Project Calendar - practical conservation workdays
New workdays for September 2010:
Saturday 4 September 2010 – Pond Clearance at Plas Tan Y Bwlch
As part of our on-going work programme we will be back with head gardener Chris Marshall of Plas Tan y Bwlch, to clear and restore a pond on this visit. Meet and greet as usual…
Meet: 10 am in the main Snowdonia National Park Authority car park off the drive. SH655408, off the A487 situated between Penrhyndeudraeth and Maentwrog.
Plas Tan y Bwlch, Maentwrog, Blaenau Ffestiniog, LL41 3YU
Tel: 01766 772600
Bring: waterproofs, warm clothing layers, Wellingtons or sturdy boots are recommended (steel toecaps are recommended). Tools and gloves will be provided. Packed lunch and warm drink
No such thing as a free ride? – Snowdon Litter Pick
There is on 7 September 2010, when Snowdonia Society volunteers will be taking the train up Snowdon for FREE then clearing litter and unwanted debris from the footpaths on the mountain.
**Please note that all of the free spaces on the train have now been taken (25/09/10), but you are very welcome to walk up and meet us at the top for a 9am start**
We want to educate visitors about the problem of litter in the mountains and encourage all walkers to respect their natural environment. We come to these places because they are wild and beautiful, and we should endeavour to keep them that way! Not only does litter look unsightly, plastic bottles, wrappers and bags are also a hazard to wildlife and can lead to soil pollution. Even orange peels and banana skins can take years to biodegrade.
On 7 September 2010, a group of Snowdonia Society volunteers will be taking the 8am train up Snowdon (for free!) and collecting litter from the most popular areas of the mountain, with support from the Snowdonia National Park Wardens.
If you would like to be a part of this major clear-up operation and help to publicise the issue of litter in the mountains please join us!
Please confirm that you would like to participate in this event by contacting Bea Kelsall, our volunteer coordinator, by email (bea@snowdonia-society.org.uk) or call our office on 01690720287
Hurry places on the train are going fast, although you can meet us at the top!
We will be meeting at the Snowdon Mountain Railway station in Llanberis at 7.40 am on Tuesday 7 September. Bring warm clothes, waterproofs, sturdy boots and a hearty packed lunch!
Saturday 11th September - BAG MAKING / Turn it down! WORKSHOP
10.00 - 4.00
Venue: Communities First Offices, The Old Co-op, 49, High Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog, LL41 3AG.
Come along to our next FREE workshop which we will be running with the Green Towns Project in Blaenau Ffestiniog, and learn how to make old fabrics into funky reusable items. No Experience Necessary.
We will be using only manual machines to illustrate our message of reducing energy consumption ‘Turn it down!’ During the day we will be making a range of laundry bags/sacks; adorned with the message ‘30°’ to encourage people to reduce the temperature on their washing machines, draught excluders with encouragement to reduce your house temperature by at least 1°, and of course our original rags2riches bags to continue encouraging people to say ‘Turn it Down!’ to plastic bags. So please come along and help, and of course there will be the opportunity to do hand sewing if you don’t fancy the manual sewing machines.
Bring: any manual machines to use, fabric and lots of enthusiasm. Fabric request: We need more old curtains and duvet covers if you have any going spare, so please get in touch so they can be ‘up cycled’ as I believe the new buzz word is.
Come along and give it a try, bring anyone you know who would love to help, and let’s see if we can get this movement rolling.
LUNCH PROVIDED
Please call to confirm your place:
For further information: contact Bea Kelsall, our volunteer coordinator, by email (bea@snowdonia-society.org.uk) or call our office at Tŷ Hyll on 01690720287
Wednesday 29 September 2010 – Gorse clearance at Moel Dduarth, Aber Valley National Nature reserve
We will be working with the National Trust clearing gorse from the slopes of Moel Dduarth. This is to establish a track for bringing the sheep down safely from the mountain. The gorse bushes are low-level but extensive over the slopes. Once removed, the gorse will be burnt on site – Jacket potatoes optional. It is also an opportunity to see how much impact our last visit in November 2008 made.
**It is important to wear tough clothing and long sleeves on this workday, to minimise skin exposure to the Gorse bushes whose spines can be unforgiving, thick gloves also recommended
Meet: 10am. Tarmac hard standing area below Moel Dduarth and gated access.
Directions: From the A55 exit at Abergyngeryn. Junction 13 from Bangor side, follow slip road into village under the A55, go over crossroads keeping the pine warehouse on your left, and follow signs for the Nature reserve and Aber Falls. When you reach the car park SH663722 turn on your right side continue along this tarmac road until you reach hard standing area in front of gate to mountainside we will meet here. From Conwy exit into Abergyngeryn via slip road and pine warehouse will be on your left, turn left into village and follow signs as previously.
Bring: Packed lunch, waterproofs, warm clothing layers, sturdy boots. Tools and gloves will be provided.
Advanced notice for October:
Dates for your diary!
Monday 4th October and Tuesday 5th October 2010 – Annual Harlech Beach clear up – two days to see if we can clear everything this year.
Wednesday 20th October 2010 – Dolwyddelan Community project liaison workday
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Conservation Snowdonia Project
July and August 2010 workdays below
News update 9 july 2010:
Your Project Officer Bea will be out of the office until week commencing Monday 26th July, on Welsh summer school, followed by our attendance at the Celtic Summer Fair in Betws y Coed, then the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells. Please contact the office on 01690 720287 if you have any questions about the workdays in the meantime, or come along and see us at the Fairs.
News:
Project Officer Bea Kelsall will be at the ‘Funday in the Park’, Blaenau Ffestiniog between 1 – 4 on Sunday 20th June 2010, publicising our Conservation Snowdonia Project, come along and see what we are up to, or just call by for a chat.
Don’t forget - Volunteering opportunities June 2010 still to come…
Sunday 20 June 2010 - Llangelynnin old church – Bracken Clearance
We will attend this beautiful church in a delightfully remote spot to clear the grounds of bracken again this year, starting at 10am at the church.
Meet: 10am. SH750738, From B5106 heading out of Conwy, in area of Henryd turn right and aim for Garnedd-wen, the church is signposted from here. It’s a narrow and in places steep road, so take care.
Bring: Packed lunch, tea/coffee, waterproofs, warm clothing layers, sturdy boots. Tools and gloves will be provided.
Tuesday 22 June 2010 - Conservation Workday: Dolwyddelan Community Improvements Project
We will be working with the local community volunteers again this year, for Dowlyddelan in Bloom. We will be landscaping a roadside pull-in / Car Park at Pont Arenig (on the A470 just above the village), and may do some further work in the Railway Station garden. We will be doing some minor landscaping, and planting some indigenous or appropriate shrubs /plants around a seating area and around a proposed area of bogland habitat.
Meet: 10am. Roadside pull-in / Car Park at Pont Arenig. (on the A470 just above the village). SH731524.
Bring: Packed lunch, waterproofs, warm clothing layers, sturdy boots (steel toecaps are recommended for footpath work). Tools and gloves will be provided.
