After despairing if we would ever get back to doing outdoor activities together I am pleased to say that we have been able to return to Ysgubor Fawr, St.Fagans and to Forest Farm. Not an easy task but after several on line and in person training on how to return safely in these difficult times we have managed it.
A particular thanks must go to our great supporters Cardiff Council Community Park Rangers and St Fagans, National Museum of History who have given of their time and kindly supplied us with some new tools.
It has been wonderful to see everybody turn their hands once more to clearing paths, clearing overgrowth and digging and generally being out in the open air. Most important of all enjoying each others’ company. 
We haven’t yet been able to return to full capacity and we have had to split one group into two to make our work safer. Hopefully gradually we will be able to return to our normal patterns.
We have already been able to take part in the Big Butterfly Count which showed us what a difficult Spring the butterflies and moths encountered. After the count had finished we did typically see so many more butterflies and we were especially pleased at long last to see the common blue and the 6 spotted burnet.
We have also been able to help clear himalayan balsam at 2 Pond Field at Forest Farm which had been growing there for the past 2 summers. There is plenty more to get rid of.
We were also asked by the rangers to remove ragwort from the community meadow. The Rangers explained why we were doing this and why removing ragwort is controversial. We did keep the plants that still had caterpillars on them.
Our zoom sessions have continued and our debating group have had plenty to say about a variety of topics the most popular being “To flush or not to flush” , “Should we ban compost” and ” how does nature affect how we behave?” 
Our participants also supported No Mow May some deciding to let their garden grow wild and enjoying the diversity of wildlife this brought to their doorstep.
Our sessions also reflected two campaigns being Mental Heath Awareness and Wales Nature Week. It was important for our participants to learn how connecting with nature can help our wellbeing and how during these difficult times we can bring nature to them through, for example showing a mindfulness short film we had taken called ” Unwinding at Cosmeston”.
One of the highlights of our zoom sessions has been a session created and presented by one of our participants on Foraging in South Wales. He had never put together a presentation before or researched the topic as thoroughly as he ended up doing. The session was a great success and one which has led to others wanting to present their own.
We look forward to working on new sites and to continue presenting our varied sessions on zoom.
Boosting Nature 