud of and hopefully the information provided will stimulate visitors into spending more time in West Fife. This can only be good for the regeneration of High Valleyfield and the other West Fife Villages.”

John Le Marie highlighted the significance of the Valleyfield Estate.

“This is an area of national importance with connections to people known throughout the world. It is important that its heritage should not be lost along with the potential to attract more tourists into West Fife.

“National bodies have shown an interest in participating in proposals to restore parts of the former Valleyfield Estate but we need West Fifers to participate and lead. I would therefore ask anyone interested to contact me on 01383 889359 or email me at jlemarie@balmule.freeserve.co.uk.”