Postponed Workday: Saturday 26th June 2010 - Pruning at the community orchard Plas Tan Y Bwlch Please note this workday is Postponed! for the present time
Volunteering opportunities July 2010
Tuesday 6 July 2010 – Groundworks at Plas Tan Y Bwlch
We will be helping head gardener Chris Marshall to clear a boggy area in the grounds of Plas Tan y Bwlch on this workday, so waterproofs and wellies a must, then we will be planting up if time allows.
Meet: 10 am in the main Snowdonia National Park Authority car park off the drive. SH655408, off the A487 situated between Penrhyndeudraeth and Maentwrog.
Plas Tan y Bwlch, Maentwrog, Blaenau Ffestiniog, LL41 3YU
Tel: 01766 772600
Bring: waterproofs, warm clothing layers, Wellingtons or sturdy boots are recommended (steel toecaps are recommended). Tools and gloves will be provided. Packed lunch and warm drink
Saturday 10 July 2010 – Tanygrisiau Carnival
We will be promoting our Conservation Volunteer and Community Engagement Project strands at this local summer event, please come along and visit, or if you could offer help with meeting and greeting people and publicising the Snowdonia Society in general, you would be very welcome – Contact Bea.
Tuesday 13 July 2010 - Himalayan Balsam clearance – Bala Lake (follow up visit)
Dates to try and make a good impact on this invasive plant species, around the edges of Bala Lake. During the workday we will be assisted by the Snowdonia National Park Wardens. We will be clearing Himalayan Balsam from the edge of the lake, to prevent further seed distribution by this very invasive non-native species. We will be removing the plants by hand at the optimum time, as this is the best method to prevent re colonisation, and to reduce the need for chemical controls.
Meet: 10am at the Lake Warden’s office in Bala. GR: SH 355 922. The office is on the A494 on the lake edge, proceeding southwest out of Bala town.
Bring: Packed lunch, tea/coffee, waterproofs, warm clothing layers, sturdy boots. Tools and gloves will be provided.
Saturday 17 July & Sunday 18 July 2010 – Celtic Summer Fayre, Betws y Coed
9:30 – 5:30 Food and Craft Stalls … £1 admission
This fayre is running between Saturday 17th July to Wednesday 21st July, but the Conservation Snowdonia Project will be demonstrating the ‘Turn it Down’ initiative only over the weekend ( as we are at the Royal Welsh show for the rest of the week, see below).
Volunteers needed to help set this up on Friday 16th July and to man the stall Saturday – Sunday, anything from an hour or so, to the whole weekend would be very welcome… please contact Bea soonest!
Monday 19th July – Thursday 22nd July 2010 – Royal Welsh Show, Builth Wells
The Conservation Snowdonia Project has just confirmed with organisers Keep Wales Tidy that we will take a place as one of the 4 partners in the 'Environment Charities Wales' marquee, for the Royal Welsh Show (19th - 22nd July 2010), this will give us a quarter of the available 15m x 6m space, allowing us a huge opportunity for increased publicity for the Snowdonia Society.
I plan to run 'Turn it Down' workshops throughout the week, so need as many willing volunteers as possible, to help set up and deliver these, and also others to recruit new members and talk to members of the public to increase our exposure.
Please if you have any other ideas for the week, get in touch, as we will hopefully be able to get our activities onto the events programme, again increasing our exposure.
This will not be cheap, but well worth it if we make the most of the opportunity!
Saturday 24 July 2010 - St Julita Church clear up of grounds, Capel Curig
We will be clearing vegetation around the graves, tackling brambles, and undertaking general maintenance to ensure that this beautiful church looks its best
Meet: 10am in the main Snowdonia National Park Authority car park behind the Pinnacles stores / cafe in Capel Curig on the A5, GRSH721582. St Julita Church is a short walk from the car park.
Bring: Packed lunch, tea/coffee, waterproofs, warm clothing layers, Wellingtons or sturdy boots are recommended (steel toecaps are recommended). Tools and gloves will be provided.
Wednesday 28 July 2010 – Ditching in Dyffryn Mymbyr
Check back for further details nearer the time, we will be joining up with the National Trust Wardens and volunteers for this event hopefully.
Tuesday 3 August 2010 - Llangelynnin church – bracken clearance (follow up visit)
We will attend this beautiful church in a delightfully remote spot to clear the grounds of bracken again this year, starting at 10am at the church.
Meet: 10am. SH750738, From B5106 heading out of Conwy, in area of Henryd turn right and aim for Garnedd-wen, the church is signposted from here. It’s a narrow and in places steep road, so take care.
Bring: Packed lunch, tea/coffee, waterproofs, warm clothing layers, sturdy boots. Tools and gloves will be provided.
New workday notifications for August 2010:
Wednesday 4 August 2010 – Groundworks at Plas Tan Y Bwlch
Following last months visit, we have been asked back to help head gardener Chris Marshall to clear and plant up a sunny border near to the Conservatory in the grounds of Plas Tan y Bwlch on this workday.
Meet: 10 am in the main Snowdonia National Park Authority car park off the drive. SH655408, off the A487 situated between Penrhyndeudraeth and Maentwrog.
Plas Tan y Bwlch, Maentwrog, Blaenau Ffestiniog, LL41 3YU
Tel: 01766 772600
Bring: waterproofs, warm clothing layers, Wellingtons or sturdy boots are recommended (steel toecaps are recommended). Tools and gloves will be provided. Packed lunch and warm drink
Sunday 15 August 2010 – Rockpool Ramble followed by a Beach clean – Criccieth
We will be working alongside Dafydd Jones, the Pen Llyn a’r Sarnau Special Area of Conservation Officer, on the Turning Tide / Troi Llanw project, for this workday. We will start with a Rockpool Ramble, looking for some of the species to be found along our coastline, then after lunch we will do a much needed Beach clean, if any of you have travelled on the train from Pwllheli station recently you will know exactly why!! It is a huge eyesore, with a massive amount of rubbish building up along the beach near to the railway fencing – Dafydd recently took a group of school children to make a start on this litter, and the 30 collected bags made no impact on the overall impression!
Meet: If we meet at 10am on the Eastern edge of the promenade in Criccieth, by Café Moranedd SH511384 (the café is a CADW: Welsh Historic Monument in itself) Moranedd Cafe 9 Hole & Putt Green, Criccieth LL52 0HU. Tel 01766 522773.
Bring: you may need waterproofs and wellies if you are enthusiastic about the Rockpool Ramble. Packed lunch, waterproofs, warm clothing layers, sturdy boots. Tools and gloves will be provided.
Please Confirm:
I would be grateful if you could confirm whether you will be attending any of the above, by contacting the office on 01690 720287 or by e-mailing Bea Kelsall (volunteer@snowdonia-society.org.uk).
Thank you everyone
Bea
Conservation Snowdonia Project
News: The Conservation Snowdonia Project is expanding this year with new Project Assistant Huw Townsley, coming onboard from Monday 24 May, to help deliver the Conservation Volunteering workdays, and your Project Officer Bea Kelsall increasing the scope and capacity of our new Community Engagement – Sustainable Living strand; which has grown out of our Rags2Riches initiative.
