LATEST NEWS
Major refurbishment for the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre
Popular wildlife TV presenter Iolo Williams will open the new and improved Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, in New Quay, Ceredigion, on Friday the 18th of April.
The centre’s new facilities include interactive displays showcasing the huge variety of marine wildlife found in Cardigan Bay, with interesting facts about birds, whales, dolphins, porpoise and the geology of the area.
The displays highlight important issues surrounding pollution and sustainable fishing and offer information on how people can help protect the area.
Sarah Perry, the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre’s Project Manager, said: “The new facilities will allow visitors to learn more about Cardigan Bay and its special species and habitats. The centre will also ensure people have a better understanding of the conservation work being carried out to protect the area.”
The Countryside Council for Wales, Environment Wales with funding from the Welsh Assembly Government and the lottery funded grants programme ‘Awards for All Wales’ funded the new displays.
Huwel Manley, West Region Specialist Support Team Manager for the Countryside Council for Wales, said: “Cardigan Bay is internationally important for its population of bottlenose dolphins. The new centre will ensure visitors know why it is such a special site, and how they can help protect it.”
A new aquarium full of rock pool species is also on show for visitors to see, along with a guide on how to identify local species and a brand new shop, which will donate all its profits to the centre, has been opened.
Aberystwyth University and local primary schools have already put the centre to good use by taking part in workshops, enjoying presentations about the surrounding wildlife and watching the specially commissioned ‘Bay of Life’ DVD. Pembrokeshire College also arranged a visit for students visiting from the Netherlands.
The Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre is based in the top two floors of the Patent Slip Building on Glanmor Terrace in New Quay, Ceredigion. The centre is run by volunteers and relies on grants and donations to keep it running. For more information visit www.cbmwc.org.
Boat trips around Cardigan Bay are also organised by the centre. To book a survey boat trip to see the local marine wildlife, please contact the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre on 01545 560032.
Spring and Summer in the Wildlife Garden
Whether you are planting a wildlife garden from scratch or getting out and about in an established area, the Wildlife Trust can give you advice and tips on what to do. Even if you don’t have a garden, a flower pot filled with nectar-rich plants will attract butterflies and bees—wildlife can easily be at home alongside us with a little help.
To encourage wildlife into your patch we have identified a few simple steps and tips for you to follow over the next few months:
o Put out suitable nesting material: bundles of short lengths of twigs, dead grass and dried moss even the groomings from your dog can help by providing material for birds such as robins, sparrows and other garden birds to build their nests.
o Create a new pond and once it is established with native water plants it is amazing how quickly frogs, newts and invertebrates will colonise it without having to introduce them.
o If you want to continue feeding birds while they are feeding their young ensure that you keep feeding stations clean and please don’t forget a water supply. At first young birds usually get fed on invertebrates but just to make sure that juvenile birds do not choke, put whole peanuts in mesh feeders. The food you put out will help the adults feed themselves during this busy time.
o Try to leave fruit bearing shrubs and plants such as Pyracantha, and other shrubs and hedges in particular, un-trimmed as these will be perfect nesting sites for birds, However, shrubs such as Buddleia should be cut back hard this time of year and if trimmed regularly later on, will encourage more flowers and result in more butterflies being attracted to your garden.
o Install bird boxes of different kinds—open fronted for Robins and Flycatchers and those with smaller entrance holes for blue tits. Also if you have a boggy, muddy area of the garden leave a small bare area which provides perfect building material for Swallows and Martins which are returning now to spend the summer in the UK.
o Sow hardy annuals as well, as these will benefit wildlife later on in the year, providing seeds for small birds and nectar for butterflies, moths and bees.
o Create a log pile which will become a hide-out for amphibians and reptiles and a host of beetles, and other invertebrates.
Happy St David's Day
Why not celebrate our patron saint's day with a visit to see the Wild Daffodils at our Coed y Bwl reserve in the Vale of Glamorgan? This ancient Ash woodland is a magnificent sight in early Spring with the diminutive Wild Daffodils brightening every corner nestling alongside primroses and violets. In another month the Wild Daffodils will be superseded by the blue haze of bluebells.
See our reserves pages for more details.
Happy New Year and Spring is just around the corner...
The New Year has only just begun and we're already noticing signs of Spring, there has been a sighting of a Queen Bumble Bee on 24th December feeding on the remining flowers of Verbena in a Bridgend garden!
