We’re saying a sad goodbye to two of our staff members in March – with Lora and Neil leaving Coetir Anian.
Both Lora, Coetir Anian Project Officer, and Neil, Habitats and Species Manager, have been with us since 2023. Between them, they have had responsibility for the majority of the site-based work: planning and undertaking the management of our site Bwlch Corog, ecological monitoring and reporting, planning and running volunteer days and assisting in running youth programmes and site visits. Each will be a big loss to us.
Lora has accepted the incredibly exciting role of Ranger on the Scottish island of Handa (Eilean Shannda) – a wildlife reserve managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust off the far northwest coast of the Highlands (so far north, in fact, that she’ll be some 65km further from the Scotland-England border than Bwlch Corog is). Lora has previously spent time on Handa as Assistant Ranger, but this time she’ll be in charge – managing the island and a team of volunteers. At just a touch over twice the area of Bwlch Corog, Handa is a true haven for seabirds – home to tens of thousands during the breeding season including razorbills, great skuas, and one of the UK’s largest guillemot colonies. Lora also stands a good chance of seeing seals, dolphins, minke whales and even orca as she goes about her daily duties on the island that will be her home for the next six months.
We’re really sad to see Lora go, but her new role is an incredible opportunity – and we’re absolutely certain she’ll perform it very very well.
Neil isn’t going quite as far. He joined us on secondment from RSPB Ynys-Hir – a wonderful reserve just three miles down the road from Bwlch Corog. Unfortunately for us, his secondment is now coming to an end, and we have to give him back. He’s worked incredibly hard writing a new management plan for Bwlch Corog so that we’ll be able to continue to manage the land as seamlessly as possible, but thankfully he’s also agreed to come back to us on a freelance basis as and when time allows, so we’re not losing his astounding breadth of knowledge and expertise entirely.
We’re deeply grateful to them both for their work and for their good company.
Diolch o galon i chi’ch dau, a phob lwc!
This article also appears in the April 2025 newsletter.