Here are the volunteer workdays and events for February 2016!
Tools Maintenance, Tuesday 2nd at Tŷ Hyll: Come along and help maintain the tools we have been using throughout 2015. We will have an expert on hand to guide us on how to maintain all sorts of tools, as well as prolonging their usefulness. Set at the beautiful Ty Hyll, what’s not to like? Volunteers are welcome to bring their own tools to sharpen.
Habitat Management, Saturday 6th at Hafod Garegog: The Snowdonia Society and the National Trust are teaming up to take part in a habitat management task at Hafod Garegog National Nature Reserve. We will be clearing an area of scrub so it can be developed into a better habitat for native flora and fauna. This will include removing Bog Myrtle, Birch saplings and Gorse. The silver-studded blue butterflies found here. Come along and find out about the importance of their relationship with the black ant and why it is so important to manage this area for them! **Free Transport from Bangor and Caernarfon**
Hedgerow and Tree Planting, Wednesday 10th at Nantmor: Within the local Meirionnydd Oak Woodland at Nantmor you will find a several Lesser Horseshoe Bat roosts. The Lesser Horseshoe Bat is rare in the British Isles and is confined to Wales, western England and western Ireland. We will be planting hedges in order to connect these wooded areas. We will be creating a much more suitable habitat for the Bat population as well as other local wildlife. Come and help us create a habitat.
Tŷ’n y Coed Workday, Thursday the 11th at Arthog: The Snowdonia Society and The Woodland Trust are joining forces for a workday at Ty’n y Coed, a fantastic oakwood and heather moorland at the Southern end of the Snowdonia National Park. The tasks for the day include tree planting, clearing glades for lichens and Rhododendron control. A Woodland Trust representative will be at hand to discuss the site management plan, no prior experience necessary and there will be free transport available from Bangor and Caernarfon. Please get in contact if you’d like to find out more. **Free Transport from Bangor and Caernarfon**
Footpath Maintenance, Friday 12th at Lon Gwyrfai: As part of an agreement between the Snowdonia National Park Authority and the Snowdonia Society, we will be undertaking the first stages of work on this newly linked multiuser route, where both cyclists and walkers can now walk from Rhyd Ddu to Beddgelert along the beautiful Rhyd Ddu valley. The purpose of the day’s work is to clear/open the drainage and culverts, where necessary, and to collect and record any litter we find along a 2 mile (approx) stretch of Lon Gwyrfai. The work will include removal of debris and small flora from sections of the stretch and require nothing more than hand tools (tools provided). We will walk South, from the start of the path towards Beddgelert and allow time to walk back. **Free Transport from Bangor and Caernarfon**
Tidy Tŷ Hyll Litter Pick, Monday 15th at Tŷ Hyll: Interested in helping us ‘Keep Wales Tidy’? The Snowdonia Society are working together with the Keep Wales Tidy team and are planning a Litter Pick along the footpaths that surround Tŷ Hyll. A member of the Keep Wales Tidy team will be joining us to explain more about their project, and it will be a perfect opportunity to hear more about the Snowdonia Society and Tŷ Hyll too! New volunteers are always welcome, please get in contact with Bethan! All equipment will be provided, just bring yourself and some suitable clothing and footwear!
Rhododendron Bashing, Tuesday 16th at Bryn Gwynant: The Snowdonia Society have been working alongside the Snowdonia National Park Authority in Nant Gwynant for some time removing Rhododendron Ponticum from the area. Rhododendron is one of the top 3 invasive species to the Snowdonia National Park and it is easy to see the damage that it has done to our native countryside. One of our larger sites has been the Bryn Gwynant Youth Hostel. You can already see the difference that we have made to the grounds, but the battle isn’t over yet. There are still plenty of Rhododendron Ponticum plants to be removed. Bow saws and loppers at the ready!
Habitat Management, Thursday 18th at Hafod Garegog: The Snowdonia Society and the National Trust are teaming up to take part in a habitat management task at Hafod Garegog National Nature Reserve. We will be clearing an area of scrub so it can be developed into a better habitat for native flora and fauna. This will include removing Bog Myrtle, Birch saplings and Gorse. The silver-studded blue butterflies found here. Come along and find out about the importance of their relationship with the black ant and why it is so important to manage this area for them! **Free Transport from Bangor and Caernarfon**
National Nest Box Week and Half Term Activities, Friday and Saturday 19th and 20th at Tŷ Hyll: Join us at Tŷ Hyll to help us celebrate National Nest Box Week! Organised by the British Trust for Ornithology, National Nest box Week has been established since 1997 and is the perfect opportunity for you to find out more about how to encourage birds to roost in your garden! As well as giving you some tips on the different types of nest boxes, there will be plenty of activities throughout the day including bird watching, wildlife spotting, making birdfeeders and you can have a go at some wild art! All activities are suitable for children and adults – a perfect way to spend your half term!
Woodland Workday, Tuesday 23rd at Tŷ Hyll: The upkeep and maintenance of our spectacular woodland depends on the generosity of our fantastic team of dedicated volunteers. Whether you’d like to help out with our bird survey or you fancy something a bit more physically challenging like footpath maintenance, join us to tackle this month’s woodland tasks!
Tree Planting, Wednesday 24th at Beddgelert: The ongoing project to remove Rhododendron Ponticum from Beddgelert is well known to our volunteers. Having spent years cutting and burning the invasive species for the first phase of the project. Working alongside the Snowdonia National Park Authority, we have been given the opportunity to take part in the final phase of the project. We will be planting native trees in some of the cleared areas in order to help return the landscape to its original form. Come and see what we have accomplished and join in on the final phase
Wildlife Gardening every Monday at Tŷ Hyll: An opportunity to help maintain the beautiful garden and woodland at Tŷ Hyll.
New volunteers are always welcome – get in contact to find out how you can get involved!
bethan@snowdonia-society.org.uk
01286 685498
