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Coed
y Brenin Visitors Centre one of the greenest tourism sites in the World says
tour operator and The Guardian
Tumultuous praise and
applause resonated for months after the official opening of the Coed y Brenin
(Forest of the King) new visitor's centre, in the southern reaches of the
Snowdonia National Park (and also a short walk from our holiday cottage
Glyn-yr-Aur). From the autumn of 2006,
the massive new circular wooden edifice, has beaten all expectations and seen
at least 120,000 flock to its doors annually at the very latest count. However, praise of an
even more rarefied kind has been bestowed on the centre as it's now been
classed among the top 70 green tourism sites in all of the whole world. Organisers of travel and
tourism site, Green Traveller or greentraveller.co.uk compiled an exclusive
list this spring, after a panel of judges decided on which contenders should
gain a coveted listing. Out of around eight
chosen from Britain, the Coed y Brenin Visitors' Centre was judged to be a
trail-blazing piece of architecture, and was included on the so-called Green
List, which was also published in the Guardian newspaper. Chair of the judging
panel Dr Graham Miller, who is a lecturer at Surrey University and also works
for the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, said over 200 travel and
tourism companies were asked in a questionnaire how they had made their
operations more sustainable and environmentally friendly. He went on: "The
aim was to identify companies that have introduced significant changes to their
business, the products they offer and the way they perform. Specific
information was asked for about actions that had been taken to reduce carbon
impact as well as water preservation, waste management and biodiversity
conservation."
What impressed the
judges most was that the visitors' centre was built totally with sustainable
materials, namely wood, taken from the Coed y Brenin forest itself. They also
wanted to give the centre a ringing endorsement because it contained a wood fuel
heating system which provided heat and hot water for all of the centre's
needs. The wood chips to run the system were procured locally, which reduced
transportation costs and vehicle emissions. A Forestry Commission
spokesperson added: "Low energy fittings have been used throughout, and
with good ventilation provided by the windows and roof lights, no air
conditioning has been needed. "We insulated the
centre by using recycled newspaper in the timber frame, roof and partitions. "The level of
public interest at the Coed y Brenin has been fantastic and has allowed us to
raise awareness among our visitors of what can be done to make a positive
contribution to sustainable development."
(The green traveller
website can be found at www.greentraveller.co.uk and it is site dedicated to
holidays that are eco-conscious and environmentally friendly. It always tells
people how to travel, where possible, to a holiday destination by public
transport, and also lists the eco-credentials of each and every holiday site
it features and promotes).
Forgotten
slate town wants to become fully fledged member of Snowdonia National Park Blaenau Ffestiniog was
once among the major slate producing capitals of the world. And slate from
its quarries would have been used in flooring, tiling and in buildings from
across Europe to the Americas. But its 19th century hey-day is no more. Tired of the town's
second class status, campaigners are now petitioning for Blaenau to become an
integral part of Snowdonia, in an ambitious bid to bring tourists to the area
and to boost the overall local economy. When the park was first
created in 1951 , the town was deliberately excluded because of its quarrying
heritage, and it was not felt it had the extra special qualities to become
part of the designated parkland. And despite it being in
the heart of the conservation area, calls and campaigns to have Blaenau
included in Snowdonia have up until now been blocked or come to nought. However, Aneurin
Philips, Chief Executive of the Snowdonia National Park Aurthority has
indicated that there may soon be a referendum on whether the park's
boundaries could in fact be changed. He told The Guardian newspaper
recently that the Countryside Council for Wales and the Welsh Assembly would
have to approve the plans first, and then it would be ultimately put to the
people of Blaenau in a vote. Neverthless, the park's
authority has already agreed in principle to back Blaenau's bid to become a
fully fledged member of Snowdonia. Mr Philips went on:
"Blaenau occupies a unique upland setting right in the heart of the
national park. The town and the surrounding area offer recreational
activities and cultural experiences. "A strong case can
be made out that its rich built and cultural heritage should be treasured and
that national park status would be advantageous." Ceri Cunnington from
Antur Blaenau, a local regeneration group, lamented that the average visitor
to Blaenau spent 22 pence during their time there. This was something he and
his group definitely hoped to change. On average 150,000
people visited the town annually either on the Ffestiniog Railway (from
Porthmadog) (http://www.festrail.co.uk/), or to see the
Llechwedd Slate mines (http://www.llechwedd-slate-caverns.co.uk/)
at its periphery. And he wanted such people to stay awhile and appreciate
Blaenau's very own history and heritage. Finally, the town's
leaders are pinning their hopes on winning a grant of £1.3 million to
revitalise the town's fortunes. It would primarily be used to develop a
mountain-biking and down-hill cycling venue, and such an award would be made
by Visit Wales, which is the tourism department of the Welsh Assembly. 2010
International Snowdon Race sets new record
Entries for the 2010
International Snowdon Race or
Ras-yr-Wyddfa have been reached in record time according to the race
organiser, Stephen Edwards. He revealed that after
the entry system went live in early March, that it took just 12 days for all
of the 500 running places to be filled, and added he had been totally
astounded by the overwhelming demand for the event. The race will actually
be run on 24 July this year, and the total course length will be some 16km
long. He added that it might be disappointing for some who would now miss out
on a major race in the annual fell-running calendar. However, he stressed
safety concerns had to come first. There were,
nevertheless, still plenty of places on the various races for under 18s. To
find out more about these, please go to snowdonrace.co.uk. More heath land, less
trees says Royal Society for the Protection of Birds The Royal Society for
the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has welcomed a new initiative by the
government which aims to increase the amount of open heath land throughout
the British Isles. After years of
campaigning, the RSPB is now overjoyed that the government has now committed
to increasing the amount of heath land across Britain by 1000 hectares per
year. Currently the United
Kingdom has at most 58,000 hectares of heath land which is home to rare birds
and species such as nightjars, woodlarks, smooth snakes and grayling
butterflies. However, this figure is
said to represent an 80 per cent decline in open heath land within the last
200 years. The RSPB Director of
Conservation Mark Avery says the society has rightly been concerned at this
state of affairs, and has now renewed faith that this decline will be
reversed. Key among the proposals
are changing the usage of many Forestry Commission-owned land. The RSPB
believes there certainly needs to be more trees, however it feels that some
of the existing conifer plantations should now revert back to their original
heath land status. Incidentally, this has been a policy practised by the RSPB
for many years on its varying nature reserves. Mr Avery added:
"Restoring heath land which has been planted with conifers is an easy
way of making a big difference for threatened species. Once the conifers are
removed the seed bank begins to germinate again, and soon the heath land
plants start to reappear - before long you have a landscape teeming with life
once more. "This unique
landscape of low nutrient sandy soil and short shrubby vegetation supports a
host of rare species such as nightjars, sand lizards, field crickets and
