Conservation cash crisis causes dismay (From Penarth Times)

Conservation cash crisis causes dismay

A PENARTH schoolboy has expressed his dismay after learning that funding for a conservation project at Cosmeston Country Park has run out.

Rhys Topping, 13, a pupil at Stanwell Comprehensive School, is one of some 30 young people aged six to 14 who have been carrying out environmental and conservation work under the WATCH scheme.

Rhys said: "I am personally very disappointed that WATCH cannot continue. It gave me the opportunity to learn a lot about wildlife and the habits of different animals. I have also made a lot of good friends through it and felt as though we were making a very positive contribution. It was a very satisfying experience.

"In the summer we started work on a project which involved creating a maze with the planting of willow trees. Sadly we will now not be able to finish that."

WATCH is a conservation group run by staff at the park for schoolchildren.

It has been running during school holidays for the last three years. It was stopped at the end of the last six-week summer break due to funding problems.

The youngsters have contributed to various projects including building an owl sanctuary, and working with bird and swan rescue teams.

They have also been involved in digging out the new lake and the planting of new trees and plants in the park.

A spokesman for the Vale of Glamorgan Council said: "Cosmeston was able to run the WATCH group for three years using a Heritage Lottery Fund grant for environmental education projects. Unfortunately this funding came to an end earlier this year and the council was unable to find funding from another source to continue the weekly meetings of the WATCH group.