2 May 2006
Bryn Jacob scoops presigious volunteer of the year award after 30 years of work at Coed Tregib
Bryn will be presented with a copy of Jean Giono’s classic ‘The man who planted trees', which has just been published in Welsh for the first time ever
Bryn Jacob of Salem, near Llandeilo, has scooped the Woodland Trust’s Wales Volunteer of the Year Award, after undertaking work as a voluntary warden at the Trust’s Coed Tregib site for over 30 years! The award, a copy of Jean Giono’s classic book The Man who Planted Trees, which the Trust had had published in Welsh for the first time ever, is to be presented at on Tuesday at Coed Tregib by the Woodland Trust’s Rhydian Roberts, who now manages the site and who nominated Bryn for the award.
Coed Tregib was one of the first sites that the Woodland Trust acquired in Wales, in 1982, and Bryn has been voluntary warden at the site since soon afterwards.
Rhydian Roberts, who now manages the site for the Woodland Trust, says: “Bryn has been a huge help to me during the time I’ve been looking after Coed Tregib. He walks the wood regularly and he can give me a ring whenever there’s a problem. He’s also been an immense help in organising events and activities in Llandeilo, as he seems to know everyone in the area, which is invaluable.”
Bryn Jacob said: “It was a complete surprise to be nominated for this award. I’ve hugely enjoyed the time working for the Trust. It’s given me a great excuse to spend time at Coed Tregib, and I was particularly pleased to be able to help the Trust to acquire an extension to the site in 2004, which has made the wood far more accessible from the town. Everyone involved worked very hard to get the site. I’m very grateful we’ve got it, and it’s marvellous for people to come and see it.”
During 2005, the Woodland Trust’s hard-working volunteers put in an incredible 252,000 hours of work for the Trust. As well as voluntary wardens this includes voluntary speakers, who go out and spread the message about the Trust’s work, photographers, people who do practical conservation work and phenology recorders who record changes in natures calendar. More details of voluntary work for the Trust can be found on the Trust's website.
Following its campaign to extend the site, in 2004, the Trust is creating 12 hectares (32 acres) of new woodland at the site, as an extension to Coed Tregib. Planting took place in during winter 2004-5 and 2005-6, with thousands of volunteers, schoolchildren, Girlguides and cadets planting thousands native trees, mostly alder, willow, oak, ash and assorted shrubs. The planting will extend the existing Coed Tregib towards the town of Llandeilo, making it more accessible for local people. It will also create new habitat for wildlife, particularly otters, as the land concerned lies between the existing Coed Tregib and the River Tywi.
Coed Cadw is very grateful to all the supporters who have made this project possible, particularly The David and Christopher Lewis Foundation, Carmarthen County Council, The Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales, European Union Objective 1, Girl Guiding Cymru, the Carmarthen Journal and the Dyfed Army Cadets.
Like almost all Coed Cadw woods, Coed Tregib is open for anyone to visit at any time, for free. It now has its own website at: www.wt-woods.org.uk/coedtregib This includes a whole range of information about the site and its management, including an interactive map.
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For media enquiries contact:
Rory Francis (Publicity and Public Affairs Officer for Wales) on 07760 171174
Afallon, Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd LL41 3RH
Email roryfrancis@woodland-trust.org.uk
or The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, e-mail media@woodland-trust.org.uk
Notes to editors:
Coed Cadw (The Woodland Trust)
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 250,000 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 from the Woodland Trust in Wales can be accessed at: www.coed-cadw.org.uk The Trust adopted a new Welsh language name in 2000: “Coed Cadw”. This is an old Welsh term, used in medieval laws to describe protected or preserved woodland.