grayling butterflies. "Restoring habitats
such as heath land is an essential part of helping wildlife adapt to the
effects of climate change. If there is no suitable habitat for displaced
birds, this could spell disaster for this species." Glaslyn
Ospreys back to nest in Wales for a record seventh year The arrival of warmer
spring weather has also seen the arrival of an exotic pair of rare birds in
Wales, at a special RSPB nesting site near Porthmadog. Typically at home on the
rivers and plains of West Africa, a male and female pair of ospreys find that
the more temperate climes of the Glaslyn Valley are more to their liking in
spring and summer. Having flown thousands
of miles from their winter habitat in Africa, both birds were spotted by RSPB
project workers at the end of March. The birds have had their legs ringed, in
addition to the successive number of chicks they've raised each year at their
nesting site at Pont Croesor. And through this
tracking device, one of their offspring has been found to have started his
own family at similar nesting site in Scotland. Ceri Thomas, People
Engagement Officer at the project, said: "Despite their long journey,
both birds arrived on virtually the same date as previous years. All the staff and volunteers are really
excited and are looking forward to another wonderful season." People can watch the
birds from a safe distance at Pont Croesor with binoculars or can see them
more closely on a TV monitor in a nearby visitors' centre - which is open
from 10.00am to 6.00pm until late August. People can also see the
birds online, if they go to the
following website:
www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northwest/sites/webcams/pages/ospreys.shtml. Get
out more urges the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
People across Britain
should get out more according to the Royal Society for the Protection of
Birds (RSPB). Too many people, it claims, are failing to take advantage of
its nature reserves, walking trails and the opportunities it provides for
learning about Britain's birds and wildlife. It believes people don't
go out to explore or create their own real-life adventures, because they
believe they need specialist equipment or khaki coloured clothing to really
enjoy a day out. A spokesperson insisted:
"RSPB nature reserves offer great days out whether you're a seasoned
birdwatcher or a family that needs to let off some steam. "Spring is the best
time for beautiful wildlife and nature spectacles on many of our reserves,
and with over 200 sites across the UK there is bound to be one near you. "Nature reserves
are for everyone not just for wildlife enthusiasts and experts. "Try some comfy
shoes, a waterproof (they can't guarantee everything) and some sandwiches and
you're set." Visitors to our holiday
cottage Glyn-yr-Aur, are lucky to have two RSPB nature reserves, at Lake
Vyrnwy and Ynys-Hir, which are both within an hour's drive from its front
door. The first at Lake Vyrnwy
is renowned for its wide and varied programme of events that include an otter
discovery walk and a day spent monitoring birdlife in 2010. Those wanting that
little bit more from a day out, should head along to the lake near the
village of Llanwyddyn at 5.00pm on 29 May. Ranger, Mike Morris, will then
lead a two hour walk along the riverbank in search of the elusive otter.
People are advised to take wellies, waterproofs and some refreshments with
them. Admission prices range from £1.50 to £3.50, and pre-booking is
required. For more details, people should ring 01691 870278 or email mailto:vyrnwy@rspb.org.uk. Alternatively, guests
might prefer to watch the rangers complete one of the most challenging tasks
of the year, which is ringing the legs of chicks at some of the 350 nestboxes
at the site. People need to also book in advance for this event which lasts
from 12 noon until 3.00pm on Saturday 5 June. Admission prices again range
from £1.50 to £3.50. There are also discounts for RSPB members at both
events. The Ynys-Hir reserve
near Machynlleth has less in the way of organised events but advises people
that spring is the best time to see flycatchers, redstarts and a profusion of
beautiful seasonal flowers. And summer is a good
time to see wading birds such as lapwings, redshanks and some very special
butterflies. Lastly a RSPB
spokesperson added: "The RSPB is urging everyone to make the most of
nature with a day out on one of its nature reserves. "With wonderful
wildlife on tap and leisurely walks at every turn, we defy anyone not to come
away with a spring in their step. "Many reserves have
fantastic facilities for families and first time visitors to enable them to
get the best possible introduction to Britain's wonderful natural
world." Welsh
Assembly announces firm commitment to increase wooded areas across Wales over
the next five years
Encouraging people to
reconnect with nature is a top priority for the Welsh Assembly, who has
announced a firm commitment to increase broadleaved woodland throughout the
Principality over the next five years. In a new policy
document, entitled Woodlands for Wales, the Welsh Assembly Member for Rural
Affairs, Elin Jones, declared that a well managed woodland was an asset to
the Welsh nation and provided 'a wide range of goods and services for
everyone's benefit'. She further explained:
"We want to see more people visiting Welsh woodlands to take advantage
of opportunities for walking and enjoying some peace and quiet, or for more
adventurous activities. "Through the
actions in our plan we aim to increase the woodland cover of Wales and to
increase the range of tree species in those woodlands. We want to bring more
existing broadleaf woodland into active management, much of it on farmland.
We want to see all land managed in a more integrated way, with woodlands and
trees playing an important role in the wider landscape." According to figures in
the Woodland for Wales report, there has been a 20 per cent rise in people
visiting woodland areas, for recreational purposes, from 2003 to 2009. The most popular pastime
was found to be walking, which 76% of respondents claimed to have carried out
in the successive Wales Outdoor Recreation Surveys that were organised each
and every year. Wildlife watching came
polled second place, with 18% of people claiming that to be their primary
reason for venturing out in to forest areas in the Principality. While
sightseeing or visiting playgrounds both came joint third, with 11% or those
interviewed claiming that is typically how they spent their time in wooded
areas across Wales. Mountain-biking and
running scored 6% a piece in the most popular pastime stakes, while
picnicking, horseriding, informal games and swimming outdoors were some of
the other activities that were mentioned as being carried out by respondents. Southern
Snowdonia has burgeoning new food scene
Dolfrwynog Tea
Garden Many people, perhaps
quite unfairly, write off the Welsh food scene and prefer the gastronomic
delights of say Tuscany, London or the south of France. However, Wales, a
country that has long been overlooked in the food industry stakes, has now
launched a determined fight back. In just over the past
five years, the area surrounding Barmouth, Dolgellau and Bala (all close to
our holiday cottage Glyn-yr-Aur) has seen an explosion in quality food
outlets, restaurants and cafes that has put them at the very heart of
resurgent and revitalised Wales. Take the Mawddach
Restaurant, for example, which opened recently in the tiny hamlet of
Llanelltyd on the outskirts of Dolgellau. It's run by a former Welsh Young
Chef of the Year, Ifan Dunn, who has spent much of the last decade perfecting
his culinary skills as a chef in restaurants in Cardiff. He's also appeared on
Welsh televisions S4C and prides himself on bringing the very best of local
farm produce to the table - to give visitors to the area a dining experience
that is second to none. A typical meal would be
poached and roasted free range chicken with thyme risotto and white truffle
oil (£12.00) or cream of leek and potato soup with homemade broad and
Caernarfonshire salted butter (£4.50). His partner Amelia
manages the front of house at the restaurant which is part of an enchanting
converted grey stone barn. For more details about
exact opening times or making a reservation, please ring 01341 424020 or
visit http://www.mawddach.com/.
