Introduction
The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales
Welcome
The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales is one of 47 Wildlife Trusts across the UK. We are the fourth largest in area, covering from Cardiff and Caerphilly in the east to Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire in the west, and include three of the West Wales islands amongst our 90 or so nature reserves. We also take care of the two beautiful Islands of Skokholm and Skomer off the Pembrokeshire coastline. Our priorities are to manage these reserves for wildlife however another significant priority is to provide educational opportunities and serve our local communities by providing them with wildlife opportunities on their doorstep. As a charity we rely on gifts and donations, we minimise our costs and fundraise responsibly. We are also committed to the long term well being of the planet and conserving its resources, this is why we are promoting the 10:10 campaign.
We hope you enjoy visiting our website and finding out more about the Trust and our work. And of course once you have visited us virtually, why not come out and visit us in person? We would be delighted to welcome you to any of our reserves and visitor centres, and would also encourage you to join us as a member.Membership of the Wildlife Trust brings you a number of benefits, but most importantly helps us to help wildlife in south and west Wales and beyond.
Many thanks,
Prof Lynda Warren, Chairman
Who we are
The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales is the largest charitable organisation working exclusively on all aspects of wildlife conservation in South and West Wales. Registered Charity Number: 1091562.
What we do
The Wildlife Trust works for a better future for all kinds of wildlife across South and West Wales. Our mission is to protect and improve habitats and wildlife in our local area as well as helping people to enjoy and understand their local wildlife.
We achieve our aims by:
Acquiring and managing nature reserves - we currently manage over 90 nature reserves throughout South and West Wales (including Skomer and Skokholm islands). From ancient woodland to wetland, wildflower meadow to marsh, reed bed to heathland, they contain a rich variety of species, many extremely rare. These nature reserves form a land holding equal to approximately 4,000 acres. Of these reserves10 lie within Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas, seven are National Nature Reserves (NNRs), 40 are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and five are Scheduled Ancient Monuments.
Acting as wildlife champions - by advising on policy and planning, campaigning on wildlife issues, and protecting wildlife beyond our reserves. We provide habitat and species management advice directly to those managing land and we also work with key partners and local people to promote habitat enhancement and restoration.
Helping people understand, protect and celebrate their environment - the Trust promotes the view that people from all sections of society should have access to wildlife and the natural world for enjoyment, learning, and well-being. We invest in the future by helping all ages to gain a better understanding of nature. Our work with schools and our junior club, Wildlife Watch, is enjoyed by hundreds of children.
The work of the Trust is supported by a small permanent staff. A large amount of the Trust's activities, however, are conducted by a team of volunteers without whom this work would be difficult to deliver. If you are interested in becoming a Trustee please visit our recruitment section on the website.
Having a presence online - we recognise that we need to use new media in order to reach a broad audience. So you can catch up with us on Facebook or follow our puffins and seals on Twitter