Meet the Team – Hannah Taylor
As my home is much nearer to Loggerheads than Llangollen, I don’t get to meet our NL staff in the south team as often as I should. Head Ranger Rhun, who runs the Llangollen set up, recommended that I had a chat with a newer member of his team, Hannah Taylor. We caught up over a hot cuppa at the excellent temporary café at Loggerheads. Hannah is already making her presence felt in a very positive way but, like so many of our NL staff, is currently on a fixed term contract. It would be so much better all round if, however our designated landscape is managed in the future, it has stronger financial backing to provide better security for its team. They are vital to all that is, and will continue to be achieved. Not that this has in anyway dimmed Hannah’s huge enthusiasm and commitment, as I soon found out. This is how our conversation went.
Tell me how it all started.
Well, I was lucky to be brought up in Ruthin and went to Rhos Street Primary School and then Brynhyfryd. My main memory of growing up though was the time my younger brother Harri and I spent playing and exploring at nearby Melin y Wig, where my father was from originally and where his friend Brian and family lived and owned land. It became home from home and we spent so many happy hours there learning about nature and the countryside. Brian was determined to maintain it in as natural state as possible. It was a haven for flora and fauna, the peace and tranquillity was just perfect. I knew from a very early age that conservation and the environment was where I saw my future and I also took the chance to work as a volunteer to gain and improve my knowledge.
What came next?
I decided that I didn’t want to go far from home to continue my education but a gap year came first while I explored the possibilities. By this time I’d already started to take part time work and a couple of local pubs as well as Tesco in Mold are on my CV! One of my other passions is motorbikes and I was able to travel widely in both France and Spain at this time too. It was a great way to travel and to see and experience so much, but the lure of a career in conservation was always in my thoughts. I was lucky enough to get a place at Bangor University, the perfect location to study conservation and forestry – I really enjoyed my time there. It reinforced the ambition that had always been within me to work in support of environmental protection and improvement.
Where did your degree take you?
Before my current role I’ve been gaining great experience working for Natural Resources Wales, as an Environmental Officer. Probably the most satisfying from my point of view was carrying out a fish survey on all the rivers of north and west Wales. It was a demanding but fascinating task which enabled me to experience so many interesting parts of our country and landscape too. It’s left an indelible mark – I’m now completely absorbed with the future of the salmon! Unfortunately, recent staff pressures at NRW meant that I needed to find another role. The positive outcome is this new position with my local National Landscape and I’m absolutely loving it.
Tell me more about it.
The first thing to say is how everyone else in the team, both at Llangollen and Loggerheads, has made me so welcome. I already feel very much part of the family. The work too is incredibly varied and interesting with no two days alike. I especially like working with our volunteers and with the community. The Community Garden at Corwen is a real highlight and plays such an important part in the lives of those who work and relax in it. The garden at nearby Clawdd Poncen is another valuable community asset – and special to me because of family connections in that part of Corwen. Still is the same area, Pen y Pigyn is another interest and one with huge potential. The possibility of recreating a significant area of Celtic rainforest there, a seriously depleted part of our natural heritage, is something that really inspires me. We also work closely with the nature for health team who are doing great work engaging with and helping local people. Then there’s the physical aspect of the work too, which is always great fun and I’m learning all the time!
You seem to have found a role that really suits you.
Yes, I feel very fortunate and hope it will lead to something more permanent in the future. In the meantime I’ll give it my all and enjoy every minute.
What about away from work?
Most of my spare time revolves around enjoying the countryside with my partner Drem, who’s an arboriculturist and with friends and colleagues. I’ve already joined fellow members of the NL team in River Dee swims. Then there’s my motorbike, of course, and I love getting around on that. I must mention music too – I play the guitar and have a wide ranging interest using both acoustic and electric. My Gibson Les Paul is a very special possession!
It was time to let Hannah go – she was due to meet volunteers at Clawdd Poncen. Usual final question – what’s your favourite place in our national landscape?
