The Silver Valley: From Mines to Modern Energy

Our name, Cwm Arian, means “Silver Valley” — a term that reflects both the land we call home and a landscape shaped over centuries by people and industry. We want to share a little about our heritage, the community beneath our feet, and the spirit that continues to drive our work today.

Long before turbines and solar panels, this valley was defined by its silver and lead mining heritage. Rich mineral veins drew miners and their families, forming close-knit communities and leaving a legacy that still echoes in the land.

Mining was hard work, and life was tough, but it forged resilience and camaraderie. Locals still recall men and women working long hours underground while children played along the old tramways that carried ore down the hillsides. Today, the remains of these workings quietly dot the hills — enduring reminders of that era.

The story of the Silver Valley does not end with miners. Over a century ago, the Cardi Bach railway — a narrow-gauge line built in the late 1800s — played a vital role in the valley’s life. Its small locomotives and carriages carried minerals, livestock, goods, and passengers across the hills, linking rural communities and industries that were otherwise isolated.

The railway earned its nickname, “Cardi Bach” (Little Cardi), because of its diminutive size and charming, intimate scale. For local people, it was a lifeline. Families relied on it to bring goods to market, children would marvel at the small carriages rattling over the tracks, and wagons laden with ore snaked down the valley, powering the local economy. Remnants of the line — old track beds, bridges, and station buildings — still dot the landscape, connecting the past with today’s countryside.

Local figures like Mansel Davies championed initiatives to support both the railway and the communities it served, cementing its place in the valley’s social and industrial history. The Cardi Bach railway reminds us that innovation and community spirit have long been part of the Silver Valley story.

Fast forward to the present, and Cwm Arian is carrying that same spirit of local innovation into a new age. After more than a decade of campaigning and community effort, we installed a 700 kW community wind turbine at Trefawr Farm near Llanfyrnach. The turbine turns day and night quietly, generating millions of kilowatt-hours of clean electricity — enough for around 1,400 homes — while producing almost no noise. Revenue from selling this electricity is invested directly back into the community, funding local groups, energy advice services, and wellbeing projects across North Pembrokeshire.

“It’s amazing to see something so modern sitting in the same valley where our ancestors mined silver and lead!”

We see our work as part of this ongoing story. By generating local, clean energy, we reduce carbon emissions, support practical skills and training, help households cut energy costs, and back projects like solar arrays and community energy systems.

Whether through supporting local initiatives, exploring renewable technologies, or simply keeping the turbine turning, we are proud to play a part in the valley’s evolving legacy — connecting the story of yesterday with the actions of today and tomorrow, and showing that energy, community, and history can all work hand in hand.