A full house at the 2023 AGM Open Morning
CEO Laura explaining our work on the Mawddach catchment.
On Wednesday, November 29th, we hosted our annual open morning at Coed Y Brenin. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, and a special appreciation to the dedicated staff at Coed Y Brenin for their magic in swiftly securing additional chairs for the overwhelming number of attendees.
The event commenced with a warm welcome from our newly appointed chairman, Alan Winstone, who eloquently presented the trust's work and highlighted our notable achievements in 2024. Subsequently, our CEO, Laura Owen Sanderson, took the stage, providing a comprehensive overview of the organization's strategy and showcasing the remarkable milestones attained in the past year.
Founding trustee Roger Thomas explaining the history of the charity.
Founding trustee of North Wales Rivers Trust, Roger Thomas, graciously delivered a brief introductory speech, shedding light on the evolutionary journey of the charity and its transformation into the impactful organisation we have become.
Dr Antony Smith explaining the issues facing Salmon and Sewin
Our recently appointed Principal Fisheries Officer, Dr. Antony Smith, delivered two compelling talks during the event. The first presentation addressed the challenges confronting salmon and sewin, while the second delved into the details of the innovative Torgoch project, generously funded by the Heritage National Lottery.
Dr. Antony Smith is a familiar face to the Trust, particularly for our long-term supporters who will recognise him as our lead river restoration officer from the previous year. His expertise and dedication continue to be invaluable assets to our ongoing conservation efforts.
Oisin presenting our latest water quality report for North and North Mid Wales.
Oisin delved into the foundational data highlighted in our water quality report, addressing a spectrum of issues from pharmaceutical pollution to sewage. His enlightening presentation provided a deep dive into the factual insights behind the numerical figures, offering a comprehensive understanding of the challenges at hand.
Dr Liam Whitmore discussing the scientific impact of our work
Dr. Liam Whitmore delivered a captivating presentation on environmental eDNA, shedding light on how the Trust has harnessed this innovative approach to gather crucial data on fish species, invertebrates, and mammals in the Clwyd, Mawddach, and Llyn Maelog regions. His talk provided a fascinating exploration of the cutting-edge techniques employed to enhance our understanding of the local ecosystems.
Thank you to all who attended this year's open morning. For those who may have missed obtaining a physical copy of our Impact Report, we invite you to look through the digital version provided above. We eagerly anticipate engaging in even more impactful initiatives in the coming year, as we continue our commitment to positive change in 2024.