ACCESS NEWS & UPDATES

NRW have notified us that they will be running their annual fish trapping programme from mid-March into May. The site will be manned while trapping is carried out. The trapping device (similar to the one in the image) will be tethered by cables stretching across the river and a portage will be required.

NRW will have signage in place and there is suitable portage points both upstream and downstream of the device.

Freedom to roam – an overview of the Access question in Wales. Rights for shared transparent and fair access to inland waterways is a key strategic objective for Paddle Cymru.

On behalf of our membership and the broader paddling community in Wales, we have been making the case for increased access wherever possible. Our increasing membership has helped to develop our influence and enables us to advocate on behalf of a larger community. Unfortunately, COVID-19 and other Governmental priorities have slowed progress lately and we are very aware that little progress in this area means paddlers still face similar levels of conflict and challenge on our riverbanks.

Every year we hope to further encourage access to blue spaces and we want more of you to enjoy the many benefits of being out on the water; but our waterways are in crisis from all kinds of pollution. Our campaign last year saw 35 clubs request free Litter Picking Kits, nearly 60km of rivers, banks and shore line being cleared and as much as 204 bags of rubbish were collected in Wales alone!

So it's clear that as paddlers, we can make a real difference to our blue spaces as we can access those hard to reach spots and remove litter and other rubbish from our waterways. Making it a better environment for everyone and it certainly helps kick those January blues by doing something good if you would like to start early.

Whatever you do, personally, to reduce your environmental impact there will be someone who comes along and says, “ah but, what about….” It could be your last flight, your vehicle, your house, your shoes, your diet, or even the rest of the world.

Wales is good at recycling and makes it easy! We live in a place that uses more resources, faster, than the majority of other places on the planet. How do we navigate these dilemmas?

I suspect, by now, you have all converted to an electric vehicle, a timber framed, canvas clad, kayak and are wearing waxed cotton rather than oil based synthetics. You are probably imagining yourself a pioneer, as "The Canoe Boys" - leading in this changing world, protecting the environment in which you play and care so much about.

You’ll be anxiously doing whatever you can to move 'Earth Overshoot Day' https://www.overshootday.org/ as far forward as possible.

Dorlan in Welsh means hollow river bed and glas means blue, so Glas y Dorlan literally translates as Blue of the Riverbank. These tiny birds nest in sandy burrows along the riverbank, making their Welsh name somewhat fitting.

We are glad we see more kingfishers on the Tryweryn these days. However, given they are so sensitive to cold weather, a particularly harsh winter can seriously reduce their population, so we’ll not count our chicks quite yet! 

When does Spring officially begin? Easter Saturday, that's when! 

We’re past the spring equinox. Dydd Dewi Sant, St David's Day, came and went. This year, the lambs were late, the cold clung on, but the waiting is over! On Saturday, at Canolfan Tryweryn, the National Whitewater Centre, Spring really starts because the Tryweryn is releasing!

We spend a significant amount of money each year on keeping the site safe. Regular tree inspections sometimes identify big bits of work that need doing.

Unfortunately, the large oak by Miss Davies' Bridge is one of the casualties of this winter. Although a fungus had spread all the way up the tree, as much of the trunk as possible will be left to provide habitat for nature.