The South Wales Miners’ Museum celebrates the work and culture of once bustling valleys. The After Coal production team talked with Heather Pearce and former miner Allen “Flash” Price about their community’s mining history, present struggles, and what is yet to come.

After Coal producer Patricia Beaver and director Tom Hansell were interviewed on BBC Wales.  They discussed the music of coal mining in Appalachia and Wales with Frank Hennessy, host of the Celtic Heartbeat programme.  Their interview discussed coal, culture, and the soundtrack of the After Coal documentary.  You can listen to the interview by visiting the BBC Radio Wales website and toggling to the 1:09:50 mark of the June 16 episode. The episode will be available until June 23, 2013.

This set of production photos features mines in the Cynon Valley of Wales.  We visited the old Tower Mine, the only worker owned mine in Wales.  The mine was first opened in the 1950’s.  Faced with the mines closure in 1995, a group of miners bought Tower and operated the mine until 2008.   We also visited a newly opened underground mine nearby, and interviewed apprentice miners.

The Glyncorrwg Ponds and Mountain Bike Centre in Wales presents a story of community supported tourism after the decline of the coal industry. Leigh Acteson shares the successes of the project, while recognizing the uncertain future for the valleys surrounding his village.