We are getting used to hearing about plants and animals starting their activities earlier and earlier each year - we've had several reports of planted Daffodils coming into flower and Willows bursting out with Pussy Willow catkins.
Its still most likely that we are going to have lots more winter weather over the next couple of months but keep a look out for the first signs of Spring - the bright yellow flowers of Coltsfoot which appear before the 'hoof' shaped leaves; the sunny yellow flowers of Lesser Celandine to brighten up the gloomiest day and as well as planted Daffodils look out for Wild Daffodils which can be found in some of our woodlands growing alongside Dog's Mercury, a green woodland plant which is worth a closer look as it's more interesting that it at first appears.
We are always keen to hear about your sightings - let us know if you have seen some early frogspawn or noticed some unusual wildife behaviour.
Have a look at our Nature Reserve pages to help you decide where to visit in Spring to see a wide range of wildlife.
I’m dreaming of a green Christmas
During the festive season, we generate more waste than at any other time of year, from all that extra food and drink, gifts, packaging, cards and Christmas trees. Here are our top tips for a Greener Christmas
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle - The main sources of extra rubbish are packaging and cards, glass bottles, drinks cans and Christmas trees, all of which can be recycled! Check your Christmas recycling and rubbish collection services.
Don't forget to turn off your fairy lights- 15% of household electricity is wasted by leaving TVs, Hi-fi's and other appliances on standby – costing each of us an average of £37 per year – make sure you turn things off when you are not using them.
Christmas cards - An estimated 1 billion Christmas cards are sent each year in Britain, the equivalent of 200,000 trees. Choose charity / recycled cards and paper, and make sure to recycle them after Christmas. Encourage friends and family members to do the same!
Recycled wrapping paper - Buy recycled wrapping paper and use string, ribbon or wool for wrapping gifts, rather than using sticky tape. Sticky tape is not biodegradable and prevents wrapping paper being reused. Each year more than 8,000 tonnes of wrapping paper (50,000 trees worth) is used on Christmas presents in the UK.
Make your own decorations - Instead of spending money on artificial Christmas decorations that will not biodegrade, let nature decorate your home. House decorations can be made from organic, recycled and scrap materials. Try cinnamon sticks, paper bows, gingerbread, holly, seasonal berries, ivy and evergreen branches – once you have finished with them, you can put them in the composting bin. Alternatively, buy a small collection of good quality items that will last many years, sometimes even many generations!
Christmas trees - If you have been wondering which is better, the simple answer is that real trees are the more eco-friendly choice. Buy a locally grown Christmas tree and then recycle it afterwards. Buy a tree with roots, pot it and you can reuse it next year, if it can't grow again make sure you take it to one of your local recycling centres where it will be chipped and turned into useful compost or mulch.
Be battery wise - Families can get through a lot of batteries, particularly at Christmas. Batteries contain toxic chemicals, don't biodegrade, and are difficult to recycle. Wherever possible use rechargeable batteries. If you have to use non-rechargeable, then buy the alkaline manganese variety rather than those that contain toxic heavy metals (cadmium and mercury). Get a battery charger – another item to add to the Christmas present list if you don’t already have one!
Buy your Christmas dinner from a farmers' market - Buying organic will be fresher, taste better and you will be buying local produce too. Look for Soil Association accreditation, which guarantees that what you're buying meets high standards for animal welfare, conservation and the use of pesticides and fertiliser.
Say No to Unwanted Bags - We use eight billion plastic bags each year; more than 300 for every household! Always use a reusable shopping bag or reuse plastic bags. Don't accept bags that you don't need. Buy a Wildlife Trusts Wales canvas shopping bag!
Recycle your unwanted presents - If somebody gives you a present that you don't really want or your children receive a toy that is soon discarded - rather than throw it away, pass it on to your local hospital, play centre, charity, or school. To raise funds for wildlife why not raffle it or sell on Ebay and donate the proceeds to the Trust.
If you don’t already have one, put a composting bin or wormery on your Christmas present list. - Put food scraps, peelings and cuttings onto a compost heap for a blooming marvelous garden next summer. You could reduce your rubbish output by over 20% and that’s a lot of composting just waiting to happen! Many local councils offer compost bins at reduced prices as household composting reduces their waste management bill.
Give a charity or environmentally friendly gift - Sponsor an animal or give a membership to the Wildlife Trust.
