The Trustees are delighted to welcome our new Reserve Warden , Mr Chris Jones. Currently a Community Ranger with Caerphilly CBC, Chris impressed the Trustees with his wide ranging experience which included fostering strong links with both rural and urban community groups, practical implementation work, managing contractors and volunteers and planning and delivering walks, talks and events primarily aimed at engaging members of the public in conservation activities in both the medium of English and Welsh.
Previous to this role Chris has worked across South Wales in a variety of roles including the Project Officer and Project Manager on the Wild Communities project, the Animal and Conservation Officer of Swansea Community Farm, working with adults and young people with physical and/or mental disabilities, as well as vulnerable adults.
As a keen botanist Chris has visited the Reserve on many occasions and has participated in previous orchid counts.
Chris has a specialist interest into Orchidaceae and their associated fungi which will prove useful as Kenfig has over 15 different species, including the rare Fen Orchid (Liparis Loeselii).We are confident that Chris will be crucial in furthering the scientific research on our amazing Reserve.
The Trust would like to thank National Resource Wales for their guidance in the development of the Application and Interview process. With over 1800 views and twelve applicants with experience from across the world, the Trustees would like to thank all those who applied and felt honoured that such high calibre applicants wished to work with us. In employing Chris, the Trust is confident that they have secured the services of a Warden who will embody the four core principles which are, to preserve, improve, protect and promote the wellbeing of the Nature Reserve . The Trust looks forward to seeing Chris work closely with NRW over the course of the next years to achieve the aims and objectives of our Reserve Managment Plan.
The Trust feels that a central part of the new Warden’s role will be working with members of the public. We hope that Chris will join us in early March. Once in role, the Trust will invite members of the public to join our new Volunteer arm. We will be placing a link on the website shortly asking those who are interested what activities which they would like to particpate in.
We would like to thank the public for their continued interest and support in this transition period for the Trust and the Reserve. We look forward to giving more exciting news very shortly.