Apprentice ranger Arwyn Parry's first Get Stuck In event, Eryri
Fifteen BMC volunteers built 30 metres and maintained 4km of footpath south of Yr Wyddfa with the new BMC Access & Conservation Trust-funded apprentice ranger, Arwyn Parry.
This April saw the first Get Stuck In event for new apprentice ranger Arwyn Parry (second in from the right in the photo above) whose two-year post started in January and is funded by the BMC Access & Conservation Trust.
Arwyn says, "It was great to meet the BMC members and I was really impressed with how hard they worked during the two work days. Thanks to them we have built and maintained a good section of path on the southern flanks of Yr Wyddfa, making a safer, less slippy and less boggy route to the summit for the many thousands of visitors to Wales' highest mountain each year, as well as preserving vital habitats either side of the path."
Get Stuck In Volunteer Leader Roy Hammond, says, "The group was so large we split into two work parties over the two days on the south side of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). On the first day one group helped to move heavy rocks into place to work on a 30m section of stone pitched path in Cwm Llan. On the opposite side of the valley, the other group moved together for 2km up the Watkin Path clearing drainage ditches and sweeping small, slip-hazard pebbles off the steep stone path. This means the rain runs off the path quickly rather than eroding it away by running down it."
Roy continues, "On day two the groups swapped over, with the other group continuing the 30m section of stone pitching path work in Cwm Llan. With the Watkin Path already cleared on day one, the rest of the team continued a further 2km up the Allt Maenderyn ridge, due south of Yr Wyddfa, to clear drainage ditches, build scree-stopping walls and sweep small pebbles off steep stone steps to reduce the slip-risk."
The whole group also enjoyed drinking the non-alcoholic beers brought by the Athletic Brewing Company contingent, Jonny Cartwright and James Griffin. Athletic's Two for the Trails programme has paid for almost half of Arwyn's apprenticeship with the National Trust path repair team in Eryri, so big thanks to them for their £30,000 conservation grant, and sending their staff along to find out the vital path work Arwyn does.
With ages ranging from 20 to 74 within the group, everyone had skills and experiences to bring to the table, and we had a great time getting to know one another. Most of the group also stayed on for day three to walk around Tryfan with broadcaster Clare Balding for her Radio 4 show Ramblings. Listen to the broadcast here after 3pm Thursday 11 June."
Read more about the BMC Get Stuck In volunteers' day with Clare Balding here.
We were also delighted to welcome BMC Patron Libby Peter along for day one. Author of the classic how-to book Rock Climbing, International Mountain Guide Libby lives locally in Llanberis. She says, "Thanks very much for getting me along to Get Stuck In - it was a super valuable and enjoyable day."
Roy says, "In addition to the foopath repair work, four new cargo were given to the National Trust path repair team in Eryri, using funds from the BMC Access & Conservation Trust. Cargo nets help teams of 2-4 move large, heavy stones short distances much more easily during path construction.
"The presentation was made by regular Get Stuck In volunteer Aisling O'Heara, photographed below giving the cargo nets to new apprentice ranger Arwyn Parry, whose position is funded by the BMC Access & Conservation Trust. This donation comes after four cargo nets and 100 pairs of gloves were gifted to Fix the Fells in the Lake District earlier in the year."
Do you want to Get Stuck In? View all our upcoming volunteer path repair and landscape conservation events in Eryri and the Lake District here.
Protect the Sheffield Moors from Wildfire
Help us raise £50,000 this year to protect the Sheffield Moors from Wildfire - 81.2 hectares (114 football pitches!) of this beautiful moorland, including the popular walking and climbing areas of Stanage, Burbage, Froggatt and Curbar Edges, has been lost to wildfire since 2018.
Donate to us for FREE!
Did you know that you can donate to the BMC Access & Conservation Trust entirely FREE simply by shopping online as you usually would, at any time of the year with Easyfundraising? It only takes two minutes to set up, here's how.
Donate to us (not for free!)
If you want to contribute to upland and mountain access and conservation causes like the above, then simply click here to donate to The BMC Access & Conservation Trust via The Climate Project or Mend Our Mountains campaigns at any time. One-off or regular donations of any amount are always most welcome.
Volunteer
Fancy fixing footpaths in the Lake District, placing stepping stones in Eryri or planting sphagnum in the Peak District? Sign up to one of our Get Stuck In events here. And if you can't volunteer, why not gift us the amount you would have spent in fuel or on a train fare getting to a volunteer event?
Leave a legacy
A wise person once said, the most noble thing you can do is to "plant trees under whose shade you will never sit" and, likewise, fund path repair projects on which you will never walk and moorland restoration projects which you will never see. If you'd like to make a lasting impact on the landscape long after you've left this world, please consider leaving us a legacy.
Access News
Fifteen BMC volunteers built 30 metres and maintained 4km of footpath south of Yr Wyddfa with the new BMC Access & Conservation Trust-funded apprentice ranger, Arwyn Parry.
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