Other Local Groups
Badger Watch and Rescue Dyfed
Badger Watch and Rescue Dyfed covers the counties of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. We are part of Badger Trust Cymru and care for road casualties, snared and baited badgers and return them to the wild after they have been treated and checked over by a vet and given rehabilitation if need be at specially adapted facilities we have at Whitland and Llanybydder.
The group have carried out surveys for the County Councils of Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, Western Power and most of the Utility companies in the area. We advise developers and road builders on how to avoid causing harm to wildlife and badgers and their setts.
We also on behalf of the Countryside Council for Wales, supervise any work being done involving badgers. Also talks about badgers are given to schools and other interested groups.
B.W.R.D. are members of the Partnership Against Wildlife Crime, Animal Welfare Network Wales and the All Party Animal Welfare committee of the Welsh Assembly government.
For further details contact 01570 480571 / 01554 835427 / 01994 240320.
Carmarthenshire Bird Club (http://www.carmarthenshirebirds.co.uk)
Carmarthenshire Bird Club was formed in 2003 and replaced the former organisation in the county – Carmarthenshire Ornithological Recording Committee. Since formation membership has grown to more than 120, giving the club a financial stability and a considered voice at county level.
The club undertakes the following responsibilites:
We promote observations and submissions of records and colllate these records into an annual bird report. Other publications may be produced from time to time.
We encourage monitoring of any species of bird which occurs in the county and are beginning to get involved in conservation matters. This might involve identifying important sites or problems faced by individual species.
We maintain a website on which sightings (of all taxa not just birds) can be posted but also has all previous county reports posted on it,thus acting as an important reference point for anyone interested in the birds of Carmarthenshire.
We organise field trips (some outside the county) and meetings for our members.
Carmarthenshire Tree Sparrow Project
The population of Tree Sparrows on the floodplain of Afon Tywi is estimated at 100–400 pairs. This is a minimum of 30% of the Welsh popualtion but probably closer to 60–70% of this red–listed species. It is the only population of more than 50 pairs remaining in Wales. Between 60 and 80 pairs nest every year in nest boxes. Pairs make between one and three attempts between April and August. Productivity is slightly lower than in the rest of UK (3.43 young raised per successful attempt compared to 4.28) but the population seems stable.
The tie between the Tree Sparrows and the flood plain has been investigated and is believed to be the invertebrates associated with the standing and slow flowing water found in ditches and ox–bow lakes. The Tree Sparrows feed their pulli on insects. An analysis of faecal samples showed that 23% of the diet of the pulli whilst in the nest is mosquitoes; a further 9% is midges and dragonflies.Work on two groups of nest boxes on and off the floodplain shows that when the boxes are 13 metres vertically and 50 metres horizontally away from the floodplain, breeding success drops dramatically.
All pulli are ringed and recently have been colour–ringed. The limited recapture and resighting data gathered to date suggests that individuals are highly sedentary, with the longest distance travelled so far being 1.8km.
A winter feeding programme is carried out at several sites along the floodplain and is important in maintaining the level of the popualtion. In addition householders close to the river who feed their garden birds are important in supporting the Tree Sparrows.
Carmarthenshire Moth & Butterfly Group
Moths in Carmarthenshire – Jon Baker
Whilst there are about 40 species of butterfly that occur in Carmarthenshire, their much overlooked relatives, the moths are far more varied and diverse, with nearly 1200 species so far discovered in the county. Historically a very under–recorded group, a recent increase over the last decade of interest in moths has led to the creation of the Carmarthenshire Moth and Butterfly Group. In 2006 the first full annual report was published, detailing some 7000 records of over 800 species that the members of the group had recorded during the year. As county recorder I also produce free regular bulletins, to keep members up to date on all the important and rare sightings, as they occur.
A recent report by Butterfly Conservation has reported that 62 moth species became extinct in the 20th century and many more species are declining. This is likely to have a knock–on effect for other species (e.g. bats) that feed on moths. Changes to the amount and quality of suitable habitats for moths are thought to be major reasons for their decline and climate change seems also to be affecting moth distribution.
Moths have traditionally received a bad press, with often the view being that they are all dull, brown and likely to eat your clothes. This is all far from true of course, there are only a couple of species that might be a problem with your woollens and many species of moths are as spectacular and beautiful as any butterfly. Most people pass their lives without ever seeing the treasures that are out there in the darkness, waiting to be discovered.
There is a National Moth Night in August each year and public events held in Carmarthenshire.
As County Moth Recorder Jon Baker is always happy to answer any queries from the public with regard to moths. With digital cameras so commonplace these days, snaps can easily be sent by e–mail for identification and information. And if you want to join the group, receive the bulletins, or need advice on how to start moth trapping and recording, please feel free to drop Jon an e–mail or letter.
Jon Baker, County Moth Recorder for VC44 Carmarthenshire, 14 Job's Well Rd, Carmarthen SA31 3HG, e–mail: mothboy8@aol.com
Llanelli Naturalists (http://www.llanellinaturalists.org.uk/)
The Llanelli Naturalists is a local natural history society for people interested in the Flora and Fauna of South–east Carmarthenshire.
The society was founded in 1973 and is mainly concerned with recording the local flora and fauna and voicing local opinion on topical conservation matters. It also provides a forum for local naturalists to meet to learn from each other and discuss current biodiversity issues. Monthly indoor meetings are held during the winter at the YWCA, Queen Victoria Road, Llanelli and a full programme of field meetings is arranged during the summer.
The Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter includes items of current interest and reports of past meetings and the Llanelli Naturalists Bulletin contains more scientific articles.
Membership is open to all; current subscription rates are: Ordinary £5.00; Family £6.00; OAP, Concessions & Student £3.50; Junior (under 14 yrs) £2.00.
All persons attending meetings do so at their own risk. Non–members are always welcome. Weatherproof clothing & appropriate footwear should be worn at all outdoor meetings. Specimens may be brought to indoor meetings for identification and discussion.
Coed Cymru (http://www.coedcymru.org.uk/)
Coed Cymru works with woodland owners throughout Wales to encourage the sustainable management of broadleaved woodlands. Locally–based Coed Cymru Officers offer free help and advice on managing woodlands for biodiversity, recreation and timber. They can help you draw up a management plan for your woodland and advise on grant schemes, using contractors, adding value to timber and more. Lists of woodland contractors and agents, sawmillers, planting contractors, timber users and suppliers etc are also available.
Coed Cymru's headquarters near Newtown can be contacted on 01686 650777. Their website includes details of new timber products being developed, training opportunities and shows and events.
The two Coed Cymru Officers covering Carmarthenshire work within Carmarthenshire County Council's Conservation and Countryside section.
Mat Ridley generally covers the part of the county east of Carmarthen and can be contacted in Llandeilo on 01558 825308 or at mridley@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Tomos Harris works part–time covering the remainder of the county and can be contacted in Carmarthen or 01267 224840 or at taharris@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Wild Meadows (Wales) Initiative (www.wildmeadows.org.uk www.dolyddbyw.org.uk)
Wild