Pupils from Wyedean, John Kyrle High, Chepstow and Monmouth Comprehensive Schools led a skill share for parents, volunteers and guests atBracelands Adventure Centre in the Forest of Dean. The young people designed and led a guided walk to showcase their newly aquired knowledge and skills. They gave presentations, demonstrated rural skills and introduced three films about the Wye Valley countryside produced by them with the help from the Herefordshire Rural Media Company. The Youth Rangers also demonstrated their knowledge of hedgelaying, tree identification, bushcraft skills and cooked up a mean storm with toasted marshmallows and tea brewed with a Kelly kettle.
A bevy of countryside awards were presented by Councillor Phil Cutter, Wye Valley AONB Joint Advisory Committee chairman. The coveted John Muir Conserver award was achieved by the whole group. Andy Naylor from the John Muir Trust said ‘It’s a fantastic achievement for the Wye Valley AONB Youth Rangers to gain their Conserver Awards; less than 1% of all John Muir Awards are at this level. It shows a real commitment to conservation and the ethos of John Muir over a significant period of time and is something I hope that the participants feel proud of, and rightly so. Please do pass on my congratulations to them all.’
This Wye Valley AONB Youth Ranger programme, whose patron is Kate Humble, has enabled young people 14-16 years, living in the area, to gain experience in a programme of activities featuring kayaking and river conservation, caving and geology, film making, archaeology, bushcraft, ecology, rural skills and hands on conservation work. Throughout the project they gained access to some of the most beautiful and interesting parts of the Wye Valley AONB, and faced personal challenges, gained insight, inspiration and motivation, with support and training from dedicated staff and volunteers to help them along the way.
The AONB Youth Ranger project continues to grow and another group is being currently recruited to start in autumn 2013. So, if you are between 14 and 16 years, living within the Wye Valley AONB and fancy learning these skills then please log onto the Youth Rangers page on the website www.wyevalleyaonb.org.uk. You will find out how to apply by coming to a taster day in October and can view the Youth Rangers blog and the films made by them. For further information please contact Sarah Sawyer community@wyevalleyaonb.org.uk for further information.
