Cymraeg
Flowers and fungi are on the menu as bushcraft instructor Heath Dawson pledges to eat burdock and bilberries to help the Woodland Trust restore the Monk’s valley
Bushcraft instructor Heath Dawson is a man on a mission to support plans to restore the landscape of Cwm Mynach, the Monk’s valley in the Snowdonia National Park.
He’s supporting the campaign by the Woodland Trust to purchase nearly the whole of this remote valley to allow the charity to recreate native woodland and other valuable wildlife habitats in a landscape now dominated by conifer plantations.
Heath Dawson trained with bushcraft expert John Ryder at Plumpton College in Sussex. He now teaches bushcraft skills, showing young and older people how to survive off the land, gaining nutrition from the four f’s of fruit, fungi, foliage and flowers. No stranger to living outdoors he is keen to push his comfort zones and hone his skills. Now he’s offered to make use of his survival skills, to eat burdock and bilberries, in support of the Woodland Trust’s campaign to purchase and restore Cwm Mynach and to work as an advocate for the project.
“When you’re in a survival situation”, he says, “it’s a struggle to maintain your calorie balance. You could dig up a burdock root which contains starch – brain food. But if it’s growing in compacted ground at the end of it’s growth cycle then you might actually expend more calories digging out the roots they they will provide when you eat them. Everyday we eat the finest foods from around the world, yet there is nothing like a wildfood forager’s diet, it provides a sense of connection, appreciation and nourishment on many levels. I would welcome anyone to join me in the experience and challenge.”
For Heath, the motivation is all about conservation. “It’s about making a breakthrough to a more authentic relationship with nature”, he says. “In terms of conservation, it seems a little perverse - teaching people (within the limits of the law) to eat and use natural resources like berries and trees. But when you start to use natural resources, to depend on them, you start to value and cherish them, this is the true wellspring of environmental concern and stewardship.
Heath is enthusiastic about the plans by the Woodland Trust to purchase the valley and restore it as native woodland. Amongst many other benefits, restoring native woodland in the valley is likely to increase the amount of wildfood available. “If you help more light to come through the canopy, then a richer variety of natural food will become available beneath the trees, and not just for humans”, says Heath. “I’ve seen rhododendron removed from areas of woodland in the past, and it’s amazing how nature comes back when it gets a chance. “
The Woodland Trust has been offered the opportunity to buy nearly 1000 acres (400 ha) of land in the valley1, most of which is presently conifer plantation. The site’s present owner shares the Woodland Trust’s vision of expanding and re-creating native woodland and other valuable wildlife habitats throughout the valley, and has therefore agreed to sell the land to the Trust for considerably less than the market value. But to take advantage of this offer the Trust needs to raise £850,000 by the end of this year. The Trust has already raised over £550,000 and is very optimistic about the campaign, but there is still some way to go before the target is reached.
Those wishing to support the campaign to restore Cwm Mynach can do so by calling 0845 2935858 or by visiting the campaign website, which includes more about the campaign and also a video, at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/snowdonia
For media enquiries contact:
Rory Francis (Publicity and Public Affairs Officer for Wales) on 08452 935 738 or 07760 171174 Afallon, Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd LL41 3RH Email roryfrancis@woodland-trust.org.uk
Or The Woodland Trust Press Office email media@woodland-trust.org.uk or Tel 01476 581121
Or Anna Heslop, Campaigns Officer for Wales, on 08452 935 735 or 07824 416 518
Notes for editors
1. The exact area of the land which has been offered to the Trust is 397 hectares (981-acres)
Coed Cadw (The Woodland Trust)
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters. The Trust has four key aims: i) No further loss of ancient woodland; ii) Restoring and improving the biodiversity of woods; iii) Increasing new native woodland; iv) Increasing people’s awareness and enjoyment of woodland.
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). These include over 100 sites in Wales, with a total area of 1,580 hectares (3,900 acres). It offers free public access to nearly all of its sites. Further news can be accessed via www.coed-cadw.org.uk The Trust adopted its Welsh language name in 2000: “Coed Cadw”. This is an old Welsh term, used in medieval laws to describe protected or preserved woodland.
English
Blodau a ffwng ar y fwydlen wrth i arbenigwr ar fwyd gwyllt gefnogi’r ymgyrch i adfer tirwedd cwm cudd yn Eryri
Hyfforddwr mewn sgiliau crefftau’r goedwig yn addo bwyta cedowrach a llus i helpu Coed Cadw i adfer Cwm Mynach
Mae’r hyfforddwr sgiliau crefftau coedwig, Heath Dawson, yn ddyn sy’n benderfynol o wneud gwahaniaeth, ac mae o wedi gwneud ymrwymiad i gefnogi cynlluniau i adfer tirwedd Cwm Mynach ym Mharc Cenedlaethol Eryri.
Mae o’n cefnogi’r ymgyrch gan Goed Cadw (the Woodland Trust) i brynu ac adfer bron y cyfan o’r cwm anghysbell yma, fel bod yr elusen yn gallu ail-greu coetir brodorol a chynefinoedd gwerthfawr eraill mewn cwm lle mae planhigfeydd conwydd wedi cael eu plannu ymhob man, bron.
Fe gafodd Heath Dawson ei hyfforddi mewn sgiliau goroesi yn y goedwig yng Ngholeg Plumpton yn Swydd Sussex. Bellach mae’n dysgu’r sgiliau hyn, gan ddangos plant a phobl hyn i fyw o’r tir, gan ddibynnu ar faeth o ffrwythau, ffwng, dail a blodau. Mae o wedi byw yn yr awyr agored gryn dipyn, ac mae’n awyddus i wella ei sgiliau a herio ei hun. Bellach mae o wedi cynnig defnyddio ei sgiliau goroesi, ac i fwyta cedowrach a llus, er mwyn cefnogi ymgyrch Coed Cadw i brynu ac adfer Cwm Mynach ac i weithio i dynnu sylw at y prosiect.
