11 - 18 years > How will climate change in Wales affect me? > Landslides > Landslide hazards
S Wales Valleys - Landslide Hazard

The many landslides close to high population in this region are being closely monitored

  • Two large landslide events which occurred between 1990-2000 coincided with a peak in winter rainfall.
  • The following landslides are still moving.
Name Location First movement
Maerdy Rhondda Fach After the Ice Age
Blaencwm Rhondda Fawr 1954 then a slide in 1989
Duffryn Afan Valley late 1930’s

Movement of landslides can be

  • sudden, causing destruction of built structures and even death
  • slow, gradually making buildings and roads unstable
Response to this hazard

  • Sudden unexpected landslides depend on quick response by the emergency services as at Nefyn, Lleyn Peninsular, N Wales, 2001
  • Slow creeping movement is less obvious. People may not want to leave their homes. In Troedrhiwgwair, Tredegar, S Wales, 1987, 19 people refused to be rehoused because they did not believe they were at risk.
Try This!
Imagine you lived in an area of Wales where there was a possibility of landslides as the climate changes.  You want to start an ACTION GROUP to make sure everyone in the area knows of the possible hazard and knows how to respond.  

Who would you want to be part of your action group?  [Think of local decision makers, regional decision makers, people involved in emergency planning]

Working with some friends, assign each friend one of the roles above. e.g. a local councillor, a local Welsh Assembly Member, the police, a geologist, etc

ROLE PLAY Your action group are to speak in a meeting of local people [this could be your class]

Design a poster to advertise this first meeting. Give your action group a name.

At the meeting each member of the action group must make a presentation to the local people. [Think what information each group member needs]


Troedrhiwgwair, Tredegar, S Wales
Permission sought from B.Gardner


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