Growing season

Celebrate the first day of spring this year by planting a tree at Coed Ysgubor Wen, in the Dysynni Valley. Organised by Coed Cadw (The Woodland Trust), this free event is open to anyone and takes place between 11am and 3pm on Saturday 20 March.

Coed Ysgubor Wen is a new wood and a special one; the trees planted there count towards the approximately 32,000 trees that the Welsh Assembly Government is planting to mark every birth and adoption in Wales, as part of its Plant! project. To further boost the event’s eco-cred, there will be no parking at the site. Instead, Coed Cadw are organising a special free shuttle bus service between the wood and the car park in Bryncrug, calling in at Neuadd Egryn in Llanegryn in between and repeating the journey at approximately 30 minute intervals.

Nathan Sutcliffe, 16 years old, from Dolgellau is one of six young people selected by the Welsh Assembly Government to be a Climate Change Champion and will be participating on the day.

“I have planted around 3,500 [trees] so far,” he says, “and am hoping that my role as a Champion will help to fulfill my target [of 100,000 trees] and help preserve Wales’ native woodlands. I feel that the best way to educate people on any subject is by giving them hands on experience, and environmental issues are no exception to this. I hope that plenty of people will attend and gain valuable experience from the event, especially the younger generations. It will give children the opportunity to realise that these kinds of events are not only for adults, and that they can make a difference as well if they try.”

Like almost all other Coed Cadw woods, Coed Ysgubor Wen is open to the public to visit at any time, for free. Visit the wood’s website for more information, plus an interactive map, photographs and the site’s management plan.