(address: Bwyty Mawddach, Maesygarnedd, Llanelltyd (off A470), Dolgellau LL40
2TA) Meanwhile, another new
restaurant worth checking out close
to Glyn-yr-Aur is Bistro Bermo, which was taken over by new management in
June 2008. Owned and run by Theresa
Rushton and David Waddington, the restaurant is said to be a small and cosy
style eatery in Barmouth's old town that offers traditional countryside
fayre. A typical meal would be
organic Llandudno smoked salmon with watercress, horseradish cream potato
salad (£5.95) or chargrilled Glasfryn Estate rump steak with mustard and
horseradish butter, red wine mushrooms and hand cut chips (£12.50). To make a reservation,
please ring 01341 281 284 or go to www.bistro-barmouth.co.uk for more
details. There are however, some
food and drink establishments that have been open for decades, but are also
worthy of checking out when visiting our holiday cottage. Key among them is
the Dolfrwynog Tea Garden, which is just a two mile bike ride or trek from
our home. Famed locally for its wide range of delicious cakes, snacks and
sandwiches, the Dolfrwynog is the perfect stopping off before, during or
after a ramble, bike ride or family day out. Second, the Tyn-y-Groes
public house, which is a relatively short walk or car journey from Glyn-yr-Aur,
is a great place to relax and unwind with friends or family members. And it
has a child-friendly beer garden and serves superb meals, and breakfasts,
throughout the day. (Go to www.tynygroes.com for more details or ring 01341
440275). And last, and by no
means least, the George III pub and restaurant in Penmaenpool has a
wide-ranging menu that is sourced from local fresh produce, and offers diners
fantastic views of the Mawddach Estuary while they sit back and enjoy a
languorous meal. (Ring 01341 422 525 for more information). Be a patron of the arts in the outdoors haven of
Lake Vyrnwy Celebrating
the arts is something that has been left to museums, galleries and cultural
centres that perhaps seem a little too inaccessible to the average person on
the street. But
a new genre of artist has emerged in recent years, that believes in taking art
out into the community and public spaces so it can be enjoyed more readily
and be more easily explored. The
primary aim is to capture the public's collective imagination and push art to
the top of everyone's agenda, so those who would not ordinarily venture out
to see it, can now patronise the arts. So
where better to find such an exhibition other than in the vast and wide open
spaces around Lake Vyrnwy, on the outer fringes of the Snowdonia National
Park.
Pioneering
outdoors artists Andy Hancock and Tom Gilhespy were called on by the forestry
ranger at Lake Vyrnwy, Andy Hall, in a bid to renew people's interest in the
reservoir and the RSPB-run nature reserve. They
hit upon a scheme that has sent visitors numbers soaring, in the form of a
series of meetings or symposia that saw artists create imaginative wood
sculptures for a fortnight each summer (from 1999). Completed
in 2006, a sculpture trail was developed with the artists' collective work,
which was added to each year when contributors arrived from all over Europe
and the former Eastern bloc to take part. Among
the most first and most impressive of the participants was Russian artist,
Galina Peserevan. Unable to speak a word of English, she and organiser Andy
Hancock established an excellent working relationship and communicated mainly
via chalk drawings and sketches. "I
learned so much about simple form and figurative folk carving from the way
she drew with a piece of chalk. We didn't need words," revealed Andy.
"Moreover,
we were more than pleased to welcome talented and distinguished artists, Dima
and Danya Kaminker from St Petersburg, at the first of our symposia at Lake
Vyrnwy." He
further explained: "Behind the iron curtain such meetings or symposia
grew because people wanted to meet other like-minded people out of the sight
of their oppressive governments' regimes. "Funding
was granted through Arts and Business Cymru, The Arts' Council of Wales and
Severn Trent Water, to whom we were all extremely grateful for allowing the
sculpture park to become a reality." Fellow
co-ordinator Tom Gilhespy added: "The sculpture park has become the
largest and most comprehensive collection of international, contemporary
sculpture in the landscape in Wales. "It
contains examples of sculpture by artists from Australia, Estonia, Finland,
Norway, Russia, Sweden and the Ukraine in addition to some artists from
Wales.
"The
park has become a major tourist attraction, and an excellent example of how
art can be used to increase tourism and aid regeneration in the
countryside." To
find out more about the Sculpture Trail and artist Andy Hancock, please see
our story on Lake Vyrnwy in our Places to Visit section. Exotic
Caribbean turtle favours Tremadog Bay for its summer holidays Wales
has become the holiday destination of choice for many people throughout the
British Isles, however tourists of quite a different kind have been heading
for Welsh waters in recent years much to the surprise of leading marine
biologists. According
to researchers from Swansea University and University College Cork the wildly
exotic leatherback turtle, that hails from the Caribbean, has been a regular
visitor to Tremadog Bay, Carmarthen Bay and the Irish coastline in ever
increasing numbers. Drawn
here by the abundance of jellyfish (Rhizostoma - non-stinging variety and
harmless to humans), the turtles are never happier then when in Cardigan Bay
according to a university researcher. He told a reporter on a recent edition
of the BBC's Coast that the jellyfish were like 'chocolate digestives' to the
turtles, who actually preferred to feed out at sea. The
research team, under the leadership of Graeme Hays, are keen for the general
public to get involved in tracking these rare creatures, and would ask anyone
visiting the Welsh coast to tell them exactly when and where they see them. He
said: "In 2003, we began an aerial survey programme in collaboration
with University College Cork to investigate why turtles travel to cold
northern waters. We wanted to assess jellyfish distribution - the
leatherback's main source of food. "We
proceeded to fly thousands of miles to establish the jellyfish distribution
in the Irish Sea. They showed that the Rhizostoma jellyfish congregated in
two hotspots on the Welsh coast - Carmarthen Bay in the south and Tremadog
Bay in the north. He
further explained that in the last 20 years the leatherbacks had moved to
more northerly waters because of global warming. They had, he revealed,
actually tracked several turtles through satellite tagging and found that
they would follow temperature bands (or isotherms) that were above 15 deg C
across the world's oceans. The
more northerly reaches, which would have once been deemed too cold for the
leatherback, have warmed up considerably in the last two decades and have
been responsible for luring them into British waters. He
went on: "Sightings of leatherback turtles occur mainly in August and
September when the water is warmest. Jellyfish hotspots were also hotspots
for leatherback turtle sightings. "We
traced the position of the summer 15 deg isotherm over the last few decades.
The analysis revealed that this isotherm, which essentially approximates the
northerly limit of leatherbacks, has moved north by 330 km in the last 20
years. "The
implication is that the UK and Ireland are progressively lying further within
the normal range of the species. "So the message is clear - if you visit the coast this summer, keep your eyes peeled for leatherback turtles and please let us know via our online reporting form at www.turtle.ie/".