I’d like to say Melin y Wig but it’s just outside! I really do love Pen y Cloddiau though.
Cwrdd â’r Tîm – Hannah Taylor
Gan fod fy nghartref yn llawer agosach at Loggerheads na Llangollen, dydw i ddim yn cael cwrdd â’n staff NL yn nhîm y de mor aml ag y dylwn. Argymhellodd y Prif Geidwad Rhun, sy’n rhedeg y sefydliad yn Llangollen, fy mod i’n cael sgwrs gydag aelod newydd o’i dîm, Hannah Taylor. Fe wnaethon ni gael sgwrs dros baned boeth yn y caffi dros dro rhagorol yn Loggerheads. Mae Hannah eisoes yn gwneud ei phresenoldeb yn teimlo mewn ffordd gadarnhaol iawn ond, fel cynifer o’n staff NL, mae hi ar gontract tymor penodol ar hyn o bryd. Byddai’n llawer gwell i bawb pe bai gan ein tirwedd ddynodedig, sut bynnag y caiff ei rheoli yn y dyfodol, gefnogaeth ariannol gryfach i ddarparu gwell diogelwch i’w thîm. Maent yn hanfodol i bopeth sydd, a byddant yn parhau i gael eu cyflawni. Nid bod hyn wedi pylu brwdfrydedd ac ymrwymiad enfawr Hannah mewn unrhyw ffordd, fel y darganfyddais yn fuan. Dyma sut aeth ein sgwrs.
Dywedwch wrthyf sut y dechreuodd y cyfan.
Wel, roeddwn i’n ffodus i gael fy magu yn Rhuthun ac es i Ysgol Gynradd Stryd Rhos ac yna Brynhyfryd. Fy atgof pennaf o dyfu i fyny serch hynny oedd yr amser a dreuliais i a fy mrawd iau Harri yn chwarae ac yn archwilio ym Melin y Wig gerllaw, lle roedd fy nhad yn dod yn wreiddiol a lle roedd ei ffrind Brian a’i deulu yn byw ac yn berchen ar dir. Daeth yn gartref oddi cartref a threuliom gymaint o oriau hapus yno yn dysgu am natur a chefn gwlad. Roedd Brian yn benderfynol o’i gadw mewn cyflwr mor naturiol â phosibl. Roedd yn hafan i fflora a ffawna, roedd yr heddwch a’r llonyddwch yn berffaith. Roeddwn i’n gwybod o oedran cynnar iawn mai cadwraeth a’r amgylchedd oedd lle roeddwn i’n gweld fy nyfodol ac fe wnes i hefyd fanteisio ar y cyfle i weithio fel gwirfoddolwr i ennill a gwella fy ngwybodaeth.
Beth ddaeth nesaf?
Penderfynais nad oeddwn i eisiau mynd ymhell o gartref i barhau â’m haddysg ond daeth blwyddyn fwlch yn gyntaf tra roeddwn i’n archwilio’r posibiliadau. Erbyn hyn roeddwn i eisoes wedi dechrau cymryd gwaith rhan-amser ac mae cwpl o dafarndai lleol yn ogystal â Tesco yn yr Wyddgrug ar fy CV! Un o fy angerddau eraill yw beiciau modur ac roeddwn i’n gallu teithio’n eang yn Ffrainc a Sbaen ar yr adeg hon hefyd. Roedd yn ffordd wych o deithio a gweld a phrofi cymaint, ond roedd deniad gyrfa mewn cadwraeth bob amser yn fy meddyliau. Roeddwn i’n ddigon ffodus i gael lle ym Mhrifysgol Bangor, y lleoliad perffaith i astudio cadwraeth a choedwigaeth – mwynheais fy amser yno yn fawr iawn. Atgyfnerthodd yr uchelgais a oedd bob amser wedi bod ynom i weithio i gefnogi diogelu a gwella’r amgylchedd.
I ble aeth eich gradd â chi?
