The Widllife Trust Working With Local Communities
The Wildlife Trust has undertaken and facilitated community projects of all sizes, ranging from the creation of new nature reserves to the transformation of areas of land, to smaller projects which either instantly improve an area or provide training and education for communities.
The Trust is working with a number of Communities First groups on projects to create new reserves such as the one at Cwmgors and Evanstown.
The Wildlife Trust has also been involved with a number of smaller projects which the Trust uses to engage commuinities, raise awareness and to encourage community participation. Here are just a few of the smaller projects we have been involved in.
Wildlife Window Boxes
This project has been used across the South Wales valleys and shows how everyone can get involved in helping wildlife even if they don't have a back yard - a window space is all you need! The boxes are planted with wildlife friendly plants which are good fior the environment and look visually attractive as well.
Bird and Bat Nest Boxes
To date the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales has made over 3,000 nest boxes with communities and schools in the South Wales area. These nest box kits are made by the Wildlife Trust and constructed by the community groups.
Community Clean Ups
Community clean ups take place throughout the year. Working with Keep Wales Tidy we encourage local communities to clean up an area they wish to transform into a nature area rather than a fly-tipping zone.
Hanging Gardens of Wales
Hanging baskets provide an attractive focal point for buildings and can be a valuable source of food for wildlife. This hanging basket project has been undertaken in Bettws, Bridgend, where a small community assisted by the Wildlife Trust and Communities First, undertook a hanging basket and gardening workshop sponsored by a local housing association.
The baskets have been used to decorate the front of buildings around the village.