Since starting in post mid-January this year, I've had a busy time learning about our beautiful nature reserves and getting to know the amazing teams of Gwent Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers who look after them. My favourite of the seven I’ve visited so far is Pentwyn Farm in Penallt as it has a certain magic and peacefulness amongst the ancient wildflower meadows teeming with wildlife. I was lucky enough to join our Head of Nature Recovery Gemma Bodé’s grassland course in early summer, where she led a group of keen wildflower enthusiasts around some of the meadows identifying beautiful species like Early-Purple Orchids, Hay-Rattle and Eyebright.
One of the ways I'm supporting our work for wildlife, is by meeting and talking to people in businesses of all types and sizes across Gwent and finding ways we can work together to help nature recovery at a local level. Yes, to raise vital funds, but beyond that to really collaborate for more effective action for nature.
Already, we have been working with some fantastic businesses who share our vision, including business member Ancre Hill Estates, who have supported Gwent Wildlife Trust for many years. I was treated to a guided tour of their exemplary biodynamic and organic vineyard. It certainly is a labour of love for the industry, vines, the land and nature itself whilst Richard and his wife Joy Morris planted the vines with their four children decades ago, they have been using natural methods to ensure the very best organic wines are created. I was hugely impressed and inspired by the level of detail Richard and his business manager Jean du Plessis have gone to ensure that Ancre Hill Estate is a leader in the production of organic, biodynamic and natural wines, as much as in the closed circles principles employed for sourcing of materials within their farm and its near carbon-neutral set-up.
As well as increasing our reach to more local businesses, I’d really like to grow the depth of these partnerships, so have been spending time with their people and ours, to discover shared opportunities. I've been staggered at the demand for corporate volunteering days. We receive many enquiries each week than we can currently accommodate, so I’m working to grow what we can offer. I’ve also been interested to learn how we can also support businesses with their nature targets through ecological site surveys and support with developing biodiversity action plans.