When buying gifts, try to avoid items that are excessively packaged - Around 125,000 tonnes of plastic packaging are thrown away over Christmas - that's the equivalent weight of more than 50,000 festive polar bears!!!
Green New Year - Finally, why not make a green resolution with other family members to reduce the amount of waste you make, and reuse and recycle as much as you can in 2008.
Warning: Look out for hiding hedgehogs on bonfire night!
The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales are asking people to look out for hiding hedgehogs before they light fires on Bonfire Night (Monday 5 November).
At this time of year hedgehogs begin to look for places to hibernate and unlit bonfires make an ideal refuge. Hedgehogs numbers are in decline due to a loss of habitat, development pressures, possible loss of food sources due to intensive farming and the possible effects of slug pellets.
Hedgehogs have recently joined the red squirrel and bottlenose dolphin on the UK Biodiversity Action Plan list of species in need of conservation and greater protection.
The Wildlife Trusts advise people to help protect hedgehogs by following these guidelines when building a bonfire:
- Build the bonfire as close to the night as possible so there's less chance of a hedgehog moving in
- Make your pile of material next to the bonfire site and re-build the stack before lighting it
- Search the bonfire for hibernating creatures using a torch and rake before starting the fire
- Move any hedgehogs found to a ready-made hedgehog box or somewhere dry and safe away from the fire
- Before bonfire night make an alternative hedgehog home by raking up grass cuttings or autumn leaves into a pile a safe distance from the fire. Hopefully sleepy ‘hogs will choose to snooze there instead of the bonfire
Please follow this advice, it will only take a few minutes to do and could save hedgehogs from a horrible death. Hedgehogs are great friends of gardeners and are a natural pest-killer. However their numbers are in decline and we need to do all we can to help them.
Picture courtesy of Lin GanderDormouse survey- help needed please!
Are you interested in dormice? Then we would love to hear from you, especially if you think you might be able to help out with the new South Wales Dormouse Survey.
We are looking for volunteers to help check hazelnuts in their local woodlands in south Wales and identify any that have been eaten by dormice. You don’t need any previous experience, just a willingness to keep your eyes peeled. A survey pack is available that provides all the information you need to help you identify which mammals have eaten your hazelnuts, and all you need to do is send any nuts that you think are definitely dormouse-nibbled to us, for confirmation.
Although the dormouse is instantly recognisable and much loved, we are still remarkably in the dark about its distribution in south Wales. With your help we will be able to find out a lot more about where in our area they are still living, and this information will help us to protect them and their habitats for the future. For more information and to download the survey packs, click here.
Will for Wildlife 20th October to 27th October
During Will for Wildlife Week (20th October to 27th October), The Wildlife Trust is highlighting the importance of making a will – not only to look after loved ones but also to help protect local natural heritage for future generations to enjoy.
Over the past 50 years, legacies have helped the Wildlife Trust restore habitats and landscapes to the beauty and variety we once took for granted. They have helped us to save sites from the threat of development, and look after rare species, such as the otter and barn owl, which were once such a common feature of our countryside. Legacies are a way of protecting these precious species and sites so that they can be enjoyed by our grandchildren, and great-grandchildren - forever.
With average house prices rising so steeply, more and more estates are now liable for Inheritance Tax, which can be reduced or avoided with a thoughtful charitable bequest. Visiting a solicitor to discuss your needs could save your family a lot of money, and benefit your favourite charity. The Wildlife Trust has secured the support of six local solicitors to provide discounted will writing services for supporters of the Wildlife Trust. For details of participating solicitors please click here.
Let our Gardens Live! A manifesto for gardens, people and nature!
The Forum for Gardening with Wildlife in Mind, of which The Wildlife Trusts are members, has produced a document entitled Let our gardens live! A manifesto for gardens, people and nature. To read this manifesto click here.
Bernard the Gurnard joins the call for a Marine Bill
The Wildlife Trusts are scaling up their Petition Fish campaign with the introduction of Bernard the Gurnard, an animated online petition.
The Petition Fish campaign, launched in June at the House of Commons, aims to demonstrate public support for a Marine Bill. Such has been the success of the original campaign The Wildlife Trusts are now launching an online version featuring Bernard the Gurnard, a fish frustrated by the wait for a Marine Bill.