So please come along to offer your support on the many and varied projects which will be offered over the coming months, and let’s take practical action to the next level.
Volunteering opportunities June 2010
Tuesday 1 June 2010 - Himalayan Balsam clearance – Bala Lake
(& Tuesday 13 July 2010- follow up Himalayan Balsam clearance)
Two dates to try and make a good impact on this invasive plant species around the edges of Bala Lake. During the workday we will be assisted by the Snowdonia National Park Wardens. We will be clearing Himalayan Balsam from the edge of the lake, to prevent further seed distribution by this very invasive non-native species. We will be removing the plants by hand at the optimum time, as this is the best method to prevent re colonisation, and to reduce the need for chemical controls.
Meet: 10am at the Lake Warden’s office in Bala. GR: SH 355 922. The office is on the A494 on the lake edge, proceeding southwest out of Bala town.
Bring: Packed lunch, tea/coffee, waterproofs, warm clothing layers, sturdy boots. Tools and gloves will be provided.
Thursday 10 June 2010 – Coffee morning and Wildlife Garden Open Day at Ty Hyll
We need volunteers to help for all aspects of the open day: stewarding, refreshments, plant sales and general meet and greet with the visitors. Please contact Sarah Medcalf directly if you can help on the day or in the run up, on info@snowdonia-society.org.uk.
Ty Hyll, its gardens and woodland will be open on Thursday 10 June to both members and non-members of the Snowdonia Society. Ty Hyll will be open between 10 am and 4 pm. This event is free to all. The coffee morning presents an occasion for Snowdonia Society members to meet the staff and trustees of the Society and share and discuss views and ideas. If you're interested in becoming more directly involved with the Society's work, you can also take this opportunity to find out how you can help. We want to meet our members and others who share a passion for the park and its wildlife and heritage, so please do come along!
The wildlife garden open day aims not only to showcase the fantastic work done by volunteers in managing the gardens and woodland around Ty Hyll for wildlife, but also encourage other people and organisations in Snowdonia to do their bit to protect and promote the incredible biodiversity we support in the National Park. Our garden experts will be on hand to answer any questions and explain how the land around Ty Hyll is managed
Also volunteers needed over Whitsun holiday to man Ty Hyll
As it is very unlikely that we will be in a position to employ staff to open Ty Hyll for visitors over the whitsun half term holiday we are looking to volunteers to help open the house to our many passing visitors. It would be good to be able to open from Tuesday 1st June through to Sunday 6 June, if we can get cover, so if you are able to help please contact Sarah Medcalf directly on info@snowdonia-society.org.uk.
Saturday 12 June 2010 - Launch of ‘Turn it Down!’ initiative, Llanrwst 10 – 4 workshop
We will launch this new initiative with a workday in the Church Hall Llanrwst. The Church Hall has limited electricity outlet sockets for electric sewing machines, so we will be using only manual machines to illustrate our message of reducing energy consumption ‘Turn it Down!’. During the day we will be making a range of laundry bags/sacks; adorned with the message ‘30°’ to encourage people to reduce the temperature on their washing machines, draught excluders with encouragement to reduce your house temperature by at least 1°, and of course our original rags2riches bags to continue encouraging people to say ‘Turn it Down!’ to plastic bags. So please come along and help, and of course there will be the opportunity to do hand sewing if you don’t fancy the manual sewing machines.
Fabric request: We need more old curtains and duvet covers if you have any going spare, so please get in touch so they can be ‘upcycled’ as I believe the new buzz word is.
Meet: Church House, Watling Street, Llanrwst, Gwynedd LL26 0LS. (A548)
Directions: Enter Llanrwst on the A470.
From north/Conwy, in Llanrwst town centre follow the roads sharp left bend, then take the junction immediately ahead in to Heol Ddinbych A548, instead of following the main road to the right. Follow the one way system by taking the next right turn into Watling Street. The car park is pay and display and is adjacent to the swimming pool on the left. Church house is opposite the school, so on the right.
From south/Conwy, in Llanrwst town centre, pass the bridge on left to Trefriew and continue on main road A470 over pedestrian crossing, with small parking area in town centre to your left. As the road bends around this to the left, you need to turn right at the corner onto Heol Ddinbych A548. Follow the one way system by taking the next right turn into Watling Street. The car park is pay and display and is adjacent to the swimming pool on the left. Church house is opposite the school, so on the right. (car parking fee is refundable, please present ticket to Bea on the day)
Bring: any manual machines to use, fabric and lots of enthusiasm.
Lunch provided – please let me know if you would like some
Sunday 20 June 2010 - Llangelynnin old church – bracken clearance (&Tuesday 3 August 2010 follow up visit planned)
We will attend this beautiful church in a delightfully remote spot to clear the grounds of bracken again this year, starting at 10am at the church.
Meet: 10am. SH750738, From B5106 heading out of Conwy, in area of Henryd turn right and aim for Garnedd-wen, the church is signposted from here. It’s a narrow and in places steep road, so take care.
Bring: Packed lunch, tea/coffee, waterproofs, warm clothing layers, sturdy boots. Tools and gloves will be provided.
Tuesday 22 June 2010 - Conservation Workday: Dolwyddelan Community Improvements Project
We will be working with the local community volunteers again this year, for Dowlyddelan in Bloom. We will be landscaping a roadside pull-in / Car Park at Pont Arenig (on the A470 just above the village), and may do some further work in the Railway Station garden. We will be doing some minor landscaping, and planting some indigenous or appropriate shrubs /plants around a seating area and around a proposed area of bogland habitat.
Meet: 10am. Roadside pull-in / Car Park at Pont Arenig. (on the A470 just above the village). SH731524.
Bring: Packed lunch, waterproofs, warm clothing layers, sturdy boots (steel toecaps are recommended for footpath work). Tools and gloves will be provided.
Saturday 26th June 2010 - Pruning at the community orchard Plas Tan Y Bwlch
(& further diary date Tuesday 6th July, where we will start on a boggy area clearing for planting)
The Snowdonia National Park gardening team of Plas Tan Y Bwlch, regular programme of events to maintain the gardens and grounds, and we will be going along to this event to offer the Snowdonia Society’s Support. The day will start at 9.30am until 3.30pm.
Meet: 9:30am in the main Snowdonia National Park Authority car park off the drive. SH655408, off the A487 situated between Penrhyndeudraeth and Maentwrog.
Plas Tan y Bwlch, Maentwrog, Blaenau Ffestiniog, LL41 3YU
Tel: 01766 772600
If anyone interested in volunteering for the day could turn up by 9.30am there will be a short presentation about the Plas and what we do here and a brief outline of what we shall be doing for the day. The day will run until 3.30pm.
Bring: waterproofs, warm clothing layers, Wellingtons or sturdy boots are recommended (steel toecaps are recommended). Tools and gloves will be provided.
