A CONSERVATIONIST who led the development of the Coed y Bont Community Woodland project and inspired over 50 volunteers has been named a Point of Light by Prime Minister David Cameron.

Jim Cowie, from Pontrhydfendigaid, secured £92,000 in grant funding to enable the development of the Coed y Bont Community Woodland.

To date, he has encouraged and inspired more than 50 volunteers to contribute over 3000 hours of their time to enhance and improve the 25 hectare site.

Jim, 70, a retired official from the Welsh Agricultural Department, is the latest recipient of a Point of Light award, which recognises outstanding individual volunteers, people who are making a change in their community and inspiring others. Each day, someone, somewhere in the country is selected to receive the award to celebrate their remarkable achievements.

Jim worked closely with Natural Resources Wales staff, to organise the construction of easy access paths, suitable for wheelchair and pushchair users, ensuring the woodland is accessible to the whole community. Jim led the introduction of a mix of facilities: there is a picnic area for visitors to enjoy, and new ponds for the benefit of the aquatic wildlife of the woodland.

As project manager, Jim coordinates volunteers to get involved in a number of different activities across the woodland. Volunteers can support wildlife conservation, facilitate environmental education, improve access, organise publicity, or undertake physical jobs such as clearing glades to create more diverse habitats, and improve the drainage of the footpaths.

Jim has engaged the children in the village primary school and local youth club to help build and install bird and dormouse boxes. An important feature of the project is the monthly programme of public events, open to all, where experts talk about the woodland, covering topics from birds to fungi.

Mr Cameron said: “Jim has inspired people in his local area to give their time to create and preserve Coed y Bont Community Woodland. Led by his efforts, the woodland has become an accessible visitor attraction, an educational resource and a special place for local residents to enjoy for generations to come. I am delighted to recognise Jim’s service by making him the UK’s 498th Point of Light.”

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