As part of the Wales-wide S4NW project, all 5 Welsh Wildlife Trusts, including Gwent attended a three day Youth Climate and Nature Summit.

The residential summit was held in August, at The Rock UK Summit Centre near Ebbw Vale, and saw 13 young people represent Gwent Wildlife Trust from our two S4NW groups  - the Wildlife Warriors and Nature Nurturers. Also in attendance were our S4NW Youth Engagement Officers.

  The young people and staff enjoyed three action-packed days of activities, discussion and fun with like-minded peers from around Wales.

Our S4NW Senior Youth Engagement Officer Beccy Williams said, “Our young people did a fantastic job representing Gwent. The showed their wide understanding of climate change issues, telling others at the Summit what they had been doing to combat it in Gwent, demonstrated their wide knowledge of Species ID on various walks and events, and showed incredible skill in the outdoor pursuits activities.

“They got to try caving, abseiling, archery, rock climbing, bushcraft, crate stacking and high ropes. Alongside this, they participated in discussions about Climate Change and Carbon Literacy, and heard speakers talk about Green Jobs, the Youth Climate Change movement, fast fashion and campaigning. Other activities included Earth-based mindfulness, a Bat Walk, Moth and Plant ID and Nature based crafts including Tie Dyeing with natural dyes.

“It was a brilliant few days away with a fantastic group of passionate young people from all over Wales, who now feel more united in their fight to find Nature-based solutions to Climate Change."

Before the Youth Summit the Stand for Nature Wales’ (S4NW) Wildlife Warriors and Nature Nurturers group members had an amazing opportunity to learn about and construct a green roof structure at Eveswell Community Centre in Newport.

They learnt how to build a frame that would take the added weight of the water and soil. They then learnt about the different materials used from the oriented strand board (OSB) for the base, to the pond liner, then to the reused fleece packaging for the absorbing layer. They mixed peat free compost with top soil and perlite before spreading it on the roof and planted a variety of Sedums into it. Sedums are a great plant because they are succulent, so do not need watering as much as other plants and they produce flowers for pollinators such as bees and other insects. And the wood that was used to create the structure was recycled from an old shed that the young people had great fun in dismantling.