Brothers and sisters from Walves gathered together as volunteers to help take care of nature whilst also spending valuable time together as a community. Please read more about what they got up to below!

‘We met outside the reception of Cosmeston Lakes Country Park in Penarth, where a fantastic group of 14 volunteers gathered for this service project. From the very beginning, the atmosphere was full of energy and positivity—and what a blessing it was to have such gorgeous weather! The sunshine really lifted everyone’s spirits and made the whole experience even more enjoyable.

To kick things off, we started with a fun icebreaker bingo game. The aim was to find people within the group who matched each description on the card and write their names into the squares. The challenge was to complete a full line—horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. It was a great way to get everyone talking, laughing, and connecting. Out of the 14 participants, we had four winners, which added a nice bit of excitement and friendly competition to the morning.

After the icebreaker, we were warmly welcomed by Sharon, our ranger, who took the time to chat with us and explain the task for the day. As you can see from the photos, there were quite a lot of brambles and branches that had previously been cut but left scattered across the area. Our mission was to help clear and tidy the space to make it safer and more accessible for visitors.

We got straight to work. Some of us used mini saws to cut the thicker branches into manageable pieces, while others used loppers for slightly thinner ones. The rest of the team focused on raking and forking the branches into neat piles, placing them along the very edge so that the grassy path could be properly cleared. Everyone played their part, and it was great to see such teamwork and willingness to help. In just about an hour, we made a really noticeable difference to the area.

Once the work was complete, we headed back to the reception area where we enjoyed a well-deserved break with tea, coffee, and some lovely snacks. This was a great time to relax, chat, and reflect on the morning’s efforts. As always, the conversations and fellowship were just as valuable as the work itself.

To round off the day, some of us stayed on to enjoy a friendly game of volleyball, while others took the opportunity to have a peaceful walk around the lakes, soaking in the beautiful surroundings.

Overall, it was a truly rewarding day. The photos capture not just the work we did, but also the smiles, teamwork, and sense of community that made the day so special. We really enjoyed each other’s company, and it couldn’t have been a finer day to spend outdoors giving back.

Looking forward to the next one! 🙌🌞🌿’

Thank you for sharing everything that you got up to! We would also love to hear more from your community’s activities for please feel free to send over stories from your community to us here to share..