Discover: The Hidden Gems of Yr Wyddfa – A Journey of Conservation and Connection
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Date posted: 27/07/2023
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Time to read: 10 minutes
Alec Young
As the Plastic Free Officer for the Eryri National Park, my days are filled with a wide variety of tasks: school workshops, business audits, meetings with researchers and even photoshoots! No two days are the same, and it’s been an exciting journey of testing new ideas, measuring their efficacy and collaborating with committed people along the way. The goal is always the same – how can we work with the public to start with us on the Plastic Free Path and inspire people help us make Yr Wyddfa the first plastic free mountain in the world?
To give you a taste of my diverse daily routine, here’s a recent one that had me roam the foothills of Yr Wyddfa, in search of the Plastic Free Path!
Legends meet Litter
My day begins at the office, where I immerse myself in content creation work for the innovative and exciting Mabinogion Plastic Free Communications Campaign. This initiative sheds light on the pressing litter issues in the Yr Wyddfa area and the broader boundaries of Eryri, in partnership with some passionate social media influencers who have taken on Mabinogion characters. By combining traditional Welsh folklore with real-world issues, we hope to engage a wide audience and aim to inspire positive behavioural shifts, encouraging locals and visitors alike to become stewards of the environment.
Inspiring Local Businesses
Leaving the office behind, I make my way to the charming village of Llanberis. Here, I meet Fiona and Rob Nicholson, owners of Plas Coch Guest House, who have wholeheartedly embraced the Plastic Free Path and joined our bespoke Plastic Free Business Scheme. Over a cup of tea, we discuss the positive impact businesses can have by reducing their plastic consumption and implementing sustainable practices. Their dedication serves as an inspiration, demonstrating that small steps can be the impetus for big change, and how becoming more sustainable is mutually beneficial for business and the environment.
Conversations on the Go
Next, I hop on the Sherpa’r Wyddfa, a convenient mode of transportation that connects various locations around the foothills of the mountain. As I journey to Pen y Pass, I strike up conversations with local Volunteer Wardens, who have just finished a shift litter picking on the mountain. We exchange ideas about tackling single-use plastics and littering issues. It’s heartening to witness the eagerness and altruism of our volunteers – individuals dedicated to keeping Yr Wyddfa pristine and protecting its sustainable future. I also get chatting with some keen hikers, who have bagged up their rubbish and plan to take it home with them. By engaging with visitors, I aim to foster a sense of responsibility and collective action.
Empowering the Future Generation
Descending to Nant Gwynant, I arrive at the Warden Interpretation Van where I join forces with students from Bangor University who are involved in data gathering for their Masters research project concerning visitors and littering. Together, we have a quick chat and analyse some information collected and brainstorm behaviour change interventions we could trial in the near future. Today they have been asking visitors to sign a ‘Plastic Free’ pledge and have had dialogue with walkers about how they intend to dispose of litter. Witnessing the enthusiasm and commitment of Bangor University students reaffirms my belief that many of the younger generation are proud environmentalists, and that their input will be instrumental to the success of our project.
Join the Campaign
As the day draws to a close, I feel inspired and hopeful of achieving our ambitious goal. Yr Wyddfa has not only provided me with a stunning backdrop for my day’s work but has also allowed me to connect with like-minded individuals and witness the positive changes taking place.
If you’re as passionate about preserving our natural treasures as I am, and the many people I met with on my day, I invite you to join our campaign.
Together, we can make a significant impact, one plastic free step at a time.
A week on from National Parks UK’s Big Volunteer Weekend, we’re still celebrating the people who make a difference across our National Parks.
Last weekend, hundreds of people came together across all 15 National Parks to give their time, share their skills and support our landscapes.
But volunteering in our National Parks doesn’t happen just one weekend a year. All year round, volunteers play an incredible variety of roles – from leading guided walks and supporting education, to conservation, planting and caring for our landscapes.
Every volunteer makes a valuable contribution to protecting our natural and cultural heritage. We simply couldn’t do what we do without you. 💚
So, to all our volunteers: thank you for your time, energy, enthusiasm and everything you bring to our National Parks.
If you know someone who volunteers in a National Park, help us spread the thanks by sharing this post. 🌿
#Volunteers #NationalParks #NationalParksUK
Mae’r Bele yn un o famaliaid prinnaf Cymru, ond mae eu niferoedd yn tyfu yn raddol. Mae hynny’n newyddion da i’n coetiroedd ac i’r Parciau Cenedlaethol, sy’n darparu rhai o’r cynefinoedd pwysicaf ar gyfer bywyd gwyllt ledled Cymru a Phrydain.