Bernard is a Red Gurnard, a bottom-feeding fish which lives in sandy areas around the UK coast. Gurnards have two unusual features: they can walk (using slender ‘fingers’ - actually fin spines – to creep along the seabed) and they can ‘talk’ (they grunt and croak, perhaps to communicate with each other). To see Bernard the Gurnard, click the link on The Wildlife Trusts’ homepage www.wildlifetrusts.org
During the summer, 200 Petition Fish will be on display at Wildlife Trusts’ events throughout the UK and thousands of signatures have already been gathered. To show support, simply sign your name on a gold or silver scale and attach it to the fish. The campaign will reach a climax on Wednesday 10 October when all 200 Petition Fish will return to Westminster for an event with MPs. The following week, the petition will be delivered to Downing Street, in a final bid to keep the Marine Bill afloat.
Marine development manager, Lisa Browning, said: “The Wildlife Trusts have been campaigning for many years for new laws to protect marine wildlife. The Government promised a Marine Bill in 2005 but we’re still waiting for it. There have been two major consultations but, in spite of all the work that has gone into it, the Government’s enthusiasm for a Marine Bill seems to be waning. The Bill wasn’t even in Gordon Brown’s list of priorities for the coming year.
“That’s why the Petition Fish campaign is calling for the Marine Bill to be included in the Queen’s Speech in November – which would show a renewed commitment from the Government to improve the protection and management of the UK’s marine environment.”
MPs support The Trusts’ call for a Marine Bill
Madeleine Moon MP and Nia Griffiths MP have supported The Trusts’ call for a Marine Bill in the next Queen’s speech. The Wildlife Trusts launched Petition Fish to MPs at an event in the House of Commons on June 5th. Madeleine Moon MP and Nia Griffiths MP attended the event and signed a ‘scale’ on a giant Petition Fish to demonstrate their commitment to the Marine Bill. Throughout the summer Wildlife Trusts around the country will also collect signatures on Petition Fish. The completed Petition Fish will be brought back to Westminster in the autumn.
The Marine Bill White Paper (launched in March) is an important step towards better protection for UK seas and marine wildlife, but there’s still a long way to go. Government has pledged to deliver a Marine Bill during the current Parliament, but serious delays in the Bill’s development may have put it at risk. The Wildlife Trusts are urging MPs to help keep the Marine Bill afloat by pledging support for the Bill and by conveying the importance of the Bill to the new Prime Minister. We are very pleased to have the support of Madeleine Moon and Nia Griffiths.. It is vital there is the necessary political will to introduce a strong Marine Bill in the Queen’s Speech in November.
Stephanie Hilborne, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts says:
“Like climate change, the destruction of marine wildlife is an urgent global issue and the UK Government must take a lead by protecting our own seas. We cannot delay marine legislation any longer - the urgency to protect marine biodiversity is unquestionable. The 2007 Queen’s Speech must include commitment to the enactment of a Marine Bill. The Wildlife Trusts’ Petition Fish will help keep the Marine Bill in the public eye and make sure it gets onto the statute book.”
The UK’s seas are extraordinarily rich in wildlife, home to more than 44,000 animal and plant species – around 50% of our biodiversity. However our seas are poorly protected compared to terrestrial habitats and are under increasing pressure as offshore activities proliferate and climate change alters marine ecosystems. One of the key demands of The Wildlife Trusts’ campaign for a Marine Bill is the creation of Highly Protected Marine Reserves where all fishing and other damaging activities are prohibited.
Fun for all the family at Wildlife Open Day
Join The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales at Parc Slip Nature Centre, Tondu, Bridgend, on Saturday 16 June (12.30 to 4.30pm), to discover a wealth of wondrous wildlife and help celebrate Wildlife Week.
The open day is FREE,open to everyone and will have a range of activities and displays for the whole family. Children can enjoy pond dipping, mini beast hunts, pony rides, and the Wildlife Trust’s very own bush tucker trial - are you brave enough to try it? There will also be plenty of activities for adults to enjoy with guided walks, wildlife safaris, and information on the work of the Trust.
Extra protection for roadside verges in Ceredigion
For several years the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales have worked with Ceredigion County Council to help improve the management of roadside verges for wildlife. A network of verges had previously been identified by the Trust and Arthur Chater, Ceredigion’s plant recorder, as being of conservation interest. Dr. Lizzie Wilberforce, WTO for Ceredigion reports on a new initiative. Click here to read more.
Home Tweet Home - 31 January 2007
The Wildlife Trusts has found the perfect way to help first-timers on to the first rung of the property ladder – for our feathered friends, that is!
