Bannau Brycheiniog Youth Wardens

Bannau Brycheiniog Youth Wardens

Bannau Brycheiniog Youth Wardens: A Year of Growth, Learning, and

Conservation

With over 300 volunteer hours logged, numerous conservation projects completed, and invaluable skills gained, the Bannau Brycheiniog Youth Wardens have made a lasting impact on both the environment and themselves.

Mynydd Troed Mudrunner

The first meeting of the season soon earned the nickname ‘The Mynydd Troed

Mudrunner’. Braving the muddy conditions, the Youth Wardens cleared Bracken and

Gorse along the Three Rivers Ride trail, widening the path for better accessibility.

This was a good day to experience and understand the working relationship the park

has with local farmers. We also met two local horse-riding groups who benefited

directly from the work being undertaken.

Exploring New Landscapes: A Cross-Park Partnership

In October, the Youth Wardens travelled to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park to

collaborate with the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Next Gen – Youth

Committee and Youth Rangers. The visit to Sunny Hill introduced them to an

untouched woodland landscape, providing insight into traditional land management

and wildlife conservation.

Restoring Stiles in the West

November saw our Wardens traversing steep and uneven terrain to repair and

reinstall stiles to the west of Bannau Brycheiniog. Despite challenging conditions, the

team’s determination shone through, reinforcing their problem-solving skills and

teamwork.

BBNP Youth Wardens Repairing Stiles. Photo provided by BBNP.

Y Garn Goch: History Meets Conservation

At Y Garn Goch, our Wardens introduced the features and history of one of the

largest hillforts in Wales. Garn Goch is an impressive today, and we could only

imagine what it may have been like in its heyday with stone walls, wooden palisade

fencing, stone corridor portals, round houses, burial sites and field systems. It

certainly has a long history of use from the Neolithic period to the Iron Age. The team

worked hard to clear vegetation, improving rights of way access and helping to

preserve the sensitive foundations of this historic site whilst learning about the

delicate balance between rewilding and historical preservation.

Did you know? Y Garn Goch is actually made up of two hillforts: Y Gaer Fawr (The

Great Fort) and Y Gaer Fach (The Small Fort). The larger fort covers approximately

16ha, making it one of the most extensive hillforts in Wales.

Hedges for Habitats

Joining forces with the Brecon Gateway Project, the Youth Wardens, planted more than 800 trees as a new hedge in Brecon. A mix of native and locally sourced plants (seed zone 303) such as Hazel, Cherry, Holly, Dogwood and Blackthorn were planted around the King George V playing field (with the goalposts being well avoided!). This hedge will serve as a crucial wildlife corridor, supporting biodiversity for years to come. Thank you to Hedges for Habitats and the Woodland Trust for their support in this project.

Building Wildlife Habitats

February’s bird box-making session was a hit, equipping the Wardens with woodworking skills whilst creating essential nesting spaces for local birds. These boxes were installed at Cwm Porth, further enhancing wildlife habitats.

Exploring New Challenges

A three-day residential provided the Youth Wardens with an opportunity to deepen their connections and reflect on their role in conservation. Activities included caving at Cwm Porth and discussions with Pembrokeshire’s Next Gen team on shaping a youth-led conservation manifesto.

World Curlew Day

April’s session aligned with Earth Day, focusing on the plight of the Curlew, one of the UK’s most endangered birds. The Youth Wardens engaged in educational activities, painting replica Curlew eggs for awareness campaigns, and collaborating with Police Cadets on habitat restoration efforts. In the afternoon, with binoculars in hand, the team went out on Mynydd Illtud in search of Curlews, managing to spot a few preparing their nests for chicks!

Did you know? Curlews have the longest bill of any wader. Curlews have incredibly

long, down-curved bills, which they use to probe deep into mud and soft soil for

insects, worms, and crustaceans - perfect for their wetland and coastal habitats!

BBNP Youth Wardens at Llangasty Bird Hide

Conservation at Cynrig Hatchery and Llangasty Bird Hide

The Youth Wardens met with Natural Resources Wales where they learnt about the Four Rivers for Life programme and conservation efforts for Crayfish, Freshwater Pearl Mussels, Water Voles and fish stocks. This session gave incredible insight into the detail and ambitions of the conservation work being undertaken and led to a lot of discussion on the technologies used in conservation. The day concluded with a visit to Llangasty bird hide, where we explored ways to sustain vital wetland habitats.

Did you know? Freshwater Pearl Mussels are one of the longest-living invertebrates,

with some individuals reaching over 100 years old! They also play a crucial role in

maintaining clean river ecosystems - a single mussel can filter up to 50 litres of water

per day.

Looking to the Future

As we move into the next year, the Youth Warden programme continues to thrive, with full enrolment and exciting partnerships on the horizon. With support from AMEX, the Ramblers Association, and collaborations with the Penpont Project and young people from Neath Port Talbot, the future looks bright for our dedicated young people. Diolch yn fawr (thank you) to all who have supported this initiative, and we look forward to another year of growth, learning, and environmental stewardship!