Week 8: 26th – 29th November

Monday

We spent this morning cleaning and tidying in and around the Environmental Resource Centre.  The afternoon was spent in our weekly welsh lesson – this we learnt how to ask for information about a third person such as their name, where they’re from, and what their job is.

"Beth mae Linda yn wneud?" - What does Linda do?
"Mae hi'n gweithio i'r Ymddiriedolaeth Natur Gwent" - She works for Gwent Wildlife Trust.

We also learnt a few animal names and some animal-related sayings:

"Cadno" - Fox
"Draenog" - Hedgehog

"Carlwm" - Stoat
"Cyn wynned a'r carlwm" - White as a stoat.

Tuesday

Today we spent the whole day at Silent Valley clearing a wet area of overgrown Willow, Alder and Birch near the stream at the bottom of the reserve.  After felling, the trees were cut up into manageable sections which were then stored neatly in two large habitat piles.  This area is being cleared as a new fence line is to be built along the bank of the stream in the New Year to help maintain stock for grazing.

Wednesday

Sally spent today helping our community education officer at a local primary school with a tree planting event.  During the activity, the children were taught about the tools they were using and the tree species they were planting.

Beth spent the day with the reserve officer, undertaking tasks including purchasing new equipment for reserves work, office jobs, and odd jobs that required attention around the ERC.

Michaël spent the day with the reserve officer and volunteer group at Magor Marsh reserve, continuing with the Willow extraction and reedbed regeneration.
 

Michaël at one of the large Willow piles waiting to be burnt at Magor Marsh.



Thursday

Today all three of us spent the day at Magor Marsh helping the reserve officer burn the large piles of Willow brash - after all the recent rainfall, we definitely needed our wellies and waterproofs!


Icey, wet, and muddy at the Willow extraction site at Magor Marsh!