Cyn fy rôl bresennol, rwyf wedi bod yn ennill profiad gwych yn gweithio i Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, fel Swyddog Amgylcheddol. Mae’n debyg mai’r peth mwyaf boddhaol o’m safbwynt i oedd cynnal arolwg pysgod ar holl afonydd gogledd a gorllewin Cymru. Roedd yn dasg heriol ond hynod ddiddorol a alluogodd fi i brofi cymaint o rannau diddorol o’n gwlad a’n tirwedd hefyd. Mae wedi gadael marc annileadwy – rwyf bellach wedi fy amsugno’n llwyr gan ddyfodol yr eogiaid! Yn anffodus, roedd pwysau staff diweddar yn CNC yn golygu bod angen i mi ddod o hyd i rôl arall. Y canlyniad cadarnhaol yw’r swydd newydd hon gyda fy Nhirwedd Genedlaethol leol ac rwy’n ei charu’n fawr.
Dywedwch fwy wrthyf amdano.
Y peth cyntaf i’w ddweud yw sut mae pawb arall yn y tîm, yn Llangollen a Loggerheads, wedi fy nghroesawu cymaint. Rwyf eisoes yn teimlo’n rhan fawr o’r teulu. Mae’r gwaith hefyd yn hynod amrywiol a diddorol, heb ddau ddiwrnod yr un fath. Rwy’n hoffi gweithio gyda’n gwirfoddolwyr a chyda’r gymuned yn arbennig. Mae Gardd Gymunedol Corwen yn uchafbwynt go iawn ac yn chwarae rhan mor bwysig ym mywydau’r rhai sy’n gweithio ac yn ymlacio ynddi. Mae gardd Clawdd Poncen gerllaw yn ased cymunedol gwerthfawr arall – ac yn arbennig i mi oherwydd cysylltiadau teuluol yn y rhan honno o Gorwen. Yn dal i fod yr un ardal, mae Pen y Pigyn yn ddiddordeb arall ac un â photensial enfawr. Mae’r posibilrwydd o ail-greu ardal sylweddol o goedwig law Geltaidd yno, rhan sydd wedi’i disbyddu’n ddifrifol o’n treftadaeth naturiol, yn rhywbeth sy’n fy ysbrydoli’n fawr. Rydym hefyd yn gweithio’n agos gyda’r tîm natur er lles iechyd sy’n gwneud gwaith gwych yn ymgysylltu â phobl leol ac yn eu helpu. Yna mae agwedd gorfforol y gwaith hefyd, sydd bob amser yn hwyl fawr ac rwy’n dysgu drwy’r amser!
Rydych chi’n ymddangos wedi dod o hyd i rôl sy’n addas iawn i chi.
Ydw, rwy’n teimlo’n ffodus iawn ac yn gobeithio y bydd yn arwain at rywbeth mwy parhaol yn y dyfodol. Yn y cyfamser, byddaf yn rhoi fy ngorau glas ac yn mwynhau pob munud.
Beth am i ffwrdd o’r gwaith?
Mae’r rhan fwyaf o fy amser hamdden yn troi o amgylch mwynhau cefn gwlad gyda fy mhartner Drem, sy’n arbenigwr coed a gyda ffrindiau a chydweithwyr. Rwyf eisoes wedi ymuno â chyd-aelodau o dîm yr NL mewn nofiadau Afon Dyfrdwy. Yna mae fy mheic modur, wrth gwrs, ac rwy’n dwlu ar fynd o gwmpas ar hwnnw. Rhaid i mi sôn am gerddoriaeth hefyd – rwy’n chwarae’r gitâr ac mae gen i ddiddordeb eang mewn defnyddio gitâr acwstig a thrydanol. Mae fy Gibson Les Paul yn eiddo arbennig iawn!
Roedd hi’n bryd gadael i Hannah fynd – roedd hi i fod i gwrdd â gwirfoddolwyr yn Cla