National Nest Box Week (14 – 21 February) is organised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and supported by The Wildlife Trusts across the UK. This year sees the BTO working closely with the BBC to launch Nest Box Challenge, a nationwide online survey, monitoring the success of nest boxes up and down the country.
Wildlife Trusts all over the country are supporting National Nest Box Week, now in its tenth year, by organising many events in honour of birds’ nesting instincts.
Many birds are starting to look for a home so now is the time to put up a box in your garden. Natural nest sites, such as hollow trees or cavities of old buildings are fast disappearing as gardens and woods are ‘tidied’ and older properties renovated. It is estimated two million baby birds are reared in nest boxes each year. If you’re lucky, a couple of courting ‘lovebirds’ will move in and, in the months to come, you will be able to catch a glimpse of their chicks.
All boxes should be positioned safely away from predators and the extremes of weather. And different species of bird require different nesting conditions. For example:
• Blue tits use traditional boxes with a small entrance hole on one side
• Swifts need boxes located high on buildings,
• Robins and wrens choose open-fronted boxes hidden in vegetation
Julie Fulton, head of people and wildlife at The Wildlife Trusts, said: “Building bird nest boxes is great fun and surprisingly easy. This is the best time of year to put up new boxes and clean out your old ones ready for the spring. There’s nothing more satisfying than being able to watch a young family being raised in a nest box you have made yourself.
On the 17 February Parc Slip Watch Group will be showing children how to build next boxes. There will be a small charge for the materials if you wish to take a nest box home. For details of the time and meeting place click here
Will new stamps turn the tide for UK Marine Life? 31st January 2007
The latest Special Stamp issue from the Royal Mail (available from 1 February 2007) features ten 1st Class stamps with beautiful photographs of British marine life, including the moon jellyfish, the lesser octopus and the beadlet anemone. The Wildlife Trusts say this celebration of sea life is a timely reminder for the Government to fulfill its commitment to protect the UK’s seas via a Marine Bill.
It is often said we know more about the surface of the moon than we do about the underwater world that covers two thirds of our planet. More than 44,000 species of plant and animal have been discovered in the seas around the UK’s 17,820 km (11,073 miles) of coastline. Yet despite the fact that no one lives more than 70 miles from the coast , few people have glimpsed the huge variety of wildlife which lies beneath the waves - wildlife which is increasingly threatened by damaging activities and climate change.
Although the beautiful species featured on the new stamps are currently widespread and relatively common, any one of these could become ‘the next house sparrow’ (a once-common species that has suffered a massive decline and is now on the conservation ‘red-list’ ), if we continue to neglect the marine environment.
Lisa Browning, marine development manager, The Wildlife Trusts, comments: “The UK’s coasts and seas are home to a fantastic variety of wildlife, from giant basking sharks to tiny corals. Over past decades, these have come under increasing pressure from fishing, sand and gravel dredging, oil and gas extraction and many other uses. There is almost nowhere in our seas that has not been damaged in some way and every level of marine life is under threat, from top predators, such as dolphins, to precious sunset corals and delicate pink sea fans.”
One of the key demands of The Wildlife Trusts’ campaign for a Marine Bill is the creation of ‘Highly Protected Marine Reserves’ where all fishing and other damaging activities are prohibited. Such reserves will play a vital role in the conservation of threatened wildlife, becoming marine sanctuaries where habitats and wildlife will be able to recover to their natural state. They will also be important for research, helping us to understand how marine ecosystems work and the impact of human activities.
Lisa Browning says: “Such reserves already exist off the coasts of New Zealand, Australia and USA but here in the UK less than 0.001% of the UK’s sea is fully protected by law from harmful activities. If only 0.001% of the UK’s land was all that was protected, this would amount to a single wildlife reserve the size of Kensington Gardens. Such neglect would be unacceptable on land, and it’s equally inexcusable at sea.”
The Wildlife Trusts are continuing to build public support for key conservation measures within the Marine Bill, to make certain the Government adheres to the timetable for the Marine Bill and to ensure that the final Bill provides robust protection for our seas. In advance of the White Paper, due in March this year, The Wildlife Trusts are gathering petitions and letters of support calling for Highly Protected Marine Reserves.
