Dedicated birdwatcher John wins AONB award

* At the awards presentation. Front row, Ann Williams, AONB Senior Countryside Warden, Rhun Jones, John Lawton Roberts and his wife, Vice Chair AONB Partnership Cllr Paul Cunningham, Chair of AONB Joint Committee Cllr Tony Thomas.

An avid birdwatcher from Llangollen has been presented with an award.  

Every year the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) presents two awards to honour those contributing to the landscape and communities in the area.

This year John Lawton Roberts was presented with the AONB Volunteer Award.  

Corwen Community Garden was given the AONB Award.

Mr Roberts has devoted much of his life to recording, watching and reporting on birds in North East Wales and has helped paint a detailed picture of the changes to bird populations in the area spanning a period of more than 40 years.

He has had various scientific papers published and charted the changes to the avian interest at Ruabon Moor and Creigiau Eglwyseg, with his work contributing to the success of a number of projects including the Welsh Black Grouse Recovery Programme.

Corwen Community Garden is located within the community orchard near the centre of town, and is a resource for all members of the community.

The group meets every Wednesday, providing a social opportunity and making a contribution to the health and wellbeing of participants.

The site was developed in spring 2016 with Welsh Government funding secured by Age Concern and once the funding came to an end, a small group of volunteers carried on the work.  In the past two years they have transformed the field into a beautiful and productive garden.

Chair of the AONB Joint Committee, Councillor Tony Thomas, said: “I would like to congratulate John and the volunteers from Corwen Community Garden on their awards.

“The Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB benefits from all those who give their time and effort to help improve the landscape and communities. Both John and the members of Corwen Community Garden have gone above and beyond in their efforts.”