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The destruction of the much-loved Bluebell Woods last summer saw an outpour of anger and grief – but it also brought a community together in its bid to restore the land to its former glory.

Earlier this month, a fundraiser was created with the aim of putting the site in the community’s hands.

Read the latest on the Bluebell Woods saga here.

This week, the fundraising efforts were given a healthy boost when a £10,000 donation came in from former Llanbradach resident Granville Wise, 83 – taking the total raised to more than £18,000.

While still a fair way off the £150,000 target, the donation, coupled with the recent delay of the land’s auction, has given the campaign a renewed sense of optimism.

Mr Wise, who was born and brought up on Coed y Brain Road, left Llanbradach as a young teenager, going on to have spells living in Ystrad Mynach and Llanelli before settling in Surrey in the early 1970s.

Now spending his time between Surrey and sunny Barbados, Llanbradach still holds a special place in Mr Wise’s heart.

After his generous donation, Caerphilly Observer made contact with Mr Wise and spoke to him about why he felt it was important to chip in.

“I’m really proud to be a boy from the Brad. If I can’t support Llanbradach, I can’t support anyone.”

Despite being away from the village he calls home for nearly 70 years, Mr Wise has always tried to do his bit to support Llanbradach.

Alongside friends Keith Edwards and Vernon Spragg, Mr Wise set up the ‘Boys of the Brad’ group a number of years ago, where they would get together for meals and functions to raise money for a variety of charitable causes in the community.

While this has been more difficult during and after the pandemic, the desire to help out did not fade.

After finding out about the destruction of Bluebell Woods last summer, Mr Wise said he felt “incensed” and recalled: “I remember going up there as a kid with my sister, we used to go up there playing – I must have been about four or five.

“It was a lovely spot. I’m not sure why someone would want to build on this – you don’t want an eyesore on a beauty spot.”

Despite his hefty donation, he admitted: “I don’t want accolades, I want to help as much as I can. I’m 100% behind it.”

Llanbradach councillor Colin Mann welcomed Mr Wise’s donation and said: “It’s fantastic.

“I was sat in my conservatory last week and had a phone call from Barbados. It was Granville and he told me what he wanted to do.

Cllr Mann was ecstatic at this gesture and joked: “It was a good job I was sat down at that moment.”

Visit GoFundMe to make a donation to the community fundraiser.