Lisa Browning adds: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to secure new laws to protect our seas. We urgently need your help to convince the Government to ‘do the right thing’ for our precious marine life. Every letter and email will count, so please take the time to express your views. To make it easy for you, a draft letter, supporters’ guide and instructions can be found on the Wildlife Trusts website at www.wildlifetrusts.org.
And if writing to your MP, don’t forget to use one of the beautiful new marine stamps!”
23rd January 2007
New footpath in north Ceredigion
Thanks to a bit of lottery funding, Geoff Oldrid and a host of enthusiastic students from the University of Wales Aberystwyth, we are pleased to announce the opening of a new footpath in the Rheidol valley, linking WTSWW’s Coed Simmde Lwyd NNR (National Nature Reserve) to other woodlands to the west.
Photo Geoff Oldrid
The project was initiated after local residents remembered using a historic path that crossed below the waterfalls at the western end of the WTSWW reserve. The new path follows the original line, but had to be cut out over many days by the large student group, often cutting into bedrock below the shallow soils of the steep woodland. A bridge also had to be created- a real challenge in such an isolated location! A large larch tree was felled from the reserve and winched into position across the stream, before being secured and having sturdy handrails built.
The new path has also been waymarked with beautiful oak posts funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Photo Geoff OldridWTSWW are extremely grateful to Geoff Oldrid and his student team for their phenomenal efforts in the construction.
For more information, contact Dr Lizzie Wilberforce, Wildlife Trust Officer for Ceredigion, on l.wilberforce@welshwildlife.org
17th January 2007
The Wildlife Trusts respond to Defra report on pre-movement bovine TB testing
The Wildlife Trusts welcome today's advice from the TB Advisory Group on pre-movement testing and call on the Government to continue to lead efforts to promote improved testing of cattle and also improved husbandry measures (biosecurity) to control the disease.
The Wildlife Trusts believe the Government has set out a strong position on the importance of pre-movement testing which is reinforced by the Advisory Group's statement today. While we recognise that extending the testing to younger animals will be hard for the farming industry, we believe this is the right policy to tackle bovine TB.
Stephanie Hilborne, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said: “Improvements in testing will help the Government to bear down hard on bovine TB, and we await more detailed proposals on biosecurity measures. We’re keen to see the disease tackled in these ways now it’s apparent that a badger cull is not the answer.”
10th January 2007
Trusts Push for Wildlife Adaptation
Adaptation, adaptation, adaptation – that’s the message from The Wildlife Trusts, as they call on Government to focus on dealing with the challenging and broad consequences of climate change on the natural world.
The publication of the European Union (EU) report on climate change highlights stark inevitable changes which will dramatically affect humans. But what will the changes mean for wildlife? And how can the environment help humans to adapt?
As Society begins to recognise the necessity to change lifestyles, and prepare for social consequences, The Wildlife Trusts urge for consideration of the natural environment - with particular focus on the need for adaptation.
Threats to wildlife-rich habitats not only endanger refuges for plants and animals, but also put at risk the ecological services essential for people. For example, wetlands can reduce flood risk, intertidal habitats can minimise the effects of sea level rise, the provision of green roofs can provide a natural cooling system to counter urban island heat effects, and natural habitats can provide carbon storage.
It is essential to help species and habitats move more easily – or adapt - as temperatures rise, if we are to protect biodiversity and natural resources. Government has a critical role in ensuring the range of existing policy tools can help our biodiversity do this.
Stephanie Hilborne, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said: “Nicholas Stern was clear in his report when he stated ‘policies for nature protection should be sufficiently flexible to allow for species' movement across the landscape’. A large-scale approach to land management is needed. We need to identify wildlife-rich places and how to connect them together. It means providing room for wildlife to manoeuvre to shadier slopes, higher ground or alternative habitat. Time is of the essence too. Species and habitats take time to adapt. It takes time to rebuild biodiversity. If climate change is allowed to continue at the current rate they just won’t have the chance. Our window of opportunity will disappear, if Government doesn’t act now, along with many UK species.”
20th October 2006
Britain has a new and unwelcome visitor – the harlequin, the most invasive ladybird species on Earth! For furthe information visit our Wider Countryside pages or follow this link. Harlequin Ladybird
20th October 2006
Rob Parry and Nicola Cornock with their Finishers MedalsAlso congratulations to Iolo Williams, who inspired by the WTSWW team one day when they were out training at Parc Slip, agreed to run on behalf of the Trust.
