Cloudbridge

These little chaps are always flitting about the classroom and down by Anna and Alan's house...not bad company!

After leaving Soph and Rob in San Isidro, we arrived by bus in San Gerardo de Rivas in the middle of a rainstorm, and were met by a smiling, very hairy, umbrella-wielding Frank, our new team leader for our next volunteer project. Within minutes of arriving we had been flanked by 6 more super-smiley faces of our new co-volunteers who were all down in the village on the weekly supply run. Never before have I met a group of such welcoming people who have made such a positive impression within seconds of meeting them. After a hasty shop, we were bundled into the back of the van, and hurtled up the dirt track road to our home for the next 5 weeks…and so began our next adventure at Cloudbridge Nature Reserve, in the incredible Cloud Forest of Costa Rica.

Cloudbridge is an incredible place to find yourself. It is a private nature reserve, but unlike most of the other reserves in CR, it does not charge you to enter, and its main purpose is to preserve existing forest, reforest damaged land and educate both local people and tourists about the plight of our forests, and the need to conserve our precious forests.

How's this for an office?

Cloud forest is characterised by being highland forest (Cloudbridge is at just over 1500m in altitude) which maintains nearly 100% humidity year round. Typically you will find them to have clear mornings, with cloud and thick mists rolling in around lunchtime, and then extensive rain-showers in the afternoon. Cloud forests are essential for capturing, storing and filtering water that then feeds the communities downstream, so it is crucial that these forests are preserved.

Cloudbridge was once mainly used for arable farming, and as a result much of the forest was cleared. The team at Cloudbridge have now spent many years reforesting the land by either planting new trees or by allowing the previously farmed land to naturally regenerate, so that now the entire area is forested again. Bro and I are so excited to be part of this.

Our day-to-day life starts by getting up 6am, then after a quick breakfast we work throughout the morning until about 1pm, in time (usually!) to get everything away before the rain sets in. Then the afternoons are free for us to do as we please…mainly playing cards, reading, baking, cooking or on those rare occasions when there’s no rain…explore the wonderful forest trails around the reserve.

At the moment our major project is building a new dorm for the centre so that it can host school groups of students and educate them about the forest. In the last two weeks, I’ve learnt how to use a table saw, a chop saw, an electric drill, a tri-square and a spirit level, I’ve learnt how to block, how to hammer without bending the nail (usually), and how to build a roof. I’ve sweated, I’ve hammered until my arm is sore and I’ve covered myself (and everyone else) in sawdust from head to toe! And I’ve loved it!

Alan drilling the doorframe

Brodie swinging in the doorframe

David pretending to do stuff!

It's looking more like a building at least! (Spot the Brodie!)

I’ve also gone ‘frogging’ with resident researcher Jenn, where we’ve traced transects through the forest in search of frogs, and I’ve helped her identify those we catch…just Emma’s cup of tea!

We also of course do some tree-loving: Clearing the vines to free-up the newly (or relatively-newly) planted reforestation trees. Always a warm-fuzzy activity (even when you have a half hour walk up a hill to get there!) :)

So I think you might say, we’ve landed on our feet…