1 August 2008
Devil’s Bridge community group scoops prestigious Royal Welsh Show Woodland Award
Coed y Bobol is new woodland, created on the site of an abandoned conifer plantation which had been clearfelled. It was one of 250 new woods created around the UK as part of the Woodland Trust’s Woods On Your Doorstep project to celebrate the Millennium. Under the careful management of the Woodland Trust and the Coed y Bobol community group, the wood has seen the return of the rare Pearl Fritillary butterfly.
Coed y Bobol is unique in Wales as a Coed Cadw wood managed by a community group, with the agreement of the Trust.
Ettie Wigfall, a member of the Coed y Bobol group says: “We’re delighted that our work has been recognised by the Royal Welsh Show and that the judges appreciated just how far the wood has progressed since the site was an abandoned clearfell site. As a group, we’re always had a strong feeling about protecting an improving the local environment, alongside our concern for the global environment.”
She adds: “We’re particularly proud that we’ve been able to involve young people in our work as much as we have. There are around 8-16 young people who regularly roll their sleeves up to help with the conservation work. They seem to enjoy coming whatever the weather!”
Hannah Scrase, who manages Coed y Bobol on behalf of Coed Cadw (the Woodland Trust) says: “The Coed y Bobol group are especially successful at involving young volunteers in woodland conservation and management. It is great news that their efforts have been recognised in this way.”
The Coed y Bobol group is very proud of the way in which the wood’s wildlife value has increased in recent years. The rare Pearl Fritillary butterfly has been seen at the site, as well as the kite and even the golden eagle, which has been observed over-flying the site, possibly on its way to Cwmystwyth.
Like almost all Coed Cadw woods, Coed y Bobol is open for anyone to visit at any time, for free. It now has its own website at:
www.wt-woods.org.uk/coedybobol This includes a range of information about the site and its management, including an interactive map.
For media enquiries contact:
Rory Francis (Publicity and Public Affairs Officer for Wales) on 01766 832563 or 07760 171174
Afallon, Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd LL41 3RH
Email roryfrancis@woodland-trust.org.uk
Or The Woodland Trust Press Office email media@woodland-trust.org.uk or Tel 01476 581121
A digital image of Loretta Wigfall receiving the award can be downloaded here. This can be downloaded at higher resolution by clicking on the “All sizes” button just above the image, and then selecting the “Original” option.
Editor’s Notes
Coed Cadw (The Woodland Trust)
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters. The Trust has four key aims: i) No further loss of ancient woodland; ii) Restoring and improving the biodiversity of woods; iii) Increasing new native woodland; iv) Increasing people’s awareness and enjoyment of woodland.
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). These include over 100 sites in Wales, with a total area of 1,580 hectares (3,900 acres). It offers free public access to nearly all of its sites. Further news can be accesed via this website. The Trust adopted its Welsh language name in 2000: “Coed Cadw”. This is an old Welsh term, used in medieval laws to describe protected or preserved woodland.