19th October Red Squirrel Conservation
A report has recently been published by Steven Harris, from the University of Bristol, recently featured in BBC Wildlife magazine, suggesting that conservation efforts to protect the red squirrel in the UK should be abandoned. His conclusions were based on calculations he had performed suggesting that the likelihood (and sustainability) of success was poor, and that the exercise would be both costly and unimportant in a European context, since red squirrels in mainland Europe - the same species as our native red squirrel - remain abundant.
Whilst there is some truth in the argument that conservation efforts for the red squirrel are impractical and unsustainable where they primarily involve indefinite control of the grey squirrel, this is not the case in mid Wales. Where sufficient coniferous habitat is retained and managed appropriately, red squirrels will find sufficient refuge for minimal grey squirrel control to be required - instead the grey would be naturally excluded by the nature of the habitat. The cost of conservation is then focused on appropriate woodland management, and is sustainable. In addition, in north Wales the population of red squirrels is aided by geography, thanks to their presence on Anglesey; alien invaders are much simpler to control or eliminate on an island.
Whilst red squirrels may remain abundant on mainland Europe at present, the mid Wales population - though small - contains unique genetic types which we will strive to protect. The ancestral nature of the population also means that it is genetically more distinct from the European squirrels than the English populations, and therefore has a contribution to make to the genetic diversity of the species.
The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales will continue to work within the Mid Wales Red Squirrel Project to ensure a safe and sustainable future for our red squirrels.
Dr. L Wilberforce 19th October 2006
15th October 2006 - Cardiff Marathon - Well Done to the WTSWW team
To raise funds for the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales a number of staff and volunteers took part in this year's Cardiff Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday 15th October. Congratulations to staff and volunteers Nicola Cornock, Rob Parry and David Braham for successfully completing the Half Marathon. Thanks also go to Iolo Williams who ran the Half Marathon to raise funds for the Wildlife Trust. The team are busily planning their next fundraising challenge.
11th September 2006 - Website Launched
Its been a long time coming but today the first phase of the website of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales is launched. The Website which is found at www.welshwildlife.org is the result of many months careful planning, consultation, and hard work. The Trust's partners in the production of this site are web development and design specialists Netring media and technology based in Cenarth in West Wales. Netring were chosen for the job following a strict tendering process. Mark Kessell said: "Netring won the contract because apart from getting the price right, they instinctively knew what we wanted and their unswerving professionalism was obvious from the start. It has been a pleasure working with them and I hope this partnership will be ongoing."
Keep revisiting this site - Coming soon:
- Members Discussion Forum
- Live Camera Links from Skomer Island
- Chat room with the Island Staff
We hope you enjoy this site.
11th September 2006 - The Webshop of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales
We have launched a new online fundraising webshop and we are asking our members and supporters to shop online at www.buy.at/welshwildlife and raise money for the Trust at no extra cost to you. Over 100 retailers are accessible through the webshop, including BT, Marks & Spencer, Amazon, John Lewis, RAC and Thompson Holidays. Many retailers provide exclusive offers to our webshop, such as discounts or offering free delivery to the customer. One thing is guaranteed - you will not pay more than the high street price!
11th September 2006 - Win for Wildlife
Win for Wildlife is our slogan covering a number of activities, including ourPrize Draw and our new 500 Club. The Prize Draw has six excellent prizes and the new 500 Club offers you a chance to help raise funds and win prize money at the same time. Click on this link to find out more about the 500 Club.
4th September 2006 - Trust Welcomes New Member of Staff
The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales is pleased to introduce our new Membership Development Officer, Amanda Yeoman.
Amanda completed a BSc in Rural Resource Development at Writtle College in 1998, during this time she volunteered with Glamorgan Wildlife Trust. After completing her studies, Amanda moved to London where she spent a brief period working for the Heritage Lottery Fund before moving to Christian Aid where she was employed as a Database Administrator. In 2001 Amanda and her partner took a year out to travel in India, Nepal, Australia, New Zealand and China before moving home to Wales. For the past 4 years Amanda has worked in the Academic Registry at Cardiff University managing Postgraduate Taught records.
Amanda joined the trust on the 4 September as the Membership Development Officer. She will be responsible for managing our membership scheme and promoting the work of the Wildlife Trust to encourage members of the public to join.
If you would like to speak to Amanda about any aspect of membership, please contact her on 01656 726981 or email a.yeoman@welshwildife.org