Bloody-nosed beetle
The common name of the bloody-nosed beetle derives from its unusual defence mechanism: when threatened, it secretes a distasteful blood-red liquid from its mouth. This flightless beetle can be…
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Chwilio
Black grouse
The male black grouse, or 'blackcock', is famed for its display behaviour, known as 'lekking'. A sight to behold, it fans out its tail and struts its stuff to show its…
Water Vole Project
The water vole is under serious threat from habitat loss and predation by the American mink. Found along our waterways, it is similar looking to the brown rat, but with a blunt nose, small ears and furry tail. We're on a mission to bring back this charismatic species back to the rivers, streams, and ditches of Wales!
Violet click beetle
The violet click beetle is a very rare beetle that lives in decaying wood, particularly common beech and ash. It gets its name from its habit of springing upwards with an audible click if it falls…
Adder
Our only venomous snake, the shy adder can be spotted basking in the sunshine in woodland glades and on heathlands.
Water voles return to the Thaw for the first time in 20 years
WTSWW in partnership with other conservation organisations in South Wales have been working to bring the UK’s fastest declining mammal back to the River Thaw.
Blonde ray
This large skate has tiny, prickly spines all over its back.
Woodcock
Sometimes known as the snipe of the woods, the exquisitely camouflaged woodcock is mainly nocturnal, hiding in the dense undergrowth of woodlands and heathlands during the day.
Whinchat
The whinchat is a summer visitor to UK heathlands, moorlands and open meadows. It looks similar to the stonechat, but is lighter in colour and has a distinctive pale eyestripe.
Spiked shieldbug
The spiked shieldbug has fearsome shoulder projections or 'spikes' and a predatory nature. This brown bug feeds on caterpillars and other insects in woodlands and on heathlands.
Woodlark
The secretive woodlark can be hard to spot. It nests on the ground on our southern heathlands and uses scattered trees and woodland edges for lookout posts.
Water Voles thriving on the River Thaw – a symbol of hope for nature recovery
Following a successful reintroduction to the River Thaw last summer, conservationists have released a further 140 Water Voles to help bring back the UK’s fastest declining mammal to South Wales.…