A new project has been launched to celebrate the culture and heritage of the Tywi Valley in Carmarthenshire, south-west Wales.

The £2.4m Tywi Afon Yr Oesoedd (Tywi - River Through Time) Landscape Partnership Scheme aims to bring together local communities in order to create a future legacy through the conservation of the area's heritage. Led by Carmarthenshire County Council (CCC), the project has received a £1.5m investment from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), and will involve a number of schemes, including training in stonemasonry and woodwork to maintain historic buildings in the valley.

The Rural Development fund has also contributed £557,000 towards the programme, which will also provide advice on restoration and conservation. CCC leader, Meryl Gravell, said: "The projects have been carefully planned to bring maximum benefits to the area and they will all help to conserve the region's rich heritage. It is a wonderful opportunity to invest in this rural area, and a great deal of preparation work has been undertaken in the past 12 months."

Chair of HLF's Committee for Wales, Dan Clayton Jones, said: "This project will ensure the heart of the Tywi Valley, which has a wealth of invaluable natural and human heritage, will be celebrated and secured for future generations to enjoy."