Well! Another year on the island comes to an end. Did anything happen in 2007? I'll say it did! Nothing, no nuffin, stands still on Bardsey. That's the beauty of it. It always looks the same when you land in the Cafn from Colin's boat - but, like Colin, our boatman, there are subtle changes. And it's that dichotomy of, on the one hand everything looking exactly the same as your last visit and, on the other hand you soon notice that lots of changes have taken place.
You notice them as you walk up the track to Cristin, opening and shutting gates, looking over walls, saying hi to the sheep, the Welsh Black cattle and their new calves, passing the farm with its new tenants, past the old Schoolroom and then, turning right up the last few yards up the slope, through yet another gate into Cristin's top yard. Here, on a Saturday morning, is where the Warden, Steve and his Assistant will be waiting for you.
The tractor and trailer arrive and dump all the bags down on the track so everyone helps to get them up to the Observatory - and then, out comes the tray with coffee and tea and we all sit on the benches and the week begins.
I have made this journey many times this year, every time with my friend of the same name, Bevan, and we have had some great weeks with lots of stories to tell. Stories of generators, fishing for mackerel, birding, hard sweat whilst doing voluntary work, wonderful meals prepared by none other than the world's top chef who has to remain anonymous otherwise Royalty would be chasing him. Stories of rarities like Yellow-browed Warblers, Red-flanked Bluetail, not to mention the island's specialities like all those Chough, Raven, Peregrine, Manxies etc. etc. Watching the lighthouse attraction which proves that many many species of birds migrate over Bardsey at night. And those evenings when we all get together in the sitting room at Cristin after a glorious meal, to relate our wildlife observations of the day which are recorded for posterity.
This year we had a mega - its only the second occurence as far as research has discovered, to take place on the island - a wedding in the Chapel and a blessing in the Abbey ruins. And it was the wedding of our Warden, Steve to his wonderful wife Emma. And we believe it really was the first time that a wedding on Bardsey had been conducted by a Bishop - and a birdwatching Bishop to boot, wearing a pair of binoculars under his cassock "just in case"!
Yes, the year 2007 is certainly a year to remember. We will not forget David, who has been our assistant warden for two years, who has now moved on. We will not forget another Dave and his wife who have been farming the island for several years, who have also moved on - to another island off the west coast of Scotland. But 2008 will still find Emyr working for the Trust, Ernest and his wife Christine living on the island in the summer, and of course, their son Colin, again running his boat every Saturday across Bardsey Sound to bring us all back to this wonderful island of "Avalon", Ynys Enlli, island of 20,000 Saints and even more birds.
I could go on and on about happenings on Bardsey this year but will stop now. My advice to you is, as the Bardsey Crier, "OYEZ OYEZ - go there yourself and experience the island, its wildlife and its people". You will return to the mainland a different and more peaceful person.
More news next year i.e. tomorrow!
1 comment:
This is the end of the TENTH year I have spent as the Observatory Warden on the island, I can as one of the longest serving residents in recent times, agrre with everything Bev has written here. If you do come tyo the island you will go back home a different person, hopefuly for the better. And as Bevan mentioned, the tray of tea and coffee is always ready and waiting for new and old visitors alike. Hope to see all the old faces in 2008 and some new ones maybe?
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