Pentre Bach, a TV Village for a Welsh children’s series location. The concept of the project is revealed. Adrian Savill, husband of Ifana Savill, the author of the new series “Pentre Bach” – a mixture of characters from Caffi Sali Mali and some newly created, takes me on a conducted tour of the TV village. The journey there takes you through Tregaron’s undulating landscape and windy roads until you arrive in Blaenpennal. There is a hub of activity as a JCB driver works on the replacement of new “old style gates” to the fields, whilst some new slate plaques with the names of the fields on them are propped up by the gates. Several builders pass as Adrian points out the ex Harrods employee who helped on the filming, strolling down to one of the cottages, where she is currently living. Adrian is very keen to articulate the whole concept of Pentre Bach (Little Village). I do not have to reach for my list of questions after all…

“We’re seeing serious agriculture melting away in this area like an ice age receding,” explains Adrian. “If you are from the area it was and is difficult to create employment opportunities for yourself and others. Ceredigion is very good in providing an excellent education for children – but not so good for creating opportunities to stay.

Pentre Bach is the resulting brainwave of Ifana, who after writing 52 episodes of Caffi Sali Mali for S4C, saw the opportunity to base a soap opera for children based on village life and filmed on location.

“ It was very complex to lever in all the planning permissions, tenders for the building work, business plans, grants applications etc and it all took time, despite everybody being extremely supportive. Building commenced in late November 03 and Pentre Bach was sufficiently ready (just!) by April O4 for a month’s filming. There will also be filming in Pentre Bach in April and September of 2005.

“In addition to the filming element, we will be offering quality accommodation bookable as individual units or the village as a whole for filming, conferences etc Thirdly, Pentre Bach will operate as a cultural attraction. All goods and services for the three different activities will be locally sourced.

“It would be great to spark off other activities in the area. Families and school trips can arrive here, and hopefully there will be a village hall created by extending a shed at the top of the road. This will also be available for use by the community at large for occasions such as elections – polling station, meetings etc He waves an arm up the road, “There’s a watermill down the way. Did you know that from the records of baptisms for the Calvinistic Methodists that, (Adrian produces these old documents from his car), at certain periods 60% of all locals were involved in a hat making industry. Local history will be on the website and people can learn about the agriculture, the people who have lived here over the years and also there can be the synergy of the local people today and what they can offer. The whole thing can be a magical experience as are the 52 15-minute episodes Ifana has created. Don’t just think that what we will be doing is all old stuff, we also have some really modern technological ideas which will blend with the older ones. The experience here will be culturally rich, educational, but also a lot of fun.”

A young man from Newcastle staying in the nearby caravan site wanders down with his young child, who is enticed by the bright coloured building of the village inventor (Sied Bili Bom Bom) “What’s this place?” he asks “It’s a TV village, Adrian explains. Have you heard of Sali Mali who is quite an icon in Wales?”

Pentre Bach consists of Golchdy Jemeima Mop (complete with her cat Whishgit), Ty Siani Flewog, Siop Parry Pob Beth, Gwesty Pili Pala, Caffi Sali Mali, Garej y Pry Bach Tew, Siop Sioni Bric–a-Moni, Ty Nicw Nacw and Ty Sali Mali (and there’s more). There is a village bandstand and the local builders are still busy building the café side of things and the vision starts to emerge. Adrian hopes that up to 5 local jobs will created in addition to the work created locally during the filming and building of Pentre Bach.

Adrian explains, there are still a lot of decisions to be made, such as the opening hours, what exactly will be sold in Caffi Sali Mali, types of play areas etc

“We don’t want people to being herded though Pentre Bach but rather to offer an authentic cultural, educational and fun experience- so good that no unaccompanied adults will be allowed in!” He points out the area behind Caffi Sali Mali, where people will be able to have traditional teas with some Pentre Bach specials. “This field behind will be grazed with traditional breeds of cattle and sheep and the old well will be adapted and act as a means to collect money for charity”

This is such a happy and vibrant place he enthuses and then a moment of nostalgia seems to creep in,

Rather than the increasing state/consumer type of society (Gessellschaft), this area still has a strong sense of community left (Gemeinschaft), and we want people who visit to experience that while they can.

How did you find your grant from Objective 1, I ask.

“It would have been well nigh impossible to have done this without the grants, it wouldn’t have been on this scale or quality, and would have taken much longer. We wouldn’t have been able to achieve the whole vision in such style. It has been possible to use local builders, suppliers of goods and services, agricultural contractors, actors & actress, hotel and catering services – which puts money back into the local economy. We’ve been lucky enough to receive grants from the WDA and the Wales Tourist Board. We’re creating a website at the moment, but for now you can visit. http://www.salimali.tv/index2.htm and we plan to open in June 2005.

Adrian says as I leave, “Visit again, won’t you? Bring your children”. I nod my head, and I will.

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