Our History


Cymdeithas y Dalar grew from an idea put forward at the Transition Towns’ Open Space meeting held in Llandeilo in September 2007 and was created to allow us to rent land to provide allotments for local people.

The beginnings were very optimistic; we received two offers of land within a few days of our first meeting and decided to accept the option provided by the National Trust at Home Farm, Dinefwr. We hoped that we would be able to start the following spring.

 Unfortunately, the reality proved to be much more difficult than we had imagined and at certain points very frustrating. Negotiations between the National Trust and the Planning Department of Carmarthenshire County Council dragged on and when we celebrated our first birthday we were still not certain if we would get onto the land anytime soon.

Eventually there was a break through, we were allowed to go ahead under the conditions that no buildings would be erected.

On 6th January 2009 we finally signed the tenancy agreement and work on the site began with surveying, ploughing and rotovating. Plots were measured out and numbered and on 19th April 2009 the draw to assign allotments took place. All 61 plots were taken, with more people on the waiting list. Within weeks the site changed remarkably. Many early visitors are surprised when they find out that we have only been on the site since April 2009.