There will be a free light lunch such as soup or sandwiches available to volunteers, but you can bring your own pack lunch if you want to.
Please Confirm:
I would be grateful if you could confirm whether you will be attending any of the above, by contacting the office on 01690 720287 or by e-mailing Bea Kelsall (volunteer@snowdonia-society.org.uk).
Thank you everyone
Bea
Conservation Snowdonia Project 2010
May 2010 volunteer workdays:
We have a very busy month coming up in May with lots to tempt you into the new season on volunteering.
Don’t forget:
Regular Plas Tan Y Bwlch garden workdays
Saturday 24th April 2010
The Snowdonia Society’s volunteer support, is always welcome, at this regular gardening day. You will be assisting the Snowdonia National Park gardening team of Plas Tan Y Bwlch, to maintain the gardens and grounds. The days will start at 9.30am until 3.30pm.
Meet: 9:30am in the main Snowdonia National Park Authority car park off the drive. SH655408, off the A487 situated between Penrhyndeudraeth and Maentwrog. Plas Tan y Bwlch, Maentwrog, Blaenau Ffestiniog, LL41 3YU
Tel: 01766 772600
Bring: waterproofs, warm clothing layers, Wellingtons or sturdy boots are recommended (steel toecaps are recommended). Tools and gloves will be provided.
There will be a free light lunch such as soup or sandwiches available to volunteers, but you can bring your own pack lunch if you want to.
Tuesday 4 May 2010 ‘first Tuesday workday’ we will be litter-picking in Bala, with Warden Bill Taylor
On 4th May 2010 we will be joining Bala Snowdonia National Park Warden, Bill Taylor, on a litter picking walk. As we follow our walk we will collect any litter we see to help keep this area in tip top condition.
Meet: 10am at the Lake Warden’s office in Bala. GR: SH 355 922. The office is on the A494 on the lake edge, proceeding southwest out of Bala town.
Bring: Picnic lunch and a warm drink, waterproofs, warm clothing layers.
Sturdy boots or Wellingtons are recommended.
Saturday 8 May 2009 – Bag making workshop in Penrhyndeudraeth during Ecobro Fair
We have been asked back to present our bag making demonstration during the transition towns ‘ecobro’ event again this year, so please come along and help show others how easy it is to make your own, or if you have some time come along and see us, there are usually plant swaps to be had on other stalls.
Do you have an idea of a village, town or fair for us to attend this spring and summer with our bags and sustainable living workshops? If so please get in touch, we need you to help us make a success of this newly funded aspect of our conservation work – let’s make it count
Come along and learn a new skill or rediscover an old one. If you have a sewing machine, or old fabrics like unwanted curtains, bedding and upholstery fabric please bring them along. We want to spread the word about how easy it is to convert old items into newly recycled and very useful items that are cheap, readily available, and kind to the environment. Come to help or pop in for a coffee, a bag and a chat!
More Details to come
Capel Manor College will also be attending for their third annual visit, and we will be Rhododendron Bashing with them at Bryn Gwynant on Monday 10th May, and clearing drains on the footpath above Llanberis (see above), with them on Tuesday 11th May, don’t forget the dates for your diaries.
Monday 10 May 2010 – visiting group Capel Manor College – Bryn Gwynant Youth Hostel – Rhododendron Bashing!
Work plan.We will be continuing our efforts to push back the rhododendron on this special site. We will also be having bonfires to dispose of the debris. Come along especially if you haven’t visited the Youth Hostel yet – its well worth a view.
Meet: 10:00 am in the Bryn Gwynant Youth Hostel car park, Nant gwynant,
Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 4NP. SH644514. On the A498 from Beddgelert, the Youth Hostel is on the right signposted, just before you reach the lake on the left, when heading up the pass to the Pen Y Gwryd Hotel.
Bring: Packed lunch and a warm drink, waterproofs, warm clothing layers.
Sturdy boots or Wellingtons are recommended; steel toecaps would be a good idea for those planning on moving stones.
Tuesday 11th May 2010–Footpath Maintainence Maes Cwm Path above Llanberis, on the Moel Eilio circuit
We have been asked by the Snowdonia National Park Authority to do some much needed drainage maintenance on this very popular path, so this is the first of a number of workdays we will be doing over the coming months, as the one in April had to be cancelled unfortunately. To get us off to a good start, we are hosting Capel Manor College with a number of students attending, so please come along and help them, and expect to get a little wet and dirty, as we clear culverts and re-excavate the old drainage ditches.
Meet: 10am SH57359. Enter Llanberis high street, and locate the new Joe Brown shop, which is on the same side as the old one (right) but further up towards the railway end of town, (Pete’s eats is behind you), turn right just before the new Joe Browns, and continue along a narrow winding road for approximately 2 miles, you will pass through a farm yard, this road comes to an end at the footpath we are working on, and there is a small amount of parking on the side of the road. On an os map you are aiming for the ‘burnt mound’, call Bea if any problems
Bring: Wellingtons or steel toe cap boots, and extra waterproof clothing is probably a good idea. Don’t forget your packed lunch and a warm drink. Gloves and tools will be provided.
Saturday 15 May – Sunday 16 May – Plant sale– Volunteer help needed!
We have the Annual Plant Sale running over two days this year, with expanded activities. Help is needed still for both days, to deal with members of the public, refreshments and activity management. We also need assistance in setting things up in the weeks before this event - please contact the office if you can help.
As part of the new Wales Sustainability Week which kicks off on Monday 17th May, we will be joining forces with the Snowdonia National Park Wardens, to clear some of the litter off Snowdon. It appears that a number of visitors to the top, and the new cafe, are unfortunately under the illusion, that the stone bags placed strategically along the paths, to help the warden service maintain and improve the path network, are litter bins!!!... meaning that there is now a deep and unpleasant layer litter collecting, and with the often high winds up there, are blowing freely around this special mountain.
Please note below... (updated 16/05/10)
The litter pick below is now postponed at the SNPA's request, but will be rescheduled as soon as possible!!
Postponed *** Postponed*** Postponed
Litter Pick on Snowdon - Tuesday 18th May 2010.
Please come along and help us on Tuesday 18th May when we will walk up, and with support from the wardens and their vehicles, bring this litter down and off the mountain. Obviously this workday will involve a good walk and so the ability and fitness to achieve this along with carrying a bin bag or two down, are a must.
Meet: 10:00 am TBC
Bring: Packed lunch and a warm drink, waterproofs, warm clothing layers.
Sturdy walking boots.
Confirmation and further details to follow
Monday 24th May 2010 Bird identification workday with BTO in the grounds of Bryn Gwynant Youth Hostel – Morning workday only! ½ Day
Geoff Gibbs of The British Trust for Ornithology which promotes bird conservation through volunteer-based surveys has very kindly offered to attend Bryn Gwynant and give us some training in bird identification techniques. The BTO are looking for help on collecting data for their Bird Atlas 2007 – 2011. This training opportunity will allow the Snowdonia Society to offer assistance and extend the range of our volunteering and conservation programmes.
