AN INTERACTIVE new project has launched in the former industrial heritage sites in the Valleys including Blaenavon.

‘The Valleys That Changed The World’ aims to take visitors on an adventure using photo-boards and social media to engage people with three fictional pioneers who sought work during from the Industrial Revolution.

The downloadable trails are geographically spread across the Valleys and in the east, Blaenavon’s pioneer is Tim, a boy from Ireland who has come over with his family.

Project coordinator Ruth Taylor-Davies added: “At three sites on each route, you’ll get to ‘meet’ and have your photo taken with our character at that stage in their story, thanks to our specially commissioned photo-boards.

“So, at The World Heritage site, you find Tim as a fresh-faced boy, but by the end of the route, over 20 years of hard work have taken their toll on him.

“But that’s not all, you are encouraged to say how your think your character’s story ends, by visiting other sites and letting your creative juices flow.

“I’m genuinely excited about the trails. We think we’ve hit on something that people will really love and have fun engaging with, as it fits with the fashion for sharing photos on social media as well as the whole ‘photo booth’ trend that you see in weddings and parties”.

Cllr Lewis Jones, Torfaen’s executive member for regeneration, said: “We wanted to tie in with Visit Wales’ ‘years of adventure and legends’ by creating fun and creative trails linked to the people who came to our area during the Industrial Revolution – true adventurers who left their old lives behind for the chance of a better life in our Valleys.

Inspired by the creative approaches adopted by Visit Wales and Cadw during Wales’ Year of Adventure, the trails are downloadable at visitblaenavon.co.uk/…/Explore-the…/Pioneers-Trails.aspx.

For information, search The Valleys That Changed The World on Facebook or Twitter @TVTCTW.