The work days below were a big success - making a big impact on two sensitive areas of the National Park. Huw Jenkins, reporter for Radio Wales and part of the Natur Cymru team, has made a blog and videos which can be viewed by clicking here.

Huw also recorded two pieces for Country Focus on Radio Wales, the first of which will be broadcast at 7am on Sunday 20th May. 

On Wednesday 16 May local television company Cwmni Da also filmed for a series to be broadcast on S4C later in the year. 

If you'd like to come volunteering with us (and possibly become a local television or radio celebrity!), our next workdays in June will focus on the invasive species Himalalyan Balsam - contact mike@snowdonia-society.org.uk for details.

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Monday 14th May and also Wednesday 16th May – Rhododendron Clearance at Bryn Gwynant Youth Hostel

Yes!! We are returning to continue to battle and to win the war, please join us.  Along with students from Capel Manor we will be making greater in roads into sections of the thickets of this invasive species.  Rhododendron, popular with the Victorians, is outcompeting with our native flora, creating a biological desert.  The dense branches and thick leaf growth create areas where nothing else can grow.  This poses a great threat to the unique and internationally important habitats of Snowdonia.  We aim to rectify this!!  You are invited to either or both of these days.

Meet: 9.30 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, old, warm clothing layers.

Sturdy boots or wellingtons are recommended.

Tuesday 15th May – Restoration of blanket bog in a European Habitats Directive Special Area of Conservation (SAC) -  Ffridd Trawsgoed – South West of Bala

This is a project in high level remote and wild country, below the mountain Arenig Fawr, there will be a 2.5km walk ascending along a forest track followed by a strenuous trek across undulating blanket bog – turn out if you dare!  This session will have a true wilderness feel, we could be blessed by brilliant sunshine, or blighted by horizontal rain driven in by gales.  Whatever the weather, and you’ll need to arrive well equipped for either extreme, this site can capture your imagination with its unique beauty.

Our mission for the day is to help restore the blanket bog habitat.  The initial work, carried out by contractors 5 or 6 years ago, was the felling of an inappropriate conifer plantation.  We will be removing small conifer trees that have regenerated from the seed bank, left from the former plantation, within the bog area.  The work may also include removal of old fencing.

This work is of vital international importance because of the site hosts rare mosses and an upland breeding bird habitat.  The area also provides important eco-system services including carbon absorption and flood alleviation. 

Meet:  10am:  At the farm house marked on the OS map ‘Trawscoed’, SH846 326. 

Travel 8km south west of Bala on the A494, (just north of the village of Llanuwchllyn), take a (very narrow) minor road passing through Dolhendre.  After passing the woodland Coed Wenallt, take the right hand fork, a gated ‘no through route’ the leads only to Trawscoed farm.  This route is unsuitable for large vehicles.  Allow plenty of time for route finding!

Please note this task includes a strenuous 2.5km walk in order to access the site. 

Bring: Packed lunch, including hot drink, waterproofs, warm clothing layers, hats, wellingtons (remember this is a bog) or sturdy boots. Tools and gloves will be provided.

Please Confirm:

We would be grateful if you could confirm whether you will be attending any of the above, by contacting our office at Caban, Yr Hen Ysgol, Brynrefail, LL55 3NR, on 01286 685498, or by e-mailing CSPO Mike Klymko (mike@snowdonia-society.org.uk mobile 07854 773967) for workdays/attendance enquiries, or (sarah@snowdoniasociety.org.uk) for group enquiries/community engagement activities.