New look to park (From Barry And District News)

New look to park

IT'S a very exciting time for school children visiting Cosmeston Lakes Country Park.

Not only is there a brand new environmental education officer and a new pond dipping area, there are also plans to develop new schemes for youngsters.

Mel Stewart is the new environmental education officer. The former teacher has been taken on for a three-year contract. In the past, the park's two rangers had done all the education work, but the workload increased to such an extent they did not have time for conservation work.

Mel, 39, used to work at Dinas Powys Library, took up the Heritage Lottery-funded post in November.

She said: "My responsibility is to stimulate interest and enjoyment for wildlife and the environment.

"Steve Pickering, senior ranger, applied for Heritage Lottery money as part of a Cosmeston Environmental Enhancement Education project. It's a great thing for the park."

This new area was originally undeveloped land in the middle of the park's woodland. Staff dug out a large hole, filled it with water, and constructed a boardwalk over the middle of it.

The pond was completed about two weeks ago and already two ducks have made it their home. Children will be able to visit and dip nets to reveal creatures living in the water. This will help with their environmental education.

The pond has been sited close to the car park meaning disabled people can access it easily.

Mel said: "I can go out to schools now and do activities. I can also go out to schools before they come here to give them a talk about what they can expect.

"So far the feedback has been really positive. The children like coming and doing the pond dipping."

Recently Mel went to Ysgol Erw'r Delyn to work with a Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award group.

She said: "They're going to help us make an outside classroom. That will be lovely for children to use when they're learning about the environment." Mel also went to a Barry nursery where she took along her 'touchy feely' box which she fills with all kinds of things from our environment. This is one of the many ways she can help youngsters learn about nature.

She said: "I also took along frog spawn and some toads. I was talking about the life-cycle of a frog and we read stories. They really enjoyed it."

Schools go along to Cosmeston for a day doing an activity including orienteering, visiting the medieval village and taking part in bug hunts.

With orienteering children will be given guides to follow with compass and environmental routes, while the medieval village allows them to learn about life in the 14th century.

Mel said: "We've got lots of orienteering posts around the park. They're currently being reconstructed with raised metal on. This is so partially-sighted children can use them."

Youngsters will also benefit from great new interpretation panels explaining wildlife and aspects of the environment, as well as the history of the park, a quarry until 1970.

But Mel's job goes a lot further. She also promotes environmental education to the whole community.

She said: "I'm trying to encourage people who don't normally come to the park to get interested. I've been in contact with local adult education organisations and the Basic Skills Agency trying to involve the adult learners."

She also helps to run Cosmeston's Watch group, the junior section of The Wildlife Trust.

Mel said: "They've been involved in lots of conservation work and environmental work around the park. It's so popular there's a huge waiting list."

Staff are hoping to get a grant from the Arts Council for Wales to devise a 'touchy feely' room to aid learning.

They are also planning a numeracy trail for the site which would see children given a booklet to fill in as they follow a trail through the woods. It would teach them lots of things to do with maths and numeracy.

Mel said: "There's lots of potential for educational development and projects. I'm really enjoying my job and am going to do my best to encourage use of the park by schoolchildren and other groups."

l For details call The Ranger Service on 029 2070 1678.