Snowdonia appeal reaches its £1 million target
Latest update 08.12.2011 10:12
Incredibly, our biggest countryside appeal in more than 10 years, to secure the future of a spectacular upland farm, has reached its huge 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 Welsh Hollywood actor Matthew Rhys.
We've made it
The international star 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.
'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.'
Welsh stars backed the campaign
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.
But it 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 – 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.'