Steve Lavender heads back to his roots
15/10/2010
It is probably not commonly known that before Steve Lavender came into NDT he was working on one of the most innovative reclamation schemes of the day.Started in the early 1960s, the Lower Swansea Valley Project was a multifaceted programme to rid the Lower Swansea Valley of its derelict buildings, slag heaps and featureless landscape. Based at the University, the project brought together the Council, the County, The Forestry Commission and other environmental groups which existed at that time.
The greatest innovation, however, was the long-term aim to bring green back into the valley in the form of grassing over the spoilt earth and planting small trees which would, one day, form a forest backdrop to the city.
Steve Lavender joined the project in 1974 and his remit was to work as a liaison between the valley communities, schools, youth groups, churches, pubs and so on, and the university-based project to spread the word about what was happening and getting the local people on board. He left the project in 1982 to join Lavender International, so it was with some surprise that during the summer he was asked back to present a paper in Swansea on the 50th anniversary of the project’s beginnings. Steve jumped at the chance and agreed to join the one-day conference on 14 October in Swansea, entitled ‘History, Heritage and Urban Regeneration’.
During his period as conservator of the Lower Swansea Valley, he estimates the local groups were responsible for planting around 20,000 trees, many of which now do indeed form the green heart of the Lower Swansea Valley, where once there was only bare land.
Steve said: “After 30 years in NDT it is a real thrill to think that the work we did on that project is still remembered by a lot of people. When I return to the city, my eyes are naturally drawn to Kilvey Hill and the Lower Swansea Valley to make sure the trees are still there. I am looking forward to the conference in October.”
