Project seagrass

Young people taking part in North Wales Wildlife Trusts Ocean Rescue Champions programme have taken part in their Snorkel Diver qualification, which means they have proved themselves as confident, competent snorkellers. With their new theory knowledge and practical skills, they are ready for a summer of supporting the Ocean Rescue Champions residential which will include some exciting snorkel sessions! 

Nature Nurturers 

The 1^st of June saw the end of the ‘Wild Camp Out’, where both the Wildlife Warriors and the Nature Nurturers spent two nights at Pentwyn Farm Nature Reserve. The trip was rounded off nicely with some tips on geocaching and natural navigation from Wild Health Officer, Ian Thomas. Other activities included a bat walk, bird ringing, moth trapping, campfire games, owl spotting, bracken bashing and tree guard removal. Camera traps were set up across the reserve and footage of deer was captured, as well as badgers, foxes and more.

Rob paid a visit to Tredegar Comprehensive School for final check of two bird nest boxes with the Eco Council. Both boxes had great tits nesting and all chicks have fledged successfully. Once the boxes were checked, bee hotels were made and put up around the school. Rob explained that bees don’t stay in them, they just lay their eggs in the bamboo canes, and one pupil suggested it was more of a maternity ward, or materni-bee ward!

The nurturers have also been recording wildflowers, taking part in No Mow May, watching Wild Isles together and talking to membership officers to improve the membership offer for young people, so a busy June indeed!

Living Seas Youth Forum 

This month the Living Seas Youth Forum have been focusing on community engagement and education and have started filming parts of their climate change documentary. The highlight was our visit to Penparcau Scouts where forum member Eden (aged 11) led sessions alongside our Project Officer Laura for over 80 children and young people! Eden discussed plastic pollution and it’s impact on the marine environment and climate change whilst Laura introduced the groups to our fantastic population of bottlenose dolphins. For their documentary filming session they were joined by Justyn Jones from Small World TV who assisted members of the youth forum with storyboarding and then filming for a "Sea Superheroes” Section.

Out and about

Young people across the region have been incredibly busy recently, debating invasive species with a group in Machynlleth, running guided canal walks with group in Trallwng, heading over to Cors Dyfi centre with Coleg Y Drenewydd and meeting with potential funders.

The staff and forums have also been busy attending some big events. Dan joined a Climate Cymru event in Drenewydd, looking to engage with locals on climate issues. Activities at the event included a ‘carbon tick shop’, where each person was awarded a carbon allowance with which to buy snacks, a minibeast hunt, and a debate on the environmental impacts of food. Dan also had a great time supporting our collective stand at the Urdd Eisteddfod, talking generally about 'dead things'!

A busy forum

The Cardiff group is now nearing the end of the Nest box monitoring period, and have seen many chicks grow up and fledge successfully. It has been a great opportunity for the group to gain some practical conservation skills, while also seeing the changes happening to wildlife due to the unpredictable weather associated with climate change. Next year, we will be expanding the monitoring area, and the group will be helping to decide where to put the boxes.

The Cardiff forum has also been busy working on the design of a new interpretation board to go up at the Roath Wild Gardens, which will help to inform the public about all the amazing wildlife the site has to offer. This has been a great creative process for the group, and elements such as accessibility and engagement have been considered within the design. We hope to see the new board design in place sometime later this year – so keep your eyes peeled!

There’s been lots of exciting changes for the Stand for Nature Wales team in Radnorshire! The two trainees Catrin and Joe have been promoted to Gilfach Wardens after they successfully completed a six-month Nature’s Recovery and Climate Change Traineeship programme. They will continue to volunteer their time two days a week, but have been given more responsibility. This will involve organising and delivering an events programme at the Reserve, conducting regular wildlife surveys, updating displays in the visitor centre, generating social media content, maintaining facilities, managing a small budget, and engaging with visitors. 

A Data Management and Habitat Mapping Trainee has recently been recruited. Beth is mostly focused on carrying out wildlife surveys and collecting baseline data at Pentwyn Farm, which was purchased in 2021, as well as learning new skills such as mapping using a software called QGIS.

As well as Beth, a Reserves Trainee has also been recruited. Rachels role mostly involves helping the reserves team with habitat management and maintaining site infrastructure across Radnorshires 16 nature reserves, as well as some wildlife surveys. A second Reserves Trainee, Jake, has also been recruited recently, and he will be carrying out the same tasks as Rachel.

In addition, Lexie has joined the team as a long-term work placement student, volunteering one day a week for six months, alongside studying for her A-Levels. She is happy to gain experience in everything from wildlife surveys and habitat management to school visits and youth group sessions.

The Radnorshire team are still recruiting a Campaigns Trainee and a Community Organising Trainee. Find out more here: https://www.rwtwales.org/natures-recovery-and-climate-change-traineeship