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PRESS RELEASE: Govilon Heritage Group To Launch Village Trails With A Family Walks Day On Saturday, April 22nd, two years of preparation will be over and Govilon residents will have the chance to take a walk down memory lane – following three new Heritage Trails exploring the historical features around the village. The unveiling of the Information Boards and the launch of a Village Leaflet with a detailed map of the trails will take place in Govilon Village Hall in the morning, after which there will be guided tours around each trail, led by volunteers from the group, including wardens from the Brecon Beacons National Park and the Blaenavon World Heritage Site. Mrs Frances Baines, Chairman of Govilon Heritage, said, "In July last year, we published a new edition of the Village History Book. It’s the collected memories and photographs of Govilon residents from the whole of the last century. The book is laid out as a "walk" through the village in living memory, and this gave us the idea of constructing real walks for our visitors – and residents, too." The trails were designed after two public meetings in which residents helped identify features of special interest in the village, and selected locations for the Interpretation Boards. Much of Govilon lies within the Blaenavon World Heritage Site. The final designs for the leaflets and boards were made in consultation with the BWHS team and blend harmoniously with their new publications and the World Heritage Site trails over the Blorenge Mountain. New drawings by well-known local artist Michael Blackmore were commissioned for the Boards; these will also be on display in the Village Hall. The drawings feature the historic Bailey’s Tramroad and the unusual Govilon Aqueduct with horse-drawn barges carrying iron and stone along the canal.   All are welcome to come along to the opening ceremony at 10.30am or join one of the guided walks, all of which start in the Village Hall. Govilon Heritage projects are being financed by grants from Awards for All Wales; the Welsh Assembly Government under the Article 33 Rural Development Plan for Wales; Rural Community Action; and Monmouthshire County Council's Community Pride Grant. For more information about the group or the Heritage Trails, Frances Baines may be contacted directly on 01873-831619. For details of the grants referred to above, and how to apply for grant aid for your group or organisation, contact Rural Community Action Monmouthshire, on 01873-736037 Ends Photograph: The new Information Boards are inspected by Govilon Heritage team members Mrs Frances Baines (Chairperson) and Alvin Nicholas (on the right) (Warden, Blaenavon World Heritage Site) with Richard Lewis (Rural Community Action) and Steve Smith (Warden, Brecon Beacons National Park Authority) Photo Opportunity: The opening of the Govilon Heritage Trail, by the oldest Govilon residents born and still living in the village (both in their nineties).  10.30am on Saturday 22nd April, Govilon Village Hall.