**Scroll down for Welsh** **Rholiwch i lawr i weld y testun Cymraeg**
Thank you Gwirvol!
The Snowdonia Society,
were lucky enough to secure funding from Gwirvol from last April, to enable us
to provide transport for young volunteers aged 14-25 to allow them to attend
workdays. Transport in a rural area such
as Snowdonia can be a real barrier to volunteering and the money from Gwirvol
has allowed over 40 young people to get involved in our workdays. Young people from a variety of backgrounds
have taken part in a number of tasks ranging from controlling invasive
species such as Himalayan balsam and Rhododendron to footpath maintenance, scrub
clearance and tree planting.
Katie is a
volunteer from Bangor University who has benefited from the transport provided
for workdays. Katie says “the workdays are held regularly and provide
a valuable opportunity for students and community members alike to gain skills
and knowledge in a practical sense that is not always available at a class room
level. I look forward to future events
and believe that these skills gained will assist me in my future endeavours.”
Katie first volunteered
with the society in October, where she attended a bioblitz at Ty Hyll, the
Snowdonia Society’s property near Betws y Coed. A Bioblitz is where volunteers
and experts come together to record as many species as possible, whilst giving
volunteers the opportunity to learn new skills such as moth, fungi and plant
identification. Transport was provided allowing Katie and other young
volunteers to access the site easily.
Over the weekend, informal training in plant identification was given to
young volunteers by a local expert as well as volunteers having the opportunity
to foray for fungi, hunt for frogs and toads and identify moths with the help
of experts. On the day a very rare fungi
was found, as well as a plant species which was new to the site. Overall a successful weekend!
More recently, Katie
attended a tree planting workday with the society, again at Ty Hyll. Below is her account of the day:
'The day first appeared as one that may become
unfavourable to those who chose to spend this Sunday morning getting their
hands dirty in the name of conservation. But! Our nature seeking hearts
remained full as we were graciously chauffeured to the most beautiful 'Ugly
House' to meet our fellow brave supporters. The turn out was impressive and the
right gear was chosen. We were briefed with our tree planting duties and
encouraged for our passion and resilience against the elements as we geared up
with shovels, guards, and an assortment of young saplings, itching to find a
new home. We were led by the infamous Margaret; an inspiring veteran with 20
years of service. Placement is everything and she held the knowledge and
intuition that allows our digging to be made worthwhile. Jenny was also on our
side particularly as we faced onsets of hail, rain and finally sunshine. All
members were of great importance and an integral part of our experience. The
trees were planted, alongside a class of worthy winter tree identification and
the feeling of accomplishment began to overwhelm us. Our ride was reliably
waiting and I left feeling light and happy. These volunteer days are invaluable
to both its participants and the earth'
The Snowdonia Society
would like to take this opportunity to thank Gwirvol, on behalf of all our
young volunteers, for the funding which has allowed us to make such a
difference to young volunteers in this area.
Katie’s is just one of the positive stories which has come about because
of the funding, young people have been able to access volunteering
opportunities which would have been difficult/ impossible for them to without
the provision of transport. Thank you
Gwirvol!
Diolch Gwirvol!
Bu Cymdeithas Eryri yn ddigon ffodus i
gael arian gan Gwirvol fis Ebrill diwethaf i ganiatáu inni ddarparu cludiant i
wirfoddolwyr ifanc 14-25 i alluogi iddynt fynychu ein diwrnodau gwaith. Gall cludiant mewn ardal
wledig megis Eryri fod yn rhwystr go iawn rhag gwirfoddoli, ac mae arian
Gwirvol wedi caniatáu i dros 40 o bobl ifanc gyfranogi yn ein diwrnodau gwaith. Mae pobl ifanc o
gefndiroedd amrywiol wedi cymryd rhan mewn nifer o ddiwrnodau gwaith yn amrywio
o reoli rhywogaethau ymwthiol megis Ffromlys Chwarennog a Rhododendron i gynnal
a chadw llwybrau troed, clirio prysgwydd a phlannu coed.
