C. W. Nicol is a Japanese citizen and the C. W. Nicol Afan Woodland Trust is a Japanese foundation, however, 'Uncle Nic' also speaks English and our trust has English-speaking members. This little corner is to keep in touch with them and for any of our Japanese friends who might like to polish their English.

September 2009.

TWINNED FOREST

   Our woodland trust here in Nagano is almost certainly the first forest to have a 'twin' or 'sister' forest. Seeing the success made in restoring woodland and a vibrant nature to the Afan valley in South Wales, close to Neath, where I was born, inspired me to devote my life and money to restoring wildlife and woodland biodiversity here in Nagano, my home since 1980. I first visited the Afan Argoed Forest Park, just a short drive from Neath, in 1986, and there met Chief Ranger Richard Wagstaff. When we began moving to establish our woodland trust here in Japan I invited Richard to come over to see our woods and what we were doing. We impressed him, and despite the much greater size of the park in Wales, and the fact that it is a national park, Richard and other officials of the Afan Argoed Forest Park agreed to 'twin' with us when we established the trust in 2002. Since then we have had excellent relationships, exchanging ideas, information and visits. (The most memorable visit occurred last year, when His Royal Highness Charles, the Prince of Wales came to visit us in October of 2008, even before he had visited our 'big sister' in Wales!)

   I paid a visit to the Afan Argoed Forest Park and met again with Richard this summer (in July, 2009). Our relationship is celebrated with panels in the main exhibition hall of the Visitor Centre, not to mention the 'Kanji Woods' - a small park within the Afan Argoed Park, all planted with Japanese trees.
   We should be able to move into our own centre by the end of next year, 2010, an occasion for which we have many plans. I have a dream for a new programme of exchange and communication between Japan and Wales. I discussed this with Richard when I visited him at the Afan Argoed Forest Park visitor centre.

   The idea is this: Both forests have many species of flowers, birds, animals and insects in common. Both forests have species which are different and unique. Let local children explore the forests and find the species that interest them, making sketches or digital recordings, or, as in the case of some insects or flowers, bring them to their own centre. We then can create a 'real time' link between Welsh and Nagano children, linking two centres by the Internet and showing images on a large plasma screen. The children will find out what is common and what is unique.
   Some people worry about the language gap. I don't. Children, with a little bit of help, can easily bridge that.
   The programme could go on to include local legends, history, foods, cooking. I am sure that Welsh children will be fascinated by Japanese wild mountain vegetables, and that Nagano children will be surprised that the Welsh eat 'nori' (laver) seaweed. We both have dragon legends, the red dragon of Wales and the black dragon of Mount Kurohime. And so on. As for the time difference, it is just right. Five in the afternoon in Nagano would be nine a.m. in the morning in Wales.

   Richard was most enthusiastic, and mentioned that he was deeply involved in the local Board of Education.
   I also visited the Welsh forestry officials, and among other projects discussed the children's programme. They too showed interest and said that Richard Wagstaff was just the man to get the Welsh side on board.
   In the meantime, we are all looking forward to the opening of the new centre, a great event for which I am deeply grateful to so many of you, dear friends and trust members!

C. W. Nicol
Chairman
The C. W. Nicol Afan Woodland Trust
Nagano
Japan

Past Contents（これまでの記事）

JUNE 2009.    "GREEN BANKS"