The future of Gwynedd airfield still uncertain A
Cotswolds based air company, Kemble Air Services, is hoping to reopen a former
Second World War military base as a small business park and also as an
airbase for private planes. However,
the plans for the airfield in the small Snowdonia town of Llanbedr (close to
the Rhinog mountains) have run into significant opposition from local
environmental group, the Snowdonia Society and also the planning committee of
the Snowdonia National Park. Both
groups feel the proposals go against the planning and development rules for a
national park, and the park authorities have declined to issue Kemble with a
certificate of lawful use. Director
of the society Alan Pugh was particularly concerned that formula one cars
could be tested at the site, and that it could also be used as a scrap yard
for airliners. He knew Kemble carried out such operations at its other sites
in Britain, and because it would not categorically rule out such work at
Llanbedr, he said he could then not offer the company his unqualified
support. He
went on: "The Snowdonia Society wants to see employment created for
local people on the former military airfield at Llanbedr. We do not wish this
site to be sterilised and have consistently supported use of the existing
buildings to provide space for local businesses and jobs for local people. "We
want future use of this site to form part of a wider strategy for
regenerating Ardudwy. We also want its future use to be compatible with the
status of the area as a national park and with the multimillion pound tourism
industry founded on that. "The
Snowdonia Society regrets that normal statutory safeguards for the
environment have so far been avoided in the case of Llanbedr airfield." Kemble
is said to be submitting another application for lawful use of the air site,
but with a much narrower set of terms of use. World heritage site town Harlech has ambitious
regeneration plans A
new regeneration group dubbed Harlech and Around or Harlech a'r Cylch has
been set up in a bid to increase the number of tourists and visitors to the
town. The
group involving many local people and local environmental group, the
Snowdonia Society, hopes to co-ordinate all current initiatives into an
effective regeneration action plan. The
group which has recently met with Gwynedd Council's regeneration officer,
Hannah Joyce, has a series of ambitious plans that it hopes will place
Harlech among the top visitor attractions in the whole of the Snowdonia
National Park. The
group strongly believes that the town, which houses the World Heritage Site
of Harlech Castle, is all too often over-looked and ignored by visitors to
Wales, and it urgently wants to reverse this troubling trend. Among
the proposals it is discussing are the construction of a 5 star hotel, the
establishment of a visitors' centre and the building of bridge to make
Harlech more accessible by road. A
local charitable trust has already taken over the running of the town's
swimming pool and leisure centre, which was threatened with closure last year
because the local council had to make drastic cuts. Countryside views can be distracting to drivers Wonderful
views of the countryside and heritage sites are among the biggest
distractions to drivers according to a new survey by insurance group Zurich
Connect. Becoming
overly absorbed in far-reaching vistas and views of mountains, pastures,
valleys and fields are however only second to visions or sightings of
beautiful women (well to men anyway at least). Football
Star David Beckham also featured in the research and was said to be the ninth
greatest distraction to drivers throughout the British Isles, especially when
seen plastered over billboards in a series of revealing ads. However, it was
not stated whether the reaction on seeing him was negative or positive. Snowdonian mountain Tryfan may not be among the
region's highest peaks say experts Amateur
surveyors are hoping to prove once and for all whether Tryfan cuts the
proverbial mustard as one of Wales' highest mountain peaks. The
Scottish Highlands are known to be awash with mountains that reach well over 3000
ft and are dubbed munroes in walkers' and climbers' parlance. However,
John Barnard from Mold, Graham Jackson and Myrddyn Phillips want to test
whether Tryfan in the Ogwen Valley is really as high as people have always
thought. Wales
while again having its fair share of mountainous regions, only has 14
mountains that actually measure above 3000ft. Using
professional GPS equipment and computers at Tryfan's summit, the surveyors
will be able to test whether Tryfan does actually measure 3002ft to to within
a small margin of error - said to be a few centimetres at most. Typical
mountain heights are calculated using aerial photography and the error rate
can be up to 4 metres in some cases so experts claim. Experiment
leader, John Barnard added that the height test and measurements would be
carried out in June of this year. He
went on: "We are going to use a positioning system and put in on the
summit to collect data, and then that information will be processed through a
computer. "The
mountain will still be there whether it's 2999ft or 3000ft. It'll make no
difference. It is still an iconic mountain, although it might come off a
certain list." Get around Snowdonia for £1 per trip Forget
the car this summer if you want to travel around the northern parts of
Snowdonia because bus fares on most routes will be £1.00 says Gwynedd
Council. The
Sherpa bus company is set to ferry tourists and visitors to the park to
mountain hotspots such as Snowdon, Llanberis and Llyn Padarn for just £1.00
per journey. The
move is a joint initiative by the Gwynedd Council, Conwy County Borough
Council, the Countryside Council for Wales, Visit Wales, the Snowdonia
National Park authority and the Department of Enterprise, Innovation and
Networks. Dubbed
the Green Key Initiative, co-ordinator for the group Megan Lynne Hughes said:
"This is an exciting new initiative that will help us in our aim to
ensure local residents and visitors to the area enjoy Snowdonia by means of
sustainable transport." Each
journey on the S1, S2 and S6 routes will all be £1.00. For more information
please go to www.gwynedd.gov.uk or www.snowdoniagreenkey.co.uk. Get walking says health promotion group Enjoying
the great outdoors was never easier according to pioneering health promotion
body Lets Walk Cymru, who has launched a new campaign to encourage people
across Wales to get active. The
leading health group believes not enough local residents or visitors to the
Principality take enough advantage of the ample opportunities to go out
walking. With
33,000km of waymarked footpaths and rights of way in Wales, the group
believes people have little excuse to stay indoors and not find a walking
route that would suit their age or ability. A
spokesperson further explained: "In Wales there are more than 33,000km
of public rights of way which can be explored and enjoyed, including
footpaths, walking routes/trails and roads. In addition, Wales possesses
copious national parks, urban parks, country parks, nature reserves, areas of
outstanding natural beauty, coastal paths, forest and much more. The launch
of Let's Walk Cymru aims to get more people using these more often." Brisk
walking had many health benefits according to the walking team which included
weight loss, lower cholesterol levels, reduced stress and reduced risk of
strokes and heart disease. The
spokesperson went on: "People of all ages and abilities have the
opportunity to develop a life-long positive approach to health and fitness by
simply stepping out on to their doorsteps and exploring the natural
environment around them." Countryside
Council for Wales to co-ordinate multi-million pound investment in Wales'
footpaths, cycletracks and bridleways A
sum of £2 million is to be invested in upgrading and improving pathways, cycle
trackways and bridlepaths throughout the Principality in the next few years. The
Countryside Council for Wales will be co-ordinating the whole venture which
will be run as part of the Communities and Nature Project (CAN). The
council is currently looking for outside organisations to bid for some of the
money to then carry out the improvement work. Apart
from the physical improvement of the paths, money will also be given for waymarking
and interpretation work, provision of benches, picnic tables and bird hides
in addition to the production of various marketing materials to encourage
people to make the most of the path network across the country. For
more details email can@ccw.gov.uk or contact 01248 387369. Moreover
a total of £15 million is being spent on developing an all Wales Coast Path
by the Welsh Assembly. Due
to open officially in 2012, the 850 mile pathway is developed and upgraded by
coastal county authorities throughout Wales. Once
complete, the pathway will stretch from Flintshire in North East Wales to
Monmouthshire in the South East. Currently
£50,000 is being spent on a routeway around the Little Orme near Llandudno,
Conwy, and great care is being taken to make it accessible to wheelchair
users. Re-discover the natural world at the
Coed-y-Brenin Visitors
to Glyn-yr-Aur can go on a voyage of discovery into the natural world thanks
to the Woodland Trust or Coed Cadw as it is called in Wales. The
trust, which was formed in 1972, with the sole aim of restoring and
increasing Britain's native woodland, is appealing to people from all walks
of life to take part in its annual survey of woodland, wildlife and their
habitats. The
main aim of this survey, which in recent years has been championed by the BBC
in its Autumnwatch and Springwatch TV shows, is to understand and recognise
emerging trends and patterns in the natural environment and biosphere. And
visitors to Glyn-yr-Aur can readily devote part of their time to the trust's
work by helping take down naturally occurring events such as the flowering of
the first bluebells, sightings of red kites and various kinds of butterflies
and birds, when they're say out walking, cycling or bird-watching in the
Coed-y-Brenin or Coed Cadw sites nearby.
