Events

Local Residents Special Events, January to May 2010

About the series

Our Nature Knowledge Shares are special monthly events for local residents. The events are FREE to anyone living or working within the LD, LL, SA and SY postcodes. Participants spend a Saturday morning in our woodland Coed Gwern, sharing knowledge and learning about nature in the Dyfi Valley. During a casual walk around Coed Gwern, an expert helps enthusiasts identify trees, birds and other species depending on the theme of the day.

Participants attending two sessions or more will receive a complementary membership to CAT, and one year of benefits (to see our benefits, go to our membership page.)

To sign up or ask questions, contact Grace at 01654 705971 or by email at grace.crabb@cat.org.uk

Saturday 16th January 2010: Woodland Trees and Craft

Learn to identify winter trees and how to make a basic rustic stool.

Expert: Adam Thorogood
Meet the group at 10:30am in CAT's carpark. Tea and coffee will be provided. Wear weather-proof clothes to walk to our woodland. The craft area will be covered. People interested in the stool making workshop should bring a packed lunch, as their session will last until 3:30pm. There will be coffee and tea once again when returning to CAT's carpark.

Saturday 20th February 2010: Winter Woodland Birds

Listen out for our winter birds and learn their calls.

Expert: Caroline De Carle Meet the group at 10:30am in CAT's carpark. Tea and coffee will be provided.Wear weather clothes to walk in the woodland. The walk shoul last two hours. There will be coffee and tea once again when returning to CAT's carpark.

Saturday 20th March 2010: Mosses and Lichens

Learn to ID mosses and lichens, and hear about the way they colonise and spread

Saturday 17th April 2010: Mammal Detectives

Check mammal traps and learn about mammal behaviour

Saturday 15th May 2010: your choice! Spring flowers, dawn chorus...

Keep checking this page and see also the CAT events page at www.cat.org.uk/events for future events held in our woodland.

Events archive

June 09
Special guest: Bird expert Caroline De Carle of RSPB Ynys Hir.

Share your nature knowledge and learn from others.

2 hour monthly walk around CAT woodland recording wildlife. Open to all. Tea and biscuits provided. To come along call Grace on 01654 705971. Bring along ID books if you have them. Binoculars provided. Open to ALL ability, from absolute novice to David Attenborough or Iolo Williams if they fancy it.

Creative Webs and Storytelling in our Woodland, Coed Gwern
June 09

To celebrate the recent opening of our new woodland, Coed Gwern, CAT hosted a weekend of art, storytelling and feasting. Our community artist Elaine Franks guided visitors through the woodland and asked them to explore it, from the miniature lichens and grasses to the larger trees. The sunny day inspired many to draw beautiful sketches of different aspects.

A woodland feast was cooked up by CAT restaurant and eaten out in the woodland. Then a story was told by our resident storyteller Catlin, built around the history of the woodland and the species that make it unique. It was an inspiring tale of the importance of protecting and enhancing our habitats.

After the story visitors created beautiful webs made with silver wire spun between trees and branches. It was amazing to watch them take shape. Elaine worked on a large dramatic web, whilst others made tiny ones. Now, when you walk into the space where the web making took place, the webs are not visible immediately. They may reflect some light on a rain drop and are suddenly made apparent.

Future courses and events held in Coed Gwern hope to inform, inspire and enable both people of our community in the Dyfi valley, and those from further afield.

Bird Box and Mammal Shelter Making
Saturday 7th March 2009.
Create a cosy shelter for mammals or birds in winter.

Community Tree Planting,
Saturday 14th February 2009
An event for all ages in CAT's woodland, Coed y Gwern. Plant a tree for your loved one and learn about woodland management with biologist Grace Crabb. We will be planting a new hedge on our new land. Children welcome.
2pm until dusk, stay as long as you want
Free tea, coffee and cake

See Biodiversity to learn more about the biodiversity of our woodland.

Winter Tree Tour,
Saturday 31st January 2009
Learn more about the features of trees in winter, and identify different species.