HAPPY BIRTHDAY RWT!

It's said the biggest problem with British industry is companies spending 90% of the time reacting to things and only 10% planning for the future. Running a Wildlife Trust is no exception. However much you try and focus on the habitats, species and nature reserves in most need of help you can be easily diverted. It might be a stray dog chasing sheep on a nature reserve, or an orphaned otter cub that means you have to put the dormouse survey off for another day.

That's why we're all feeling pleased with ourselves at Radnorshire Wildlife Trust, since we've just agreed a five-year plan, setting out all the priorities from now until 2012. This kind of planning can sometimes seem a little dull, but this is real 'up and at 'em' nature conservation and we hope will make a real difference to the diversity of wildlife in the county and people's enjoyment of it.

Of course, it's not just the plan that we're happy about. RWT has finally left its teens and reached the ripe old age of 20. In April 1987 Radnorshire split from the Herefordshire Nature Trust and went it alone, with an official launch at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show on 20th July 1987.

No sooner had RWT been formed than a whole valley came up for sale north of Rhayader. The Trust's purchase of the 383 acre Gilfach farm started with a bid of £90,000, mainly provided by the National Heritage Memorial Fund and was completed after a very worrying time with an agreed figure of £170,000. Few Wildlife Trusts had purchased or managed farms before, let alone one with a derelict Welsh longhouse dating back to the 14th century. The struggle earned a place on page 2 of 'The Guardian' (2nd November 1987) and the 'Mid Wales Journal' described the Trust's anguish of losing out in a sealed bid auction held in Rhayader in January 1988, as a mystery bidder 'sped off in an estate car' following the auction. RWT's £170,500 bid came in second place – which ultimately was accepted after the original bidder withdrew.

Gilfach soaked up much of the time and effort of staff and volunteers in the early years. Even so, new reserves were acquired between 1987 and 97. The Trust has managed a number of exciting projects, notable was a 2 year Biological Evaluation project (1997 – 99) funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund which involved a biological audit of ten of the Trust's reserves, including Gilfach farm. Soils and geology, invertebrates, birds, lichens, bryophytes and flora were all surveyed in detail – at Gilfach a whopping 424 species of lichen were identified! The next step was a reserves enhancement, capital works project, in line with most other county wildlife trusts, also funded by the lottery.

Not wanting to re-invent the wheel, we have pinched a number of ideas from other Wildlife Trusts. Since 2000, we have developed a Private Nature Reserves scheme (idea pinched from Somerset WT) and the past 3 years have run a primary schools wildlife quiz (idea pinched from Gloucestershire WT), with up to 15 schools taking part. Another is linking each of our reserves with a community group (not sure who this was pinched from, but feel sure it wasn't an original idea!

As a small Trust (never more than 7 full-time staff) in a county of only 25,000 people, managing over 6,000 acres, it can be a hand to mouth existence. The departure of key staff and trustees has caused major colly-wobbles over the years. However, the Trust is nothing if not resilient. Today, we have a volunteer force which is the envy of many bigger trusts, with 80 very active volunteers helping with reserves management, shop and sales work, educational activities, ecological surveys and a proliferation of administration tasks.

The Reserves Enhancement project was completed in 2004, having been led for the most part by James Blair and completed by Jonathan Stone. Through their leadership the weekly volunteer groups achieved an astonishing amount of work. James' Christmas quizzes became legendary amongst volunteers with teasers like how many 4” nails were used by Radnorshire Wildlife Trust work parties in 2003?!

To celebrate our achievements we are having a 20th birthday party at Cefndyrys, Llanelwedd on Saturday 23rd June. This should be a fun-filled day with a chance to look for local wildlife with various experts, lots of activities for children, choral entertainment, Chinese auction and Lord Livesey cutting a celebratory cake. Tickets from RWT (01597 823298) or turn up on the day from 1pm.