A
spokesperson for the trust said: "Anyone can take part and help record
the changing seasons. "There's
lots to look out for such as trees, flower, birds, insects, amphibians and
fungi.
"You
can record one event or many. Recording means keeping your eyes open for
seasonal events and noting the dates as you observe them. "It
could mean noting the first ladybird or swallow seen in your garden in
spring, or the first blackberry in your local wood in autumn. "You
don't have to be an expert to take part and lots of help is given, including
a nature identification booklet that you receive when you register." To
sign up and register for free, people should first go to the Woodland Trust's
website at www.naturescalender.org.uk. Then people should enter their
findings online so that data is kept as up-to-the-minute as possible. The
Woodland Trust has more than 100 sites across Wales, and several border the
Coed y Brenin. Two worth seeking out are the Coed Aber Eden, near Ganllwyd
and off the A470, and also the Coed Llanelltyd, just outside Dolgellau.
People can venture here to go on a fact-finding mission for the trust or
alternatively just take in any part of the Coed-y-Brenin or Snowdonia
National Park. They can also keep up their observations when they return from
holiday and note natural flora and fauna in their own back garden. Importance of the annual survey The
trust says that its annual survey has become increasingly important in a bid
to monitor the effects of climate change, which it believes is a topic that's
still ignored by far too many people today. From
its research alone, the group has found that warmer winters, due to climate
change, have already started to affect wild flowers, plants, birds and trees.
Essentially,
when plants and flowers bloom earlier, they put the whole eco-system and food
chain into turmoil. Birds for example, have set mating times and so forth,
and it has been found in Oxfordshire that some small birds are no longer able
to rely on peak caterpillar numbers when their eggs hatch in spring. Species
and plants are interdependent, and they are no longer in synchrony says the
trust, and this is having all too devastating an effect. Once
dominant trees, it warns, will make way for ones that are more suited to
warmer weather. Sycamore and oak will now reportedly become more prevalent
across the landscape and bluebells and snowdrops could be replaced by garlic
mustard and cow parsley - which are able to leaf earlier due to the milder
winters that have been experienced in recent times. In
its Spring 2009 newsletter, the trust noted that since 2001, the budburst of
trees has been happening 11.9 days earlier, and reached a peak of 12.5 days
earlier in the spring of 2009. Also
on 22 April 2009, speckled woodland butterflies were said to emerge nearly
three weeks earlier than normal because of the unseasonably warm weather
experienced in March of that year. The
trust believes the evidence is quite clear that much more needs to be done to
arrest the effects of climate change, and it wants to galvanise people to
reduce their carbon footprint and live more sustainably in a bid to save the
environment. A
spokesperson added: "We all need to live within the planet's means,
urgently reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, and sustain our environment by
working with the grain of nature. "The
variation of timing between species remains disturbingly evident, with all
taxa changing at very different rates relative to 2001; plants about 10 days
earlier, insects 2 weeks earlier and bird activity (migration and breeding
about a week earlier)." Climate
change was not a problem, it adds, until the onset of the Industrial
Revolution circa 1750 and the wide scale burning of fossil fuels. This has
seen an explosion of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which ensures that heat
from the sun remains trapped there at ever greater intensities and so gives
rise to global warming. The trust believes it will take at least 1000 years
to get carbon dioxide levels back to much more sustainable levels, and if
people and governments do not take action, then freak weather patterns,
flooding, a rise in sea levels will become more prevalent as well as the
much-feared apocalyptical devastation they could leave in their wake. So
in a bid to help the environment, or to give a walk or family day out a whole
new impetus, why not join the Woodland Trust and take part its Nature's
Calendar survey? To find out more go to either of the following websites:
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk or www.naturescalendar.org.uk.
Wales is one of the UK's top holiday destinations according to new survey by the Welsh Assembly A massive number of
visitors to Wales rate it very highly as a holiday or leisure destination according
to a new survey by the Welsh Assembly. In a 2009 survey of
5,601 people, 92% of the respondents said they went away with a very positive
impression of the Principality and would rate their trip or stay as very good
or excellent. It seems that most
people now view Wales as the ideal short break destination with a whopping
45% of people revealing that was their primary reason for making a visit. Among Wales' biggest
attractions was the natural environment and the landscape, which was just
ahead of stately homes and heritage sites as a major motive for travelling
there. Other aspects of
holidaying in Wales that scored highly were the quality of the accommodation
and the welcome received from friendly locals and residents. Additionally, 70% of those
who were interviewed said they would definitely visit Wales again in the next
few years, while 86% said they would also recommend holidaying there to
family and friends. Wales' Minister for
Heritage, Alun Ffred Jones, added: "I am delighted and encouraged by the
positive responses people have given to their stay in Wales. "This survey
provides vital information on why and how people visit Wales and what their
experiences are whilst they're here. "This survey shows
that the friendliness of the people and the welcome received were among the
best features of visiting Wales. Courses like this will ensure we maintain
this high standard and can offer people the best possible experience during
their stay."
Step back in time to
the Elizabethan era this summer when Caernarfon Castle plays host to
Shakespearean group, the Lord Chamberlain's Men London-based
Shakespearean acting group, the Lord Chamberlain's Men will be bringing their
rendition of The Tempest to Caernarfon on Wednesday 23 June 2010. The group, which was
founded in 2004, has gone from strength to strength from its humble
beginnings and now employs four full-time staff as well as a wide range of
actors. The all male cast
typically tours many castle venues and stately homes across the country and
are said to be eager to offer an authentic as possible interpretation of
Shakespeare's many different plays. Shakespeare himself was
part of a theatre group in his hey-day also called the Lord Chamberlain's
Men, and the group was said to be a personal favourite of Queen Elizabeth I. Guardians of Caernarfon
Castle, Cadw, believe that the castle will provide a more than sympathetic
setting for the play which features the travails of Italian magician and
nobleman Prospero and his daughter Miranda. The chief character,
Prospero was said to have been denied his birthright as the Duke of Milan, in
this play produced by Shakespeare somewhere around 1610. His brother Antonio and
the King of Naples Alonso reportedly conspired against him to force him into
exile with his young daughter Miranda. According to the text,
he ends up on an island said to be far away from humanity, and somehow, using
black magic, some 12 years later, he is able to raise a storm or a tempest so
that his erstwhile enemies and their family end up stranded with him. Ferdinand, the son of
King Alonso is among the party and eventually falls in love with Miranda and
much of the story centres around their romance. And the forces of good,
Ariel, and of evil, Caliban, interact with the characters to bring a treasure
trove of twists and turns to the story. A modern day version of
the play is said to be the 1956 screen hit, the Forbidden Planet which
starred Walter Pidgeon as Prospero or Professor Morbius and Anne Francis as
the Miranda character or Altaira. In this particular incidence, they have
