From a very young age I have always had an interest in wildlife and a very strong passion to do my upmost to protect and to try and education people about the sheer importance of wildlife and nature. I have always been taught to respect, love and enjoy the environment in which I live. My family and I created a wildlife friendly garden and in doing so we now welcome a host of different species. From hedgehogs, to toads, birds, moths and butterflies. I always feel so happy to see what each season brings into the garden. I love to see the different birds visiting and we are lucky enough to have a huge colony of sparrows who happily nest every year in our roof eaves. It is always fascinating to listen to their chatter and wonder what they are squabbling about. We have recently installed a swift box and I am hoping that we will be privileged enough that a pair will chose to nest on my house. I don't pick and choose what enters the garden, I am happy to welcome all, as I find nature always balances out.

In 2021 I attended a wildlife event in Parc Bryn Bach and I joined the Stand for Nature Wales project with Gwent Wildlife Trust. I was initially nervous about attending as I did not know anyone going or what to expect. I was soon put at ease as I could see that this would be a project that I would fully enjoy and it would give me a chance to meet like-minded young people. I am so glad to be able to be part of this project as I feel it has benefitted me in many ways and I have gained a lot of knowledge about wildlife in my locality and have been able to attend many different events. I have made lots of new friends who also care about the environment. It is good to be involved in a project that is addressing the struggle that nature is enduring, to know that there are young people out there that care as much as I do. It gives me hope that if we all work together, we can make progress in building a safer environment for wildlife.  

In being part of Stand for Nature Wales I have learned new skills such as bat detecting, insect and plant identification, how to make a wildlife friendly habitat and I have also been able to listen to talks on different species such as hedgehogs, reptiles and amphibians. I have written to local councils about issues which are very important to me, such as No Mow May and reducing the use of pesticides. I have been to the Senedd in Cardiff to campaign against the use of pesticides and was able to voice my concerns to Members of the Senedd. It felt as if I was doing something productive in helping nature, even adults need educating on how we can all help nature.

I have also attended two Youth Climate Summits with Stand for Nature Wales of which I thoroughly enjoyed. In attending these events I have discovered that I would like a career in Conservation and I have gained knowledge in what I would need to do in the future.

I have been able to share my love of wildlife, nature and the environment through my artwork. I joined an Art Society 2 years ago and have displayed my artwork in the Pier Head building in Cardiff, as well as my local museum. I have loved drawing a portrait of one of my nature heroes Iolo Williams, who I was lucky enough to meet recently. My favourite painting is of area of where I have holidayed for the last past two years. This place is very important to me as the owners have taken over farmland and have now rewilded it back to a beautiful and tranquil nature reserve. I am always in awe of the sheer beauty of the place and how nature will always recover, despite what has gone on before.

I'm also involved in volunteering with two charities which rehome ex commercial hens in which I rescue and rehome a huge number of hens and give them the chance of living the lives they all deserve.