Mae Katie yn
wirfoddolwraig o Brifysgol Bangor sydd wedi elwa ar y cludiant a drefnir ar
gyfer diwrnodau gwaith. Dywed Katie: “caiff y diwrnodau gwaith eu cynnal
yn rheolaidd ac maent yn gyfle gwerthfawr i fyfyrwyr ac aelodau’r gymuned i
feithrin sgiliau a gwybodaeth mewn ystyr ymarferol ac nid yw hynny bob amser ar
gael yn yr ystafell ddosbarth. Edrychaf ymlaen at ddigwyddiadau’r dyfodol, a chredaf
y gwnaiff y sgiliau a gefais fy nghynorthwyo â fy ymdrechion yn y dyfodol.”
Fe wnaeth Katie gychwyn gwirfoddoli i’r
Gymdeithas ym mis Hydref, pan fynychodd y Bioblitz yn Nhŷ Hyll, eiddo
Cymdeithas Eryri ger Betws y Coed. Mae Bioblitz yn gynulliad o wirfoddolwyr ac arbenigwyr er mwyn cofnodi
cymaint ag y bo modd o rywogaethau, gan roi cyfle i wirfoddolwyr ddysgu sgiliau
newydd megis adnabod gwybed, ffyngau a phlanhigion. Darparwyd cludiant, a alluogodd i Katie a
gwirfoddolwyr ifanc eraill deithio’n rhwydd i’r safle. Dros y penwythnos,
rhoddwyd hyfforddiant anffurfiol mewn adnabod planhigion i bobl ifanc gan
arbenigwr lleol, a chafodd gwirfoddolwyr gyfle i chwilio am ffyngau, hela
llyffantod a brogaod ac adnabod gwybed â chymorth arbenigwyr. Canfuwyd ffwng prin iawn
ar y diwrnod, yn ogystal â rhywogaethau planhigion oedd yn newydd i’r safle. Penwythnos llwyddiannus ar
y cyfan!
Yn fwy diweddar, daeth Katie i weithdy
plannu coed a drefnwyd gan y Gymdeithas, unwaith eto yn Nhŷ Hyll. Mae ei disgrifiad o’r
diwrnod isod:
‘Yn y lle cyntaf,
ymddangosai’r diwrnod fel un a allai ddod yn anffafriol i’r sawl sy’n dymuno
treulio eu bore Sul yn baeddu eu dwylo wrth wneud gwaith cadwraeth. Ond! Codwyd ein calonnau ceisio
natur wrth inni gael ein hebrwng yn garedig i’r ‘Tŷ Hyll’ prydferth iawn i
gwrdd â’n cefnogwyr dewr. Roedd y presenoldeb yn
drawiadol a dewiswyd yr offer priodol. Cawsom eglurhad o’n dyletswyddau plannu coed a
chawsom ein hannog i fod yn frwdfrydig a gwydn yn erbyn yr elfennau wrth inni
fynd i’r afael â rhawiau, amddiffynwyr ac amrywiaeth o lasbrennau ifanc oedd yn
ysu i ganfod cartref newydd. Cawsom ein harwain gan
Margaret, gwirfoddolwraig ysbrydoledig sydd â dros 20 mlynedd o wasanaeth. Mae gwybod lle i osod y
planhigion yn hollbwysig ac roedd ganddi’r wybodaeth a’r sythwelediad a
sicrhaodd fod ein cloddio yn werth chweil. Roedd Jenny hefyd o’n plaid wrth inni wynebu
cenllysg, glaw, ac yn olaf, heulwen. Roedd yr holl aelodau yn bwysig iawn ac yn rhan
anhepgor o’n profiad. Plannwyd yr holl goed, a chafwyd
dosbarth adnabod coed yn y gaeaf, ac fe wnaeth teimlad o fod wedi llwyddo
gychwyn ein gorlethu. Roedd ein cludiant yn ein haros a gadewais yn
teimlo’n ysgafn a llawen. Mae’r diwrnodau
gwirfoddoli yn amhrisiadwy i’r cyfranogwyr a’r ddaear’
Hoffai Cymdeithas Eryri elwa ar y cyfle
i ddiolch i Gwirvol, ar ran ein gwirfoddolwyr ifanc, am yr arian sydd wedi
caniatáu inni wneud cymaint o wahaniaeth i wirfoddolwyr ifanc yn yr ardal. Mae hanes Katie yn un yn
unig o’r straeon positif sydd wedi deillio o’r cyllid. Mae pobl ifanc wedi
llwyddo i elwa ar gyfleoedd gwirfoddoli a fyddai wedi bod yn anodd neu’n
amhosibl iddynt heb ddarparu cludiant. Diolch Gwirvol!