been banished to a remote planet called Altair IV. For more information
please ring 01492 872000. Ticket prices range from £8.50 to £12.50, and the
performance begins at 7.30pm on Wednesday 23 June 2010. Re-enactment
groups bring an authentic slice of Medieval Britain to world famous heritage
sites around the Principality 'Fights, knights and
other delights' are promised at a wide range of heritage sites this season
throughout the Principality. A range of re-enactment
groups from England and Wales will be trying to bring the spirit of the
Medieval Britain to the masses at local castles on bank holiday weekends and
other peak times in the year. Sheffield-based
re-enactment group Escafeld, will be appearing at Caernarfon Castle on Sunday
30 May and Monday 31 May to give people an intriguing insight into a typical
13th century tourney. Begun in the city of
Sheffield in 1973, the group 's name Escafeld is actually the old Anglo-Saxon
word for the city, and over the centuries it has morphed into its present-day
form. The society's main
mission is to educate and entertain people about courtly life between 1250 to
1300, which coincidentally happens to cover most of the reign of Edward I. At this particular time
in history, the bloody imitation battles that were a feature of earlier
tournaments made way for less brutal events such as jousts and one-on-one
combat - often with blunted weapons. They were also mostly held before an
audience of ladies whose favours were sought by individual knights or
champions. A spokesperson further
explained: "Throughout the season we travel across the country doing
shows for different organisations. These can be large events such as the work
we do for Cadw in many of their castles; Caernarfon is one that is a
particular favourite of ours. "Foremost among the
roles is that of the fighting knight. They form the core of the tournament
and are the only members allowed to fight with steel in open conflict." Archery displays are
also a distinctive part of the programme in addition to talks, crafts and
skills displays. And many members just simply join in to portray typical
members of Medieval society from noblemen and women to serfs. To find out
more about the society, please go to www.escafeld.org.uk Meanwhile, longstanding
local living history group, the Harlech Medieval Society will be taking its
many lords, knights and ladies on an outings to Harlech, Caernarfon and
Criccieth throughout 2010. Again expert
swordsmanship, archery and craft displays will on be showcased throughout
those days. Begun in 1984, the group
initially began in a bid to bring tourists to Harlech and its surrounding
area. Since then, the group has expanded its annual itinerary and now travels
as far as Ireland and Northumberland with its top ranking show. The proverbial 'Men of
Harlech' will be appearing at Caernarfon Castle on 4 and 5 April, at Harlech
Castle on 30 and 31 May and at the Criccieth Pageant on 7 August. For more
details about the society and its work, please go to the following website: http://www.harlechknights.com/. Cancer
charity looking for triathletes to help with its fundraising Extreme sports
enthusiasts are being actively recruited by Welsh cancer charity Tenovus for
one of its major fundraising drives this summer. On 3 July 2010, the
charity will be organising a challenging triathlon around Bala Lake in a bid
to raise funds for its telephone helpline, scientific research, outreach
advice and mobile screening. The event, dubbed 70
Wild Miles Bala, will involve 47 miles of cycling, 10 miles of kayaking and
13 miles of running for the final stages of the challenge. The route and location
for the various events also just happen to be a short drive away from our own
holiday cottage, Glyn-yr-aur. Anyone visiting our
cottage, who feels fit enough to rise to the challenge, could easily register
for the event and galvanise everyone they know to sponsor them for taking
part. A spokesperson said all
the money raised would go towards the charity's work, and that the event was
a great team building opportunity or a chance for people to put their
capabilities to the test. She went on: "Today
46 people in Wales will be told they have cancer. We want to make a
difference to these people and their family by delivering cancer treatment
and support in their local communities. "With your support,
we can lauch our mobile cancer support unit which will deliver chemotherapy,
practical and emotional support, provide cancer screening and help us raise awareness
of cancer in local communities." The charity also wants
to set up local support centres with the funds it raises through the
triathlon and other similar events. They would also like to launch a PhD
studentship programme to support talented scientists in discovering ways to
avoid and cure cancer. Factfile Tenovus The charity
Tenovus was actually formed in 1943 by ten Cardiff businessman who helped
support a wide range of charity projects in the local area. They would
typically donate say a washing machine to a disabled widow with seven
children. In the 1960s
however, the charity began to concentrate solely on cancer research and came
to build the Tenovus Institute for Cancer Research in Cardiff. The charity says
its scientists developed the use of Tamoxifen to treat breast cancer and
Zoldex to treat prostate cancer. The charity has
also built up a system of cancer support services including its freephone
cancer support line tel: 0808 808 1010. New
Snowdon summit cafe ready to welcome visitors An all new £8.4 million
summit cafe is primed and ready to welcome walkers, climbers and day-trippers
to the very highest sections of Snowdon at over 3,560 ft. The new cafe or Caffi y
Copa will be open from 8.00am to 8.00pm from March to October in 2010 whether
people reach the mountain's highest peak on foot or use the Snowdonia
Mountain Railway. It forms part of the new
visitors centre at the summit or Hafod Eryri, which took over three years to
build, was officially opened by Welsh Assembly First Minister, Rhodri Morgan
in the middle of last year. He climbed the mountain
as part of the opening ceremony and unveiled a commemorative plaque in front
of assembled guests and reporters. He commented at the time
that Snowdon was one of the wonders of Wales and that the new visitors centre
did justice to the proud and very ancient mountain. The centre, which was
constructed mainly out of granite, was designed to blend in with the
surrounding landscape, and to cope with the extreme weather conditions that can
often occur at such great heights, particularly at night and in winter. It
also acts as a terminus for the Snowdonia Mountain Railway and contains a
souvenir shop, Siop y Copa, and a tourist information section. The centre's opening was
undoubtedly a major milestone in the overall history of the mountain and
Snowdonia National park according to the park's chairman, Caerwyn Roberts. He said the new building
had replaced an older version, affectionately known as the highest slum in
Wales by Prince Charles. Originally designed by
the owner of Portmeirion, Sir Clough Willliams-Ellis, it was constructed in
1935 and had much less in the way of facilities than the newer, hardier
version. Mr Roberts added:
"Five years ago, the authority decided to commit the equivalent of its
entire annual budget to one project, a project located 3,500ft up at the top
of a mountain. "If it wasn't for
the determination and the perseverance of staff members, and especially the
builders, we wouldn't be here today and therefore I sincerely thank
them." For more details about
the centre and the Snowdonia Mountain Railway please go to the following
website: www.snowdonrailway.co.uk Bottlenose dolphins
strike out at nuisance jellyfish in Cardigan Bay The beaches and coastal
areas near our holiday cottage Glyn-yr-Aur are typically teeming with
tourists during the peak holiday season of the year. However, tourists of
quite a different kind have been making Cardigan Bay their home in
ever-increasing numbers according to marine biologists local to the area. Researchers for the
Countryside Council for Wales, Sea Watch Foundation and Marine Awareness
North Wales have found that up to 250 bottlenose dolphins can typically be
found in Tremadog Bay and the surrounding area. They are said to be
attracted by the plentiful sea-born food supply and also favour the area as a
breeding ground and for raising their young. While out following a
