PEMBROKE Town Walls Trust is expanding its work on restoring the town’s medieval walls to include those around the Mill Ponds.

Over the last two years it has been involved in a major restoration of the walls around the garden of the Tabernacle United Reformed Church in Main Street.

That pilot project is now in its final stages and the Trust has decided to start work on the length of the north walls of the town along the Mill Ponds.

The Trust has conducted an initial condition survey of the walls that have suffered from many years of neglect.

“The work will take some years and we are planning it carefully”, said Howard Rudge, chair of the Trust.

“The first phase is simply to cut back the vegetation to open up a broad sweeping view to the town and its visitors.”

In November a full ecological survey will be conducted, with help from the Wildlife Trust.

The second phase will tackle the most urgent damage to prevent further decay of the walls, and finally, in the long term, to rebuild where necessary.

“Most excitingly, we are working with Pembrokeshire College and other partners to establish training and work experience for their construction students in stone masonry, and hope we can involve them in the long term through bursaries funded by the Trust,” said Howard.

The Trust is now writing to all wall owners for their approval and circulating a questionnaire to them and the wider community.

“The work will be voluntary to begin with. We want to engage the whole community, so if people feel able to be involved, they can contact us via Facebook or e-mail. Training will be given for all the work”, concluded Howard.

More information on how to be involved, or where to get and return questionnaires, can be obtained from Facebook @pembroketownwallstrust or e-mail pembroketwt@gmail.com