Meet: 10:00 am in the Bryn Gwynant Youth Hostel car park, Nant gwynant,
Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 4NP. SH644514. On the A498 from Beddgelert, the Youth Hostel is on the right signposted, just before you reach the lake on the left, when heading up the pass to the Pen Y Gwryd Hotel.
Bring: Packed lunch and a warm drink, waterproofs, warm clothing layers.
Sturdy boots, camera, maps, paper and pencil would also be useful, and binoculars.
Volunteer needed:
We are also looking for an independent minded volunteer living in or near Brithdir to undertake some survey and light maintenance work on newly planted hedgerows over the summer months. This would specifically involve visiting 5 short sections of hedgerow, which was planted over the winter by the landowners, and checking they aren’t overgrown by weeds, so a little weeding and a walk, timed initially in june, then again a month or two later. Please contact Bea for specifics and maps.
Please Confirm:
I would be grateful if you could confirm whether you will be attending any of the above, by contacting the office on 01690 720287 or by e-mailing (volunteer@snowdonia-society.org.uk).
Conservation Snowdonia Project 2010
March and April 2010 volunteer workdays:
First Tuesday workday…
Please note that due to the Easter weekend, when we will be hosting the Swindon College for 3 days of voluntary work, there will not be a first Tuesday workday in April – Please come along and help instead on Wednesday 31st March and Thursday 1st April at Hafod Garagog, clearing butterfly habitat, and / or on Friday 2nd April (Good Friday) clearing drains on a bridleway above Llanberis, and enjoy the spectacular view across to the quarry and quarry hospital.
Wednesday 31st March 2010 & Thursday 1st April 2010– Butterfly Habitat Maintenance/ Scrub Clearance – Hafod Garegog, Beddgelert
Following our successful visit back in October, we have been asked back to help with further works, so we will be helping Doug Oliver of the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) on this workday again to manage the detrimental impact scrub growth is having on this wetland site; which is actively managed for the benefit of the Silver Studded Blue butterfly. Although this is a National Trust site Doug has been managing it for a number of years. Doug has very kindly agreed to give us a talk at the outset of the day about the importance of the site for Butterfly Conservation.
Meet: 10am National Trust Car Park, at Nantmor, located just off the A4085, just before the junction with the A498, South of Beddgelert. (Grid Ref. SH597462).
Please arrive promptly as there is a small amount of room nearer to the worksite, so we will be organising car sharing and proceeding onto site as soon as possible, if you do miss us, come out of the car park and turn left and the site is about a mile down on the right hand side (look out for the orange tabards!)
Bring: Wellingtons are essential due to the boggy nature of the site, and extra waterproof clothing is probably a good idea, if this summers weather has been anything to go by. Don’t forget your packed lunch and a warm drink. Gloves and tools will be provided, most of the work is low-level bushes, and so loppers will be sufficient.
Friday 2nd April 2010–Footpath Maintainence Maes Cwm Path above Llanberis, on the Moel Eilio circuit
We have been asked by the Snowdonia National Park Authority to do some much needed drainage maintenance on this very popular path, so this is the first of a number of workdays we will be doing over the coming months. To get us off to a good start, we are hosting Swindon College with a number of students attending as part of their Impact and Sustainability unit, so please come along and help them, and expect to get a little wet and dirty, as we clear culverts and re-excavate the old drainage ditches.
Meet: 10am SH57359. Enter Llanberis high street, and locate the new Joe Brown shop, which is on the same side as the old one (right) but further up towards the railway end of town, (Pete’s eats is behind you), turn right just before the new Joe Browns, and continue along a narrow winding road for approximately 2 miles, you will pass through a farm yard, this road comes to an end at the footpath we are working on, and there is a small amount of parking on the side of the road. On an os map you are aiming for the ‘burnt mound’, call Bea if any problems
Bring: Wellingtons or steel toe cap boots, and extra waterproof clothing is probably a good idea. Don’t forget your packed lunch and a warm drink. Gloves and tools will be provided.
Regular Plas Tan Y Bwlch garden workdays
Saturday 27th March 2010
Saturday 24th April 2010
The Snowdonia Society’s volunteer support, is always welcome, at this regular gardening day. You will be assisting the Snowdonia National Park gardening team of Plas Tan Y Bwlch, to maintain the gardens and grounds. The days will start at 9.30am until 3.30pm.
Meet: 9:30am in the main Snowdonia National Park Authority car park off the drive. SH655408, off the A487 situated between Penrhyndeudraeth and Maentwrog. Plas Tan y Bwlch, Maentwrog, Blaenau Ffestiniog, LL41 3YU
Tel: 01766 772600
Bring: waterproofs, warm clothing layers, Wellingtons or sturdy boots are recommended (steel toecaps are recommended). Tools and gloves will be provided.
There will be a free light lunch such as soup or sandwiches available to volunteers, but you can bring your own pack lunch if you want to.
Pre-warning for May 2010 ‘first Tuesday workday’ we will be litter-picking in Bala, with warden Bill Taylor, 4th May 2010. Also Capel Manor College will be attending for their third year, and we will be Rhododendron Bashing with them at Bryn Gwynant on Monday 10th May, and clearing drains on the footpath above Llanberis (see above), with them on Tuesday 11th May, don’t forget the dates for your diaries.
Please Confirm:
I would be grateful if you could confirm whether you will be attending any of the above, by contacting the office on 01690 720287 or by e-mailing (volunteer@snowdonia-society.org.uk).
Conservation Snowdonia Project
New January 2010 volunteer workdays: (update 19/12/09)
Plas Tan Y Bwlch Gardening and grounds maintenance workdays:
Saturday 30 January 2010 - The Snowdonia National Park gardening team of Plas Tan Y Bwlch, are starting a regular programme of events to maintain the gardens and grounds, and we will be going along to this first event to offer the Snowdonia Society's Support.
On this first date they plan to be doing some Bramble clearance
The day will start at 9.30am until 3.30pm.
Meet: 9:30am in the main Snowdonia National Park Authority car park off the drive. SH655408, off the A487 situated between Penrhyndeudraeth and Maentwrog.
Plas Tan y Bwlch, Maentwrog, Blaenau Ffestiniog, LL41 3YU
Tel: 01766 772600
This event will be led by Margaret Thomas and possibly Brian Cope.
If anyone interested in volunteering for the day could turn up by 9.30am there will be a short presentation about the Plas and what we do here and a brief outline of what we shall be doing for the day. The day will run until 3.30pm.
Bring: Packed lunch, tea/coffee, waterproofs, warm clothing layers, Wellingtons or sturdy boots are recommended (steel toecaps are recommended). Tools and gloves will be provided.
There will be a free light lunch such as soup or sandwiches available to volunteers, but you can bring your own pack lunch if you want to.