school of dolphins, researchers were amazed at their strength, stamina and
acrobatic swimming abilities. With a motorboat
trailing them quite far out to sea, the research team were entertained by the
dolphins' diving, jumping and other such antics. In particular they
watched in barely concealed delight as the dolphins flipped any jelly fish in
their path out of the way with a determined swish of their tails. This behaviour had never
been captured on film before said the team, who, as part of their research,
try to track individual dolphins from year to year to study them more
closely. The overall number of
dolphins in Cardigan Bay can reportedly fluctuate each season, and sometimes
certain areas are more popular than others, and long-standing visitors are
replaced by newcomers. Survey team member
Jonathan Easter said: "We were studying individual dolphins in Welsh
waters and got more than we expected. We were provided with a privileged
insight into the lives and behaviour of bottlenose dolphins around Wales, and
were presented with more questions than answers." Help
local conservation group preserve and maintain Snowdonia's natural beauty,
landscape and wildlife Cleaning up
Snowdonia and maintaining its natural beauty will be top of the agenda for
local conservation group, the Snowdonia Society throughout 2010. The group, which
recently received a significant boost to its funds, hopes many more people
will become involved in its series of volunteer days in a bid preserve the
area's varied wildlife and landscape. Every Monday at the
group's headquarters at Ty Hyll or the Ugly House at Capel Curig, volunteers
will meet at 10.00am to work on the surrounding 5 acre garden. A spokesperson
said: "Our regular gardeners are ensuring that the 5 acres of woodland
and terraced gardens are welcoming to wildlife and visitors alike. They
always need more help, so do come along and get involved. They are a very
sociable group!" Volunteer days also
take place on the first Tuesday of every month from April to October, and all
those interested in taking part could be involved in repairing footpaths one
day for example, or clearing local areas of litter, or cutting back plants
and undergrowth on the next. A spokesperson
further explained: "Over the coming months Conservation Volunteering
will tackle many of the issues impacting on our environment. We will respond
to eyesores as they arise, with litter pickups and repairs to footpaths, and
continue with our longstanding initiatives such as removing rhododendron from
the Bryn Gwynant Youth Hostel and litter from Harlech Beach on our Annual
Clean Up. "This is already
shaping up to be a busy season and we need as many volunteers as possible, so
if you have not volunteered in the past or have reduced your activities over
recent years, do come and see what we have on offer." Visitors to Glyn-yr-Aur
who are interested in combining their holiday with some conservation work,
should contact 01690 720287 or go to www.snowdonia-society.org.uk or try
contacting it via this e-mail mailto:volunteer@snowdonia-society.org.uk The first Tuesday
volunteer workdays in 2010 are as follows: 6 April, 4 May, 1
June, 6 July, 3 August, 7 September and 5 October. Woodland Trust says more trees will ensure a brighter future The Woodland Trust is warning
that Britain's landscape is changing for the worst, and that since the Second
World War the UK's wooded areas have fallen to record low levels. According to the trust,
Wales, England and Scotland are among the least wooded areas in the whole of
Europe. And as such, it believes, tree planting needs to double from now on
in a bid to preserve the environment and fight the potentially lethal effects
of climate change. Trust Chief Executive,
Sue Holdon revealed that just 12 per cent of the UK was covered in forest and
woodland, compared to an average of 44 per cent across other countries within
the European Union. The trust, which has
300,000 committed members, has been campaigning for the preservation of
Britain's woodland since 1972 ever since Devon farmer, Kenneth Watkins,
started the charity from his kitchen table. His main reason for
starting his preservation society was to stop Britain's woodland from
declining at the alarming rate it had been, since the Second World War. Ms Holdon believes his
campaigning spirit was needed now more than ever before, especially to arrest
the rise in carbon in the atmosphere, which she stressed more tree planting
would readily combat. She went on: "Over
the last 10 years, the area of new broad-leaved trees planted each year has
been slashed by almost two thirds from 13,500 hectares in 2000-2001 to just
4,700 hectares in 2008-9. "New native trees
and woodland would help make existing habitats more resilient. They would
also substantially improve water quality, reduce flooding, counter air
pollution and cool our towns and cities. "If an extra four
per cent of the UK's land area was planted with trees (23,000 ha per annum)
it would lock up to 10 per cent of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions by the
year 2050. The time for action is now." For those wanting to
join the trust's latest campaign, it would be more than grateful to receive
donations through its website at woodlandtrust.org.uk, so its tree-planting
programme can continue in earnest. Moreover, the trust would encourage people to plant a native, broad-leaved sapling in their own back garden, because this too would bring about significant environmental benefits. People can find out more at woodlandtrustshop.com/native-trees. The Coed-y-Brenin, where
our holiday cottage Glyn-yr-Aur is based, is among one of the few areas in
the country where there is a high concentration of woodland and coniferous
forest. In recent years, a firm decision has been made by the Forestry
Commission Wales to seriously scale back the existing conifer-rich terrain,
and to reintroduce the ancient broadleaved trees that once thrived there,
such as oak, sycamore and beech. Several acres close to
our cottage have seen the widescale removal of conifers, firs, spruce and
evergreens, and substantial planting with hardwoods which in years to come
will return some of the area to its natural state. A sum of 2.3 million is
being spent throughout Wales in a bid to see this and other similar ventures
come to fruition. Forestry Commission Project
Manager, Kath McNulty explained: "Ancient woodlands are part of the
Welsh national heritage and are as important in their own way as Caernarfon
Castle or St David's Cathedral. They are among our most important habitats
and provide homes for birds and animals, including some of our most
threatened UK species. "Our overall
objective is to turn back the clock and return plantations on ancient
woodland sites to their natural glory." The exact location for
the large-scale clearing of pine forests is in Cwmesian woods, near
Glyn-yr-Aur and in the heart of the Coed-y-Brenin forest. The project is
being part financed by ROFI (Reclaiming Our Forgotten Inheritance programme)
and funds from the European Union and the Forestry Commission itself. As part of its wide-ranging
conservation work, the Woodland Trust (Coed Cadw) is also waging a vociferous
campaign to preserve the 1000 acre Cwm Mynach valley which borders the
Coed-y-Brenin, near Barmouth. The largely
coniferous-strewn topography is currently in the ownership of the RSPB, who
has reportedly agreed to sell the site for the reduced price of £850,000. A fund-raising campaign
was launched by the trust in early 2009, at the height of the credit crunch.
But despite this, offers of support and money poured in. The fund-raising total
stood at £700,000 in November 2009, which was £150,000 short of the
necessary target to buy the lease and manage the area for the immediate
future. A spokesperson for Coed
Cadw said: "The site is a global hidden gem. Fragments of native
woodland doggedly remain despite the dominance of conifers, and the
prevailing damp conditions help mosses, liverworts and lichens to thrive.
With help we can gradually remove the conifers and protect the pockets of
native trees by planting oak, ash and rowan. "We always realised
that 2009 was going to be a very tough year to launch an appeal like this.
But we recognised that the opportunity to reestablish native woodland
throughout almost an entire valley was an opportunity we simply couldn't miss.
