Volunteer Diaries - Lawrie

Volunteer Diaries - Lawrie

We arrived in Radnorshire in 2019 nearly three years ago now, having moved up from the south Coast. I had always volunteered in the retail side of the RSPB and was looking for a change.

RWT was setting up a small team to work at the small reserve of Cefn Cenarth and I was pleased to be a part of the promotion and maintenance of this beautiful if largely unknown and unvisited place.

Under the enthusiastic leadership of Phoebe I have been involved in many interesting and sometimes exhausting projects such as Gate installation, fence repairs Bird box mapping and installing an as yet unfinished cycle rack. My knowledge of other types of wildlife such as the many fungi, plants lichens and trees which grow there was poor but being part of the team  has helped me widen my knowledge and understanding of the environment as well as meeting and joking with the other volunteers and RWT staff who were involved with the project.

Volunteering at Cefn Cenarth has given me an enormous sense of pride and satisfaction which undoubtedly helps my mental health as well as getting me out of more mundane jobs back home.

The installation of the information boards which now stand proudly at the summit marked the end of the project which was a little sad but I will go and visit as volunteer warden to make sure the hill is kept in good order.

Volunteering has also helped me with my knowledge of the area in which I now live and hope to make a difference in supporting wildlife and the protection of what’s left of the natural beauty of Mid Wales.

Author: Lawrie

Cefn Cenarth gate