First Tuesday workday for February 2010
Tuesday 2nd February 2010 – Butterfly Habitat Maintenance/ Scrub Clearance – Hafod Garegog, Beddgelert
Following our successful visit back in October, we have been asked back to help with further works, so we will be helping Doug Oliver of the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) on this workday again to manage the detrimental impact scrub growth is having on this wetland site; which is actively managed for the benefit of the Silver Studded Blue butterfly. Although this is a National Trust site Doug has been managing it for a number of years. Doug has very kindly agreed to give us a talk at the outset of the day about the importance of the site for Butterfly Conservation.
Meet: 10am National Trust Car Park, at Nantmor, located just off the A4085, just before the junction with the A498, South of Beddgelert. (Grid Ref. SH597462).
Please arrive promptly as there is a small amount of room nearer to the worksite, so we will be organising car sharing and proceeding onto site as soon as possible, if you do miss us, come out of the car park and turn left and the site is about a mile down on the right hand side (look out for the orange tabards!)
Bring: Wellingtons are essential due to the boggy nature of the site, and extra waterproof clothing is probably a good idea, if this summers weather has been anything to go by. Don’t forget your packed lunch and a warm drink. Gloves and tools will be provided, most of the work is low-level bushes, and so loppers will be sufficient.
There will be a further workday at Plas Tan Y Bwlch, should volunteers be interested, meet and greet details as for above workdays:
Saturday 27th February 2010 - Pruning at the community orchard Plas Tan Y Bwlch
(update 19/11/09)
Tuesday 15 December 2009 - St Julita Church clear up of grounds, Capel Curig
We will be clearing vegetation around the graves, tackling brambles, and undertaking general maintenance to ensure that this beautiful church looks its best
for their Christmas Candle lit carol service and its many admiring visitors. This is our last volunteer workday prior to Christmas and such the last of 2009
Meet: 10am in the main Snowdonia National Park Authority car park behind the Pinnacles stores / cafe in Capel Curig on the A5, GRSH721582. St Julita Church
is a short walk from the car park.
Bring: Packed lunch, tea/coffee, waterproofs, warm clothing layers, Wellingtons or sturdy boots are recommended (steel toecaps are recommended). Tools and
gloves will be provided.
New January 2010 volunteer workdays:
Tuesday 12 January 2010 - we will be helping the gardening team at Plas Tan Y Bwlch with a walled garden in these beautiful grounds
Saturday 30 January 2010 - The Snowdonia National Park gardening team of Plas Tan Y Bwlch, are starting a regular programme of events to maintain the gardens and grounds, and we will be going along to this first event to offer the Snowdonia Societies Support
meet and greet details to follow.
New November 2009 volunteer workdays:
Please note that as the Mammal Atlas recording project we are assisting the Snowdonia National Park Authority with, is due to end in December, we have to make a huge push on completing our designated squares, as rain has defeated us on previously scheduled workdays, so the dates in November will be dedicated to these recording activities. We encourage anyone who has survey experience to come and help, so that we can split into groups and get this done. If you are happy to tackle a square by yourself in the meantime, please give me a shout.
Tuesday 3rd November 2009 Mammal Survey workday in our designated squares in Capel Curig
Come along and learn how to spot signs of mammals, binoculars, torches and maps would be a help if you have them. We will be meeting in the church car park and fanning out from there.
Meet: 10am: SH794564 St Marys Church car park, there is free car parking in the square around the church, but the car park itself is pay and display, we will meet here for ease of finding, the church is in the centre of Betws y Coed, on the left as proceeding towards capel curig, just after the post office.
Bring: Packed lunch and a warm drink, waterproofs, warm clothing layers. Sturdy boots or Wellingtons are recommended.
Useful: Binoculars, camera, maps, GPS, waterproof notebooks and any mammal identification aids you may have would be very useful.
Tuesday 24th November Mammal Survey workday in our designated squares in Capel Curig
A further Mammal recording day, this time tackling the designated squares in the north of our square above the Ugly house. If we meet initially in the ugly house car park, then we can fan out to the remaining squares from there.
Meet: 10am at Ty Hyll. Head out of Betws y Coed on the A5; towards Capel Curig, to Snowdonia Society’s home Ty Hyll / Ugly House. (Postcode – LL24 0DS, grid reference SH756576)
Bring: Packed lunch and a warm drink, waterproofs, warm clothing layers.Sturdy boots or Wellingtons are recommended. Tools and gloves will be provided.
Useful: Binoculars, camera, maps, GPS, waterproof notebooks and any mammal identification aids you may have would be very useful.
Monday 30 November 2009 Volunteer social.
We will be holding this years volunteer social at Bryn gwynant youth Hostel, and are aiming to hold a walk around the grounds to showcase the hard work of the many volunteers who have worked at this regular site over the last two years, followed by a meal either at Bryn gwynant itself or in one of the local facilities, arrangements will be posted as soon as confirmed but I would appreciate numbers who wish to attend soonest to help with arrangements.
This social will replace the first Tuesday workday in December, at the request of the gardeners, to allow as many volunteers to attend as possible. The walk should kick off at 2pm, with the meal at around 4pm.
Prior notice workday:
Our last workday prior to Christmas and such the last of 2009, will be at St Julitta Church, for our annual clean up in preparation for their Christmas Candle lit carol service, this will be on Tuesday 15th December 2009.
October 2009 volunteer workdays
Please note change of date:
We have moved the first Tuesday workday this month to enable us to do the Annual Harlech Point Beach Clean up. This is scheduled for Thursday 8th October 2009, I do hope you can make it; when the weather is kind, this is a fantastic beach and a lovely spot to collect litter from, not forgetting a beautiful view to complement a well deserved picnic lunch.
Thursday 8th October 2009 Annual Harlech Point Beach Clean up
You are invited to join a working group at our annual clear up at Harlech Point. We will work with support from SNPA wardens, CCW and Gwynedd Council to tackle the problem of tidal rubbish collected at Harlech Point.
Work: The litter ranges from fishing debris, plastics, tyres, to more general litter.
Meet: 10am in Min Y Don car park, Harlech Beach Road, GR574316. From the A496 take the turning (west) along Beach Road. The car park is at the end of this Road. Please see me on arrival before paying for parking.
Bring: A packed lunch, tea/coffee, working clothes, waterproofs. Bring your helping hands, if you have them. Gloves, helping hands and bin bags will be provided.
Thursday 15th October 2009 Conservation Workday: Dolwyddelan Community Improvements Project
Working with the local community volunteers, we will be doing some landscaping at a roadside pull-in / Car Park at Pont Arenig (on the A470 just above the village). We have worked with the community at this site on previous occasions, the last time in July 2008, so do come along and see how things have been progressing. On this occasion we hope to be doing some minor landscaping, and planting some indigenous or appropriate shrubs /plants around a seating area.
Meet: 10am. Roadside pull-in / Car Park at Pont Arenig. (On the A470 just above the village).
Bring: Packed lunch, waterproofs, warm clothing layers, sturdy boots (steel toecaps are recommended for footpath work). Tools and gloves will be provided.
Tuesday 27th October and Wednesday 28th October 2009 will see us hosting another group of youngsters from Hertfordshire, who will be attending Snowdonia to complete their residential phase of their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. Please come along and help to fire their interest in Conservation Volunteering with the Snowdonia Society, we need as many of our regular volunteers as possible to come and help.
