Our 2019 Highlights
Oh what a year we’ve had at The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales!
As 2019 draws to a close, we thought it was a great time to reflect on just how much we have achieved the past 12 months.
But first, we must give our huge thanks to our dedicated volunteers without which we simply wouldn’t have achieved all that we have. It is thanks to these selfless, hardworking individuals who give their time for free that we are able to deliver the huge extent of conservation and engagement work that we do.
We go into 2020 feeling thankful for the hard work of our staff, volunteers and the support of all of our members!
Here are just some of our highlights for 2019:
We won an incredible FIVE awards!
(L-R) Gina, Laura and Carys were delighted to accept the Best Tourism Business Innovation award on behalf of the Trust
It is great to see the hard work of our staff, volunteers and supporters recognised through awards. We were extremely lucky to win 5 awards in 2019!
- Tourism Business Innovation Award from Pembrokeshire Tourism for our Sea Wales 7D augmented reality experience and Living Seas Roadshow events
- Parc Slip Visitor Centre and nature reserve won the Bridgend Business Forum Tourism Business of the Year award
- The new bridge in our Castle Woods nature reserve won a certificate of excellence from the Llandeilo and District Civic Society
- Our garden at the RHS Show in Cardiff won Best Feature Garden
- Welsh Enterprise Award for Best Eco-Tourism Accommodation for Oak Tree Cottage
We have secured funding for some exciting projects!
Many improvements are scheduled for Parc Slip in the next 12 months
- £400,000 awarded to make improvements to Parc Slip Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre from the Welsh Government, Valleys Regional Park Discovery Gateways initiative
- £10,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Welsh Wildlife Centre
- Healthy Reds Project received a £247,100 award from the National Lottery Heritage Fund along with an award of £49,999 from the Welsh Government’s Landfill Disposal Tax Community Scheme.
Fundraising success!
Skomer Wardens receive the new Skomer vehicle
- Funding for a new 600m boardwalk at Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve was secured!
- We raised funds for a defibrillator at both our Welsh Wildlife Centre and Parc Slip Visitor Centre
- Thanks to the hard work of the Friends of the Islands and our supporters we were successful in raising enough money to replace the vehicle on Skomer Island!
- We also raised enough funds to buy a new tractor for our Gower reserves. This is entirely integral to our work – so thank you!
Supporter-led fundraising
We were delighted to receive a cheque of £901 to go towards the Skomer Tractor Appeal
We are also incredibly lucky to have some passionate and dedicated supporters who kindly raise funds for us!
Here are just a few from this year:
- Peter Brown with thanks to illustrator Fran, Signspeed and The Darwin Centre raised an incredible £901 to go towards the Skomer Tractor Appeal
- Through an art auction, Barti Rum raised £553 for wildlife!
- Teifi Cheese continues to raise money through the sales of their delicious organic halloumi
- Two dedicated sea lovers embarked on an epic hike for our seas!
- The South Wales Classic Motorcycle Club raised £400 through a sponsored ride around south and west Wales
- Well Pharmacy raised an incredible 2,966.45 through their bag levy scheme
- Wildlife enthusiast Mike Cunningham raised over £600 for our vital Red Squirrel Project
Exciting finds!
Identifying Fungus photo by Graham Watkeys
- Rare Greater Horseshoe Bats were recorded on Skomer
- Our Conservation team recorded the extremely rare Hazel Glove Fungus at 3 different locations within Carmel Nature Reserve whilst carrying out the hedgelaying work.
Reaching new audiences!
Manx Shearwater Chick by G.Eagle
- Our beautiful Skokholm Island featured on BBC’s Land of the Wild in the summer, did you see it?
- Skomer Island had a 6 page feature in BBC Wildlife Magazine on the incredible story of the Manx Shearwater
- Our membership magazine had a makeover and is now called Your Wild Wales –join as a member to receive this quarterly magazine
- We have 600 new followers on Instagram – and counting! Follow us for your daily wildlife fix! Can you help us reach 2000 followers by the New Year?
Campaign successes
Ratty, Mole, Badger & Toad campaign for a Wilder Future
- The Wildlife Trusts’ Wilder Future campaign launched and we have since been working hard to spread the word and inspire people to make small (or big) changes and actions to secure a Wilder Future for Wales
- We had a record number of sign ups to our 30 Days Wild campaign this June! If you can’t wait until next June for your next nature challenge, get involved with our 12 Days of Wild Christmas campaign kicking off on Christmas Day!
Living Seas Wales
Our Living Seas Wales team has been busy this year!
Read their project roundup here
Milestones
The Northern Wetland Hide is renamed the Nigel Ajax-Lewis Hide
Parc Slip Nature Reserve turned 30 years old!
To celebrate we renamed the Northern Wetland Hide after the Trust’s longest standing member of staff Nigel Ajax-Lewis. Nigel has been instrumental in many projects over the years, but arguably his biggest and earliest project was the creation of Parc Slip Nature Reserve.