“Pan fyddwch chi mewn sefyllfa oroesi”, meddai fo, “mae’n anodd cael digon o galorïau. Mi fedrwch chi gloddio am wreiddiau cedowrach sy’n cynnwys starts, sef bwyd i’r ymennydd. Ond os ydi o’n tyfu mewn pridd sydd wedi cael ei gymhathu, mi fedrech chi ddefnyddio mwy o ynni yn cloddio amdanyn nhw nag y byddan nhw’n ddarparu pan fyddwch chi’n eu bwyta nhw. Rydyn ni’n bwyta’r bwyd gorau o ledled y byd bob dydd. Ond mae bwyd gwyllt o fyd natur yn arbennig, gan ei fod yn cynnig cysylltiad â byd natur, a maeth ar gymaint o lefelau gwahanol. Mi fuaswn i’n croesawu unrhyw un o ymuno â fi yn y profiad a’r her.”
Cymhelliad Heath yw cadwraeth. “Dwi eisiau torri drwodd a magu perthynas mwy cyflawn efo byd natur”, meddai fo. “O ran cadwraeth, mae’n od, mewn ffordd. Rydw i’n dysgu pobl i fwyta a defnyddio adnoddau naturiol fel euryn a choed (a hynny o fewn cyfyngiadau’r gyfraith). Ond pan ddechreuwch chi ddefnyddio adnoddau naturiol, i ddibynnu arnyn nhw, rydych chi’n dechrau eu gwerthfawrogi nhw. Mae’r teimlad yma wrth wraidd pryder ac ymwybyddiaeth am yr amgylchedd.
Mae Heath yn frwdfrydig am gynlluniau Coed Cadw i brynu’r cwm a’i adfer i goetir brodorol. Ymhlith manteision eraill, mae creu mwy o goetir brodorol yn y cwm yn debyg o gynyddu maint y bwyd gwyllt sydd ar gael. “Os ydych chi’n helpu mwy o olau i ddod trwy orchudd y goedwig, mi fydd amrywiaeth gyfoethocach o fwyd naturiol yn tyfu o dan y coed, ac nid i bobl yn unig”, meddai Heath. “Dwi wedi gweld rhododendron yn cael eu symud o ardaloedd o goetir yn y gorffennol, ac mae’n anhygoel sut mae natur yn dod yn ôl pan fydd o’n cael y cyfle.”
Mae Coed Cadw wedi cael cyfle i brynu bron i 1000 o erwau (400 ha)1 o dir yn y cwm, y mae’r rhan fwyaf ohono fo’n blanhigfa gonwydd ar hyn o bryd. Mae perchennog presennol y safle yn rhannu gweledigaeth Coed Cadw i ymestyn ac ail-greu coetir brodorol a chynefinoedd gwerthfawr eraill trwy gydol y cwm, ac mae o felly wedi cytuno i werthu’r tir i’r elusen am lai o lawer na’i werth. Ond i fanteisio ar y cynnig yma mae rhaid i Goed Cadw godi £850,000 erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn. Mae’r elusen wedi codi dros £550,000 yn barod ac mae’n optimistaidd iawn am yr ymgyrch, ond mae yna dipyn o ffordd i fynd cyn iddo gyrraedd y targed.
Fe all y rhai sydd eisiau cefnogi’r ymgyrch i adfer Cwm Mynach wneud hyn trwy alw 0845 2935858 neu drwy ymweld â gwefan www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/cwmmynach sydd hefyd yn cynnwys fideo.
Fe all y cyfryngau gysylltu â:
Rory Francis (Publicity and Public Affairs Officer for Wales) ar 08452 935 738 neu 07760 171174 Afallon, Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd LL41 3RH e-bost roryfrancis@woodland-trust.org.uk
Neu swyddfa’r wasg Coed Cadw yn Grantham sef media@woodland-trust.org.uk neu 01476 581121
Neu Anna Heslop, Swyddog Ymgyrchoedd, ar 08452 935 735 neu 07824 416 518 neu e-bost annaheslop@woodlandtrust.org.uk
Nodiadau o olygyddion
1. Union arwynebedd y tir a gynigwyd i Goed Cadw yw 397 o hectarau (981 o erwau)
Coed Cadw (The Woodland Trust)
Coed Cadw yw’r elusen fwyaf yn y DU sy’n canolbwyntio ar warchod coedlannau. Mae ganddo 300,000 o aelodau. Mae gan y mudiad bedwar amcan sef: i) sicrhau na chollir rhagor o goedlannau hynafol, ii) adfer a gwella bioamrywiaeth coedlannau, iii) creu rhagor o goedlannau gyda choed brodorol a, iv) cynyddu ymwybyddiaeth pobl am goedlannau, a’u helpu i’w mwynhau.
Sefydlwyd Coed Cadw (neu’r Ymddiriedolaeth Coedlannau gynt) yn 1972. Erbyn hyn mae’n gofalu am dros 1,000 o safleoedd, gydag arwynebedd o 20,000 hectar (50,000 erw). Mae’r rhain yn cynnwys dros 100 o safleoedd yng Nghymru, gydag arwynebedd o 1,580 hectar (3,900 erw). Mae’r safleoedd hyn bron i gyd ar agor i’r cyhoedd. Gellir cael rhagor o newyddion ar wefan www.coedcadw.org.uk Fe fabwysiadodd Coed Cadw ei enw Cymraeg yn 2000. Hen derm Cymraeg yw “coed cadw” a ddefnyddiwyd yng nghyfreithiau’r Oesoedd Canol i gyfeirio at goedlannau a warchodwyd yn arbennig.