Ym Mannau Brycheiniog, mae’r prosiect adfer wedi gosod blychau nythu yn y coed, ac mae gwaith monitro wedi nodi presenoldeb y Bele, gan gynnwys grwpiau teuluol. Mae’r ffilm arbennig hon yn dangos un ohonynt ar waith. 🐾
Mae’n atgof hyfryd o’r hyn sy’n bosibl pan ddaw coetiroedd iach a gwaith cadwraeth arbenigol at ei gilydd i roi’r gofod sydd ei angen ar rywogaethau prin i wella.
Pine Martens are one of Wales’ rarest mammals, but they’re slowly making a comeback. That’s good news for our woodlands, and for National Parks, which provide some of the most important habitats for wildlife across Wales and Britain.
In Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons), the recovery project has installed treetop den boxes, with monitoring identifying pine martens, including family groups. This special footage shows one in action. 🐾
It’s a lovely reminder of what can happen when healthy woodlands and specialist conservation work come together to give rare species the space they need to recover.
#BreconBeacons #BannauBrycheiniog #PineMartins #Wales
It’s the Autumn Equinox 🍂
Our National Parks are always changing in time with the rhythm of nature, but this becomes particularly noticeable when autumn arrives.
Deer begin to rut, spiders’ cobwebs glisten in the fresh light, fungi become more prominent, and leaves begin to change colour.
What changes have you noticed so far? 🧡
#Autumn #AutumnEquinox #NationalParks
“You look after the National Park not for yourself, but for people who are coming, the ones who are following you.”
These are the words of Ron Wood, who has been volunteering for the Lake District National Park for over 60 years. His story reflects the vital role volunteering plays across our National Parks: keeping them thriving, communities invested, and people connected to and caring for our landscapes.
Over the decades, Ron’s incredible journey has seen him remain steadfast in his commitment through droughts, hand, foot and mouth disease, and the ever-changing rhythms of nature. Through it all, one thing has remained constant: his dedication to looking after the environment for those who come after him.
You can read Ron`s full story by clicking the link in our bio or learn more about volunteering at nationalparks.uk/volunteering 🔗
📸Photos by @lakedistrictnpa
#LakeDistrict #Volunteering #NationalParks
A quiet autumn transformation is beginning to take place. 🍁
Bracken gradually fades to burnt oranges. Mist sweeps across the horizon. Grasses brown and trees begin their annual shaking of leaves.
Our National Parks are never still. They are constantly changing and transforming with the seasons - a living rhythm of growth, decay, colour and renewal.
These four photographs perfectly capture our Parks on the cusp of autumn 📸
1. Dartmoor @ryanbrowningphotography
2. Lake District @jonny.gios
3. New Forest @acornsandscapes
4. Northumberland @calbrownphoto
#Autumn #NationalParksUK
🍄 They’re not just wonderfully weird – they’re vital for our National Parks, too. Fungi can be more prominent as we enter autumn, and across our landscapes they’re helping to protect the fragile environments our Parks depend on.
Our National Parks are home to over 80% of the UK’s priority conservation habitats, and every single bracket or tiny woodland fungus is part of a vital wider workforce that supports our ecosystems.
They can look small, but they’re certainly mighty.
#Fungus #UKFungi #Mycological #NationalParks
Autumn brings some unusual visitors to the @newforestnpa 🐷🍂
As the leaves turn and acorns begin to carpet the Forest floor, you might spot a few more snouts among the trees.
Each autumn, New Forest Commoners exercise an ancient right known as pannage – turning their pigs out to forage for fallen acorns, beech mast and other natural foods that might be harmful to other grazing animals.
It’s a tradition that has been part of life in the New Forest for many years. Just like many of our Parks, it shows how these landscapes are shaped by history and the unique ways of working that protect the environment.
📸This beautiful photograph was captured by @hang_ross76.
#NewForestPigs #Autumn #NewForest
🍂 Autumn is creeping in, and the nights are slowly drawing in around us. But darkness isn’t just something we notice. For countless bugs, it’s essential.
Two-thirds of invertebrates are partially or wholly nocturnal, relying on the natural rhythm of night and day to feed, move, reproduce and survive. Yet increasing light pollution is disrupting this vital nighttime world. 🐜
September is an active time for bugs - spiders seek shelter, wasp colonies reach their peak size, and many are migrating or laying overwintering eggs.
Our National Parks are home to some of the UK’s darkest skies and important habitats where we can protect the darkness that bugs depend on.
Together, we can help even the smallest of species to thrive.
Clips via @buglife_ict
1 & 2: Moth © Patrick Chadwick
3: Running Crab Spider © Patrick Chadwick
4: Millipede © Patrick Chadwick
5: Common glow-worm (Lampyris noctiluca) © Kristian Pikner
6 & 7: Ringlet butterfly roosting © Patrick Chadwick
8: Wasp © Patrick Chadwick
#BugLife #DarkSkies #NationalParks
