Brothers and Sisters star Matthew Rhys celebrates success of National Trust million pound appeal to save Snowdonia lake and farm
Last updated 11/21/2011 1:19:21 PM
Matthew Rhys celebrates success of National Trust million pound appeal to save Snowdonia lake and farm
Hollywood actor Matthew Rhys has thanked supporters of a National Trust campaign to secure the future of a spectacular upland farm in Snowdonia.
The Welsh-born star of TV drama Brothers & Sisters is delighted at the success of the Trust's biggest countryside appeal in more than 10 years, that's reached its million pound target in just over seven months.
The appeal to preserve the 600-acre Llyndy Isaf Farm on the shores of Llyn Dinas near Beddgelert, forever for everyone, was spearheaded by Matthew, who said: "We've made it. Thank you so much to so many of you who dug so deep and supported our campaign to save Llyndy Isaf, this very special farm in the heart of Snowdonia."
He added: "You raised £1 million, which now means it will be cared for forever by the National Trust. It secures that future generations shall also enjoy it free from the threat of commercial development. Thank you so much."
The plight of Llyndy Isaf sparked a number of other Welsh stars to join Matthew in urging the public to back the campaign. Screen siren Catherine Zeta Jones and leading man Ioan Gruffudd lent their support, as did TV wildlife presenters Iolo Williams and Kate Humble.t wasn't just the celebrities who got behind the appeal as the National Trust's Rhys Evans explained.
"We've been completely bowled over by the response from the public," he said. "It's been extraordinary how generous people have been. Despite these tough financial times they've really backed the appeal, which really does show how much people care about protecting special places like Llyndy Isaf. So many also went that extra step and took on extraordinary challenges to raise money. People like Heather Letley and Matthew Jones, who swam a lengthy section of the Thames, and Julie and Mark Allen, who cycled Mont Vernox in France three times in one day."
Llyndy Isaf lies in the beautiful Nant Gwynant Valley, near Beddgelert. It's one of the most well-known and environmentally important stretches of countryside in Snowdonia. It's untouched by intensive farming and home to many threatened wildlife species of international importance such as kingfishers, otters and the chough.
Rhys Evans said: "The challenge was always to raise the money by the end of the year to secure the future of Llyndy Isaf. Now, thanks to the generosity of so many, we can begin consulting with the local community and the farming unions to decide on the next step for this special part of Wales."