VOLUNTEERING at Welsh Water visitor attractions began exactly four years ago in November 2020 when one volunteer carried out a Wetland Bird Survey for the British Trust for Ornithology at Lisvane & Llanishen Reservoirs in north Cardiff. Demonstrating a strong commitment to community engagement, Welsh Water Visitor attractions have now recruited over 700 volunteers across Wales, who have generously donated over 16,000 hours of their time, to support conservation efforts across our visitor attraction sites.
Welsh Water’s visitor attraction volunteering programme is deeply rooted in community engagement. The company currently collaborates with 20 Welsh charities, fostering partnerships that create positive change. In September, Friends of Cardiff Reservoirs volunteers and rangers at Lisvane & Llanishen Reservoirs were humbled to be involved in a project with Groundwork, Welsh Refugee Council, and Oasis, Cardiff’s largest refugee charity.
A ‘Wellies in the Woods’ initiative was created to bring joy, education, and a sense of adventure to preschool children from refugee families in Cardiff. Sessions offered young explorers the chance to learn, play, and connect with nature and their family in a safe and nurturing environment.
One parent said: “We had an amazing time; we feel proud to be part of such an amazing initiative. It has been so wonderful to be in the forest and learning with nature, thank you”.
Meryl Hoffer, from Welsh Refugee Council said: “It was lovely to see our families have this opportunity to enjoy Lisvane & Llanishen Reservoirs, the children were so excited to wear wellies and play among the trees.
“Each week they learned something different, being in such a lovely setting was wonderful for everyone’s wellbeing.”
Elan Valley recently collaborated with Powys Ramblers to create eight dedicated walking routes, to be featured in a brand-new hillwalking pack. Over 350 hours of volunteer time were generously donated by ramblers to explore and map various routes around the Elan Valley.
The pack will be available for purchase at Elan Valley from 30 November at a special launch event at 10am. After the launch of the leaflets, there will be an opportunity to join in a walk. Choose from a short walk of around two miles from the visitor centre, through Elan Village and on through woodland to Caban Coch dam or a long walk of about five miles beyond Caban Coch with more challenging terrain.
More information can be found at the Elan Valley Lakes website.
Michelle Impanni, Volunteering Manager at Welsh Water’s visitor attractions said: “As Volunteering Manager, I’m incredibly proud of the positive impact the volunteers are making across our visitor attraction sites.
“Through strong partnerships with Welsh charities, voluntary organisations and community groups, we’re not only enhancing and protecting our beautiful landscapes but also building meaningful relationships between the volunteers and site teams, including our rangers.
“These community projects are opening up new opportunities for more people to experience the many benefits of nature. It’s truly rewarding to see how these collaborations are making a lasting difference for both the environment and the well-being of everyone involved.”
Welsh Water is asking for Welsh charities, voluntary and community groups and not-for-profit organisations to get involved in volunteering at the five visitor attractions across Wales. Namely, Lisvane & Llanishen Reservoirs, Elan Valley, Llandegfedd Lake, Llys-y-frân Lakes and Llyn Brenig.
By joining Welsh Water’s volunteer program, groups can contribute to the protection and enhancement of natural spaces while making these benefits accessible to a wider audience. Whether through hands-on conservation work, wildlife monitoring, or community engagement, there are meaningful opportunities for everyone to get involved in. Contact [email protected] for more information.