Tuesday 27 October 2009 – Bryn Gwynant Youth Hostel – Rhododendron Bashing!
Work plan: We will be tackling yet more of the rhododendrons on this visit, with bonfires to dispose of the debris, should the weather be dry enough. Come along especially if you haven’t visited the Youth Hostel yet – it is well worth a view, we have made quite an impact on the Rhododendron with our visits over the last year.
Meet: 10:00 am in the Bryn Gwynant Youth Hostel car park, Nant gwynant,
Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 4NP. SH644514. On the A498 from Beddgelert, the Youth Hostel is on the right signposted, just before you reach the lake on the left, when heading up the pass to the Pen Y Gwryd Hotel.
Bring: Packed lunch and a warm drink, waterproofs, warm clothing layers.
Sturdy boots or Wellingtons are recommended; steel toecaps would be a good idea for those planning on moving stones.
Wednesday 28 October 2009 – Butterfly Habitat Maintenance/ Scrub Clearance – Hafod Garegog, Beddgelert
We will be helping Doug Oliver of the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) on this workday to manage the detrimental impact scrub growth is having on this wetland site; which is actively managed for the benefit of the Silver Studded Blue butterfly. Although this is a National Trust site Doug has been managing it for a number of years, you may remember we visited the site back in October 2007 with the Meirionnydd Oakwoods Habitat Management Project (MOHMP). Doug has very kindly agreed to give us a talk at the outset of the day about the importance of the site for Butterfly Conservation.
Meet: 10am National Trust Car Park, at Nantmor, located just off the A4085, just before the junction with the A498, South of Beddgelert. (Grid Ref. SH597462).
Please arrive promptly as there is a small amount of room nearer to the worksite, so we will be organising car sharing and proceeding onto site as soon as possible, if you do miss us, come out of the car park and turn left and the site is about a mile down on the right hand side (look out for the orange tabards!)
Bring: Wellingtons are essential due to the boggy nature of the site, and extra waterproof clothing is probably a good idea, if this summers weather has been anything to go by. Don’t forget your packed lunch and a warm drink. Gloves and tools will be provided, most of the work is low-level bushes, and so loppers will be sufficient.
Please Confirm:
I would be grateful if you could confirm whether you will be attending any of the above, by contacting the office on 01690 720287 or by e-mailing Bea (volunteer@snowdonia-society.org.uk).
We will have three volunteering events in September 2009:
Tuesday 1st September 2009 will be a Mammal Survey workday in our designated squares in Capel Curig, this is a rescheduled date as the event in August was postponed due to heavy rain. So come along and learn how to spot signs of mammals, binoculars, torches and maps would be a help if you have them. We will be meeting in the Forestry Commission car park and fanning out from there.
Meet: 10:00 am at Cae’n y coed Forestry Commission car park / SH763576. Head out of Betws y Coed on the A5 towards Capel Curig, the car park is on the left side, before you cross the River Bridge and reach Tŷ Hyll.
Bring: Packed lunch and a warm drink, waterproofs, warm clothing layers.
Sturdy boots or Wellingtons are recommended.
Useful: Binoculars, camera, maps, GPS, waterproof notebooks and any mammal identification aids you may have would be very useful.
On Thursday 10th September 2009 we will be joining Bala Snowdonia National Park Warden Bill Taylor, on a combined otter spotting and litter picking walk, when Bill will teach us the signs to look for, to hopefully enable us to spot this beautiful and evasive native mammal. The otter has been very successfully re-establishing itself over recent years, and as Bill is very familiar with the area we will keep our fingers crossed for spotting one on the day. As we follow our walk we will collect any litter we see to help keep this area in tip top condition.
Meet: 10am at the Lake Warden’s office in Bala. GR: SH 355 922. The office is on the A494 on the lake edge, proceeding southwest out of Bala town.
Bring: Picnic lunch and a warm drink, waterproofs, warm clothing layers.
Sturdy boots or Wellingtons are recommended.
Useful: Binoculars, camera, maps, GPS, waterproof notebooks and any mammal identification aids you may have would be very useful.
Saturday 19th September 2009 will see us back at St Julitta church, this time helping to construct compost bins, similar to the timber construction ones at Ty Hyll, so if you would like to learn how to do this, maybe to repeat in your own garden, please come and help, and also if you have done this before, your expertise would be very welcome. At the moment the Friends of St Julitta and Snowdonia Society volunteers are having to hire expensive skips to remove plant debris following clearance workdays, so this would help to both keep costs down and also to be more environmentally responsible.
Meet: 10am in the main Snowdonia National Park Authority car park behind the Pinnacles stores / cafe in Capel Curig on the A5, GRSH721582. St Julita Church is a short walk from the car park.
Bring: Packed lunch, tea/coffee, waterproofs, warm clothing layers, Wellingtons or sturdy boots are recommended (steel toecaps are recommended). Tools and gloves will be provided.
Our next bag making event is scheduled to be at Nant yr Odyn, on Saturday 26th September 2009.This is an exciting new training centre at Llanfihangel GM, near Cerrigydrudion, and will form part of their first events following completion of the building, which has been built with environmental principals in mind. Full details will follow as soon as confirmed
August 2009 Activity update
We will be demonstrating the ‘Old Rags 2 a Richer World’ initiative at 1pm on Monday 3rd August 2009, in the Learners Tent, Maes D, Bala Eisteddfod, when we aim to make a massive bag as a show piece, and will be hoping to encourage people to sign up to a pledge to reduce their use of plastic bags and other packaging. So if you would like to see Conservation Snowdonia Project Officer Bea Kelsall, trying to put all of these welsh lessons to good use, on her first public outing as a welsh learner, please come along and show your support.
We will have two other volunteering events in August 2009:
Tuesday 4 August 2009 – Mammal recording for the Mammal Atlas Survey – Capel Curig
We have taken on responsibility for mammal recording in the area around Tŷ Hyll / The Ugly house, a 5 km² extending from grid reference SH7555 to SH8060.
The collected data will be included in the upcoming Mammal Atlas, which will indicate areas where mammals are present throughout the Snowdonia National Park, and is being co-ordinated by Kate Williamson, the Snowdonia National Parks’ Biodiversity officer.
So come along and learn how to spot signs of mammals.
Meet: 10:00 am at Cae’n y coed Forestry Commission car park / SH763576. Head out of Betws y Coed on the A5 towards Capel Curig, the car park is on the left side, before you cross the River Bridge and reach Tŷ Hyll.
Bring: Packed lunch and a warm drink, waterproofs, warm clothing layers.
Sturdy boots or Wellingtons are recommended.
Useful: Binoculars, camera, maps, GPS, waterproof notebooks and any mammal identification aids you may have would be very useful.
