Remembering Mike Porter
The staff and volunteers of The Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Mike Porter in August 2025 (1935 – 2025). Mike was the Powys County…
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Chwilio
Wildlife Trust commemorates the life of Mike Alexander
Skomer Warden, author, wildlife photographer and committed conservationist dies aged 77, after lifetime dedicated to protecting wildlife and wild places in Wales.
Celebrating Seabirds and Inclusive Stories for World Book Day
Author Karen Owen shares how Skomer inspired her latest children’s book ‘Major and Mynah: Project Puffin’ and discusses the significance of her main character being hard of hearing.
My inspiration
Tony, environmentalist and author, gets inspiration from being outside. His dogs do too. Growing up with a passion for the natural world, progressing to ornithology, a deep and growing conviction…
Going nuts for nature: UK’s biggest nature challenge on course for record-breaking year this June
The Wildlife Trusts’ 30 Days Wild kicks off on 1st June.
Actor Cel Spellman urges people to go wild for the soul and for nature.
How to respond to a planning application
Most local authorities will provide plans and other documents for a planning application online. If not, you can ask the local planning authority to send you copies. Read everything thoroughly. If you don’t understand something, you can ask the case officer or look at Planning Aid Wales.
How to comment on an LDP
A Local Development Plan must pass three ‘Tests of Soundness’ in order to be approved by the Planning Inspectorate and adopted by a local planning authority.
Mitigation and Compensation
When wildlife could be harmed by development, local planning authorities should follow a step-wise approach to reduce that harm, known as the ‘mitigation hierarchy’. This is required in National Planning Policy.
National Planning Policy
Planning is a devolved matter in Wales – meaning that Wales has its own primary planning legislation (the Planning (Wales) Act 2015), and that local planning authorities in Wales must comply with the plans and policies set by the Welsh Government.
Local Development Plans (LDP) Process
A Local Development Plan (LDP) is a strategic document written by the Local Planning Authority, setting out how much development should take place in the area, what kinds of development are needed, and where new development should be built.
Running a local campaign
If there is a development that significantly threatens wildlife, you may want to raise awareness and support by running a local campaign. Such campaigns can serve several purposes, such as encouraging more people to respond to the planning application and showing the level of concern to the developer and the planning authority.
Developments of National Significance (DNS)
Applications for some large infrastructure projects are decided by Welsh Ministers instead of the local planning authority. These include energy projects, roads, railways and airports, dams and reservoirs and certain waste facilities, subject to various thresholds, and are called Developments of National Significance (DNS).