The LBAP partnership’s annual grant fund from the Countryside Council for Wales has been agreed for 2009–10. As well continuing support for annual projects grant funding has been given to new projects to help biodiversity action plan species and habitats. In summary these are:

• Carmarthenshire Tree Sparrow Group help with funding for feed for these birds. It is now thought that the Twyi valley has 70–80% of the Welsh population and the availability of feed is one of the limiting factors to their survival. Local volunteers also help with feed for these birds and this grant is to help with this vital assistance for the birds.
• A Carmarthenshire Fungi Group based at NBGW will be set up to help record the fungi in the county and train volunteers who might be interested in finding out more about the identification of fungi and their importance in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
• A dormice project led by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales based around their reserve at Rhos Cefn Bryn – the area around this reserve is a key area for dormice in the county and improving the hedgerow connections between key areas of woodland habitat will help this rare mammal maintain and increase its range.
• Electric fencing will be bought to protect nests and chicks of Little Ringed Plovers, which nest along the river Tywi. This river SSSI is one of the most important sites in Europe for this bird that nests on the shingle banks along the river. Cattle are a real issue as they go onto the shoals and crush the nests. Electric fencing around the nests could help them successfully raise their brood.
• Hedgehog postcards will be produced to try and get records for this well-known but declining mammal. This will tie in with a national survey next year by the Mammals Society.
• A leaflet will be produced on the revised LBAP and two pop-up panels on amazing biodiversity facts about Carmarthenshire and why biodiversity is important to us in all aspects of our lives.
• Grant funding will be used for continued habitat management at our Morfa Berwig water vole project site.
• Heathland day at Llyn Llech Owain CP – working with rangers at the country park we will have a day promoting heathland habitat and species and how it is being restored there restoration. We will also work with an environmental education specialist and some young people on a workshop for them on themes around this habitat.
• We will also continue our annual funding of the brown hairstreak butterfly survey and habitat management in the county with Butterfly Conservation and the annual Sixth Form Biodiversity seminar in partnership with WWT.