Eryri Snowdonia
 
 
home about facilities courses sustainability activities news directions

KINDRED ACTIVITIES

GWEITHGAREDDAU PERTHYNOL
Ymddiheurwn nad yw'r tudalen hwn ar gael yn y Gymraeg ar hyn o bryd.

As a social enterprise Trigonos works in ways that are not always directly concerned with maximising earnings. These are kindred activities in the sense that they have an affinity with the core business but are also purposeful in their own right. Some produce an income, but rarely matched to the costs involved, while others have no income generating capacity. All contribute to the wider objectives of Trigonos as a sustainable social enterprise.

Working on the land

HORTICULTURE

We have been growing vegetables, salads and fruit at Trigonos for eight years, first in the walled garden and then in one of the fields. Two acres are under cultivation, plus a large poly-tunnel, both using organic and bio-dynamic principles.
The produce has three outlets:

  • the Trigonos kitchen
  • a box scheme run by Llysiau Lleu
  • the little “shop by the field”
Free-range chickens are kept to provide fresh eggs for the Trigonos kitchen.

Trigonos is a member of the Wholesome Food Association (WFA), whose objectives very much reflect our concerns about the production and consumption of healthy food. The WFA has three key principles:

  • Food should be grown and processed using sustainable, non-polluting methods, as close as possible to those found in nature;
  • Food should, where possible, be consumed within a short distance of where it is grown;
  • Food should be treated as an integral part of life and the community rather than merely as a commodity for profit.

We have not sought registration as an organic producer since this seems inappropriate for an undertaking of our size and nature.
The lack of anywhere satisfactory for the processing & storage of produce and for the care & maintenance of equipment has been a serious impediment. We’ve gained planning permission for a horticultural building and are now fundraising to get it erected.

CARE OF THE LAND

Trigonos at Plas Baladeulyn has 18 acres of land. Two acres are given over to horticulture, two acres to buildings, car parking & the walled garden and 14 acres to fields & woodlands which run down to the shore of Llyn (lake) Nantlle Uchaf.

Over the last seven years the small woodlands and clawdd walls have been replanted with native trees. The stream (Afon y Garth) has been fenced to protect it from livestock damage. The sheep pasture receives only organic fertilisers and one field has been re-sown using a mix containing native wild flowers. The woodlands and some bordering areas are left as habitat for local flora & fauna and there has been a gradual growth in the number of species to be found as the land regains its vitality. Work controlling invasives such as Japanese Knotweed, for which there is no known cure, is continuous.

Visitors often comment on their pleasure at wandering over the land, through the woods and along the lake shore. To enhance their enjoyment we’ve produced a booklet, "Trigonos Land Project", outlining the work carried out on the land and listing some of the flora and fauna to be found. The booklet is available in Welsh or English. (For a copy please send your name and address and £1.00 of stamps.)

Penrhyn Heli

THE WILLOW BED

Penrhyn Heli, a seven acre plot at Tremadog, purchased by Trigonos in 2002, includes about four acres of willow bed. Willow is always in demand for craft work and much has been used by Trigonos for wattle fencing, both at Plas Baladeulyn and for projects elsewhere, such as the refurbishment of the gardens at the David Lloyd George Museum, Llanystumdwy.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORK EXPERIENCE AND VOLUNTEERING

The horticultural, garden and land work is very labour intensive and much vital help comes from people who give their time and energy. During the year to March 2006 we were helped by and gave opportunities to: WWOOFers (234 days), local people who volunteer their labour (122 days), young people on work experience (69 days) and students on placement (113 days).

More about work opportunities at Trigonos here.

INVOLVEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY

Trigonos is part of the local community and we are practically involved in a number of ways, both formal and informal:

  • Llysiau Lleu aims to increase the amount of fruit and vegetables grown, (based on organic principles whenever possible), and eaten by people in the Nantlle Valley. The project focuses on the health and financial benefits of locally grown food and provides practical support & training to those involved. Trigonos works in partnership with local people and Tai Eryri, the local housing association, in running the project. Its development has required a considerable time input by Trigonos workers;
  • Active membership of the local environment group and on the steering group for a local food and rural regeneration project, the latter seeking in part to build on the achievements of Llysiau Lleu;
  • Evening events such as a lecture on the Dorothea Quarry and an exhibition of pictures by a local photographer;
  • Welsh Language classes run by the Dept. of Lifelong Learning (University of Wales, Bangor) are held at Trigonos.

This part of Wales is a land where Welsh is the first language of the majority people and Welsh culture is strong. To reflect this we have a language policy that encourages the increasing use of bilingual material. We also benefit from having several bilingual workers.


Trigonos, Plas Baladeulyn, Nantlle, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, Wales, UK. LL54 6BW
Tel / Ffôn: +44 (0)1286 882388 space Fax / Ffacs: +44 (0)1286 882424 spaceEmail / Ebost:pinfo@trigonos.org