Thursday 6th August 2009 - Llangelynnin old church – bracken clearance
This will be a repeat visit to Llangennenin Church, to tackle the invasive re-growth since our June visit. If we finish early we will continue with litter clearing in the adjacent areas
Meet: 10am. Contact Bea for directions as its complicated first time
Bring: Packed lunch, tea/coffee, waterproofs, warm clothing layers, sturdy boots. Tools and gloves will be provided.
Advanced Notice:
September 2009 will see us back at St Julitta church, this time helping to construct compost bins, similar to the timber construction ones at Ty Hyll, so if you would like to learn how to do this, maybe to repeat in your own garden, please come and help, and also if you have done this before, your expertise would be very welcome. At the moment the Friends of St Julitta and Snowdonia Society volunteers are having to hire expensive skips to remove plant debris following clearance workdays, so this would help to both keep costs down and also to be more environmentally responsible. Date will be confirmed in next mail out – possibly Saturday12 or 19th September 2009.
Please note that the dates originally advertised in the events calendar for 16/17August 2009, have now been replaced by the earlier dates in August. Thank you for your patience
Previous workdays:
June Workdays 2009
We have two additional workdays for June 2009:
Thursday 18 June 2009 - Llangelynnin old church – bracken clearance
We will attend this beautiful church in a delightfully remote spot to clear the grounds of bracken again this year, starting at 10am at the church we will continue into the gorge behind, doing some rubbish clearance while we are there. Contact Bea for directions, its complicated first time.
Meet: 10am.
Bring: Packed lunch, tea/coffee, waterproofs, warm clothing layers, sturdy boots. Tools and gloves will be provided.
Monday 29 June 2009- Litter Pick in Betws Y Coed
The Friends of Betws y Coed have invited us to join them for a litter pick around Betws, they will be meeting at Bryn Afon guest house, over the Pont y Pair bridge, and parking in the car park next to Scott Cunningham at 1 o’clock. They aim to be finished in around 2-3 hours. Black bin bags, gloves and litter pickers will be provided.
Meet: 13:00 hours at Bryn Afon guest house
Bring: waterproofs, warm clothing layers, sturdy boots. Tools and gloves will be provided.
July Workdays:
July 2009 is shaping up to be a busy month for us at the Conservation Snowdonia Project, so please come along and help with all of the Himalayan balsam and Ragwort clearing we have organised, and the Bala town clear up to ready it for the upcoming eisteddfod, so do keep checking out the website for up to date information.
Happy summer everyone…
Sunday 5 July 2009 and Tuesday 28 July 2009 - Himalayan Balsam clearance - Bryn Tyrch Farm, Capel Curig
Two dates to try and make a good impact on this invasive.
We will be clearing Himalayan Balsam from the boundary walls, field edges and water ways on Bryn Tyrch Farm, which is part of the Gwydyr Estate, to prevent further seed distribution by this very invasive non-native species. The farmer has done a lot of work over the past eight years to hold back the invasion, and has been making headway in the fields themselves, but the field margins and stream edges need some extra help. We will be removing the plants by hand at the optimum time, as this is the best method to prevent re colonisation, and to reduce the need for chemical controls.
Meet: 10am. GR SH727578. Follow the A5 through Capel Curig towards Conwy. As you come out of Capel Curig around a series of bends, you will come onto a straight section of road, and will see the Clogwen Stores on your right. Please take a small road on the right before the Clogwen Stores (just after the bus stop), and carry along it until you see a metal farm gate on the
right fork of the road, go through this gate, and park on a grassy area to the left. We will meet here.
Bring: Packed lunch, tea/coffee, waterproofs, warm clothing layers, sturdy boots. Tools and gloves will be provided.
Wednesday 15 July 2009 - Litter clear up workday – Bala town
We will be helping Town Mayor Islwyn Pritchard-Jones tidy up the town of litter prior to this year’s eisteddfod, this will be a follow up clearance as we made a start in March 2009. We will meet at the main car park in Bala and head off along the embankment collecting litter as we go, before returning to the car park on a circuitous route
Meet: 10am at Car park (pay & display) at Bala (OS 50000 map No. 125 Grid Ref. 929362). This is on the A494 just over the bridge before you head into town. Virtually opposite the A4212 junction. NB we will be taking our cars on to the adjacent industrial estate so no need to pay for parking for the day
Bring: Packed lunch, tea/coffee, waterproofs, warm clothing layers, Tools and gloves will be provided.
Tuesday 21 July and Wednesday 22 July 2009 - Ragwort Clearance – Benar Beach
We will be working with Snowdonia National Park Warden Gethin Corps on these two days, and a team from the National Park, clearing Ragwort invasion from the area of the beach. The plants are coming along fast this year so it is important that they are cleared as soon as possible. We will be using special tools to remove the plants properly, and the wardens will dispose of them safely following the workday to prevent further unwanted spread. I am told that there are a lot of plants to clear.
Meet: 10am. SN P A car park. G.R (for car park) SH 573 227.
Directions: to Bennar Beach:
From the Harlech side, on the A496 drive through Dyffryn Ardudwy out of the 30mph and into the 40mph speed limit, after 500m you’ll see a church on your right. Turn down past the church, sign posted Bennar Beach. Follow the road down and you will arrive at the Snowdonia National Park car park.
From the Barmouth side, on the A496 drive through Tal y bont out of the 30mph and into the 40mph speed limit, after 500m you’ll see a church on your left. Turn down past the church, sign posted Bennar Beach. Follow the road down and you will arrive at the Snowdonia National Park car park.
**It is important to wear long sleeves on this workday, to minimise skin exposure to the Ragwort plants
Bring: Packed lunch, waterproofs, warm clothing layers, sturdy boots (steel toecaps are recommended for footpath work). Tools and rubber gloves will be provided.
There are two bag making events this month:
On Monday 13 July, we have been asked to provide a demonstration in Caban Bach, Blaenau Ffestiniog, anyone free to come along and help carry sewing machines, set up and help would be very gratefully welcomed.
Our big bag making this month is in Glasdir in Llanrwst, on Saturday 25th July. If you can’t come along to any of the other events, please come along and help with this one, as we need to make a big splash with the local youngsters, who should have seen us on S4C on ‘Gobyldigwyrdd’ on 3rd July, we have a big room and need to fill it, so if you think of any extra activities to do during the day, please shout up.
We also need to try and make as many bags as possible as our outing at the Snowdonia Society’s plant sale was very successful, but totally cleared us out of bags –as we have been asked to do an hours demonstration at the Eisteddfod in Bala (see our clear up workday above) on 3rd August this year, we need as many newly made bags as possible. This will be good exposure for the Society, without the need for us to purchase a spot, so please come along and offer your support, on this Llanrwst workday, and on the date of the eisteddfod in August.
Remember: ‘Gobyldigwyrdd’, which was filmed with the Snowdonia Society, and the children who attended over two days in October 2008 making bags with us in Harlech, will be showing on S4C on Friday 3rd July 2009 at 4:25pm, and will be repeated with subtitles on Monday 6th July 2009.
Come along and give us a hand with any or all of the events which take your fancy
Bea Kelsall, Conservation Snowdonia Project Officer
More info here soon.