Brecknock Nature Reserves Update August 2023
It's been a busy summer for our Brecknock team with lots of work on balsam and bracken!
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Chwilio
Brownfield
The uncontainable nature of wildlife is perhaps clearest in brownfield sites – previously developed land that is not currently in use. The crumbling concrete of abandoned factories, disused power…
Slow worm
Despite appearances, the slow worm is actually a legless lizard, not a worm or a snake! Look out for it basking in the sun on heathlands and grasslands, or even in the garden, where it favours…
Thongweed
One of the longest seaweeds native to the UK, thongweed helps create a beautiful underwater forest to rival that of any on the land!
Red-and-black froghopper
This distinctive bug is often seen basking on low-growing plants in spring and summer.
The Elephant In The Room
Late summer is the best time to discover one of the UK’s chunkiest caterpillars, the elephant hawk-moth.
Whooper swan
The whooper swan is a very rare breeding bird in the UK, but has much larger populations that spend winter here after a long journey from Iceland. It has more yellow on its yellow-and-black bill…
Violet ground beetle
Violet ground beetles are active predators, coming out at night to hunt slugs and other invertebrates in gardens, woodlands and meadows.
Penderi Cliffs
Maritime cliff and slope, upland Oak woodland and lowland heathland. Notified SSSI.
Common polypody
The common polypody is a hardy fern of damp, shady places in woodlands. It also makes a good garden fern. It has ladder-like, leathery foliage with pimply undersides - these spots are the spores…
Common blue
The common blue butterfly lives up to its name - it's bright blue and found in all kinds of sunny, grassy habitats throughout the UK! Look out for it in your garden, too.
Bilberry
Bilberries appear in summer and early autumn and are often turned into jams, pies and sauces...