We owe a huge debt of gratitude to everyone who has contributed. The race is
now on to raise the remainder of the money." The trust has garnered
nation-wide support and is still campaigning to raise the remainder of the money,
despite a fundraising deadline being set of January 2010. Bush craft instructor
Heath Dawson, who runs regular courses in the Coed-y-Brenin, has also become
a vocal supporter and advocate of the Cwm Mynach appeal. He believes by restoring
the native woodland, more wild food such as bilberries and burdock root will
be available for people to collect and use as part of their natural diet. He went on:
"Everyday we eat the finest foods from around the world, yet there is
nothing like a wild food forager's diet. It provides a sense of connection,
appreciation and nourishment on many levels. "When you start to
use natural resources like berries and trees, to depend on them, you start to
value and cherish them. This is the true wellspring of environmental concern
and stewardship." To make a donation to
support this particular cause, please go to www.woodlandtrust.org.uk FROM COUCH POTATO TO FITNESS PRO IN A FEW EASY STEPS If completing a
triathlon when visiting Snowdonia seems like an impossible and unimaginable
dream, then a local fitness expert says people might be more capable than
they first thought. Anne Fuller,
co-ordinator of the annual Harlech triathlon (which is run close to our
holiday cottage, Glyn-yr-aur), believes athletes and marathon runners are
never really born, but can be self-taught. On her the triathlon's
website, she guides people through a series of training techniques that she
believes should see visitors and holiday-makers competing in a triathlon in
no time at all. Anne, who has been a
contender in tri-events for the last 20 years, says beginners could be ready
for the 9 May Harlech revelry if they persevere with her useful and
insightful guide. For the Harlech event,
competitors will be expected to swim 400m (16 lengths of a pool), cycle 30 km
and run across 6.5km of mixed terrain - which will include a 1:4 climb to
Harlech Castle and the finish line in the adjoining square. Anne believes people can
readily make such great strides if they take small but persistent steps at
the very start of their training. In her article, Beginner
to Finisher, which can be found at
http://harlechtriathlon.users.btopenworld.com/main.htm, she advises people to
concentrate first on technique, and then on building strength and stamina. For would-be runners,
she claims people should not expect to be world class ranking from the
outset, and should try to build their speed over time. She explains: "When
you first start running your initial aim should be to increase the length of
time which you can run. Very few people can go straight out and run for more
than a few minutes, but by mixing running and walking it is possible to cover
a reasonable distance. "Start by running
for 30 seconds and then walk for 90 seconds - repeat this nine more times for
a total of 20 minutes. Repeat this session at least 2-3 times per week.
Progess to running for 45 seconds and walking for 75, again the total time
should be 20 minutes. "Move to 60/60
75/45 and then 90/30 - eventually you will be able to run for several minutes
at a time between walking breaks and finally run for 20 minutes without
stopping. "When you are
running keep taking the 'talk test' - if you can't hold a conversation
without gasping or feeling out of breath, you should slow down. "Concentrate on
going further, not harder. Once you have achieved 20 minutes of running use
the same principle to build up to 30 minutes and then increase to 40, 50 and
60. Increasing your endurance is your first priority. Once you can run for
40+ minutes, you can start thinking about improving your speed and strength.
Aim for at least twice your anticipated race distance." She also offers similar
advice for achieving the required fitness levels in the cycling and swimming
sections. People would need to be
able to swim 20 lengths without stopping, preferably using a front crawl
style, to be in with a chance of finishing a triathlon. Once they can can
swim 50 lengths without any difficulty in one session, then they should
seriously consider filling in an application form. To achieve the necessary
level for cyclists, people should be able to cycle up hill and down dale for
at least 2 hours. The keys to success, she believes, are an ability to ride
for a serious length of time, in addition to a capacity to climb steep hills,
to corner well and to stay focused on difficult descents. To find out more about
the Harlech Triathlon, people should go to:
http://harlechtriathlon.users.btopenworld/main.htm. They can also e-mail Anne
at anne.fuller@harlechtriathlon.org.uk or phone Derek Bowley on 0775 4596701. Our holiday cottage,
Glyn-yr-Aur, would also make for a perfect base camp for those wishing to
compete in the said event, or indeed any of the other running races listed on
our Events calendar. The Coed-y-Brenin, where
we live, offers the ultimate in outdoors green gyms. With its myriad of
forest tracks and trails, it provides an excellent training ground for those
wanting to improve their running and cycling. And those wanting to develop
their swimming skills, should head along to the leisure centres at the nearby
towns of Dolgellau, Bala and Harlech. To find out more about booking our
cottage, please ring us on 01341 440611 or e-mail us at
onygena@tiscali.co.uk. Your landlord is also a
keen fell-runner and takes part in several of the local events that are
organised in Snowdonia and the surrounding area each year. For more details
about race times and dates check out the following websites: www.wfra.org.uk
or www.brodysynniac.com. Our Events section also lists most of the races
organised locally. Go Green in Snowdonia The Snowdonia Society is
encouraging all visitors to Wales to 'leave only footprints and to take only
photographs' in a renewed drive to cultivate sustainable tourism. As part of an ongoing
awareness campaign, the society is pressing holiday-makers and day-trippers
to ensure that their sojourns into the area leave no destructive or
devastating effects. A spokesperson further
explained: "Visiting fragile environments like Snowdonia inevitably
threaten those aspects which make it unique. "Sensitive
ecological communities, unspoilt landscapes and a sense of tranquility are
all threatened by increased numbers of visitors and the infrastructure
required to support them. "But don't despair!
You can take simple steps to reduce the impact of your holiday. If everyone
makes more efforts to become sustainable, then the natural wilderness will
still be here to enthral and support future generations." Among the most important
issues to address, says the society, is the overcrowding at the most popular
landmarks and towns and villages such as Llanberis, Snowdon and Betws-y-Coed. A large influx of
visitors to these areas, it believes, ultimately erodes and damages the
landscape, and it would now exhort holiday-makers and to seek out the less
well known areas as a matter of course. Interestingly, the
Coed-y-Brenin, where our holiday cottage, Glyn-yr-aur is located, is among
the lesser known regions, and as such provides an excellent alternative to
the more over-run, tourist hot-spots. And to really help the
local environment, the society also advises people to use local transport
wherever possible and to walk, cycle or run in place of using the car. About a third of the
26,000 people that currently live in Snowdonia rely heavily on tourism as
industry a spokesperson said. And by supporting the local economy by shopping
there and buying the wonderfully fresh, local produce, people would ensure
the long-term survival of these struggling communities. And finally, the society
would urge people to remember the environmentalist's common mantra of:
reduce, reuse and recycle when and wherever they venture out and about. Additionally, the
society wants to stress it has no wish to deter people from visiting
Snowdonia, but believes the region needs careful management in order for its
unique and unspoilt character to be preserved. Futhermore, it is always
great for public support and donations, and is particularly eager for people
to volunteer for its series of conservation days. To support the society or
become a member or volunteer, please visit the following website:
www.snowdonia-society.org.uk. Snowdonia might be
becoming too exclusive an address, says the Snowdonia Society, who believe
that the National Park Authority's planning policy might be a little too
strict. According to the
society's review for 2008/9, only 50-55 new houses a year are to be permitted
in the national park from now until 2022. And most of these new builds are
expected to be around Bala and Dolgellau, where open market housing is to be
generally allowed. Only affordable housing
that meets local needs would be approved in other districts of the region. However, the society
feels that this might be too few a number to meet the growing demand for
housing from local people. It also believes that planners needed to
prioritise sustainable tourism in the area, because it directly boosts local
jobs and the park's economy. A spokesperson added:
"We want it to be possible for families to bring up children in the
national park and keep communities alive. "We are concerned
that the term affordable housing (in the local development plan) is not
rigorously defined and there is no adequate mechanism to ensure housing justified
as meeting local needs does not leak into the open market. "We have not
opposed allowing new housing to meet such needs outside housing development
boundaries, but the circumstances in which that will be allowed must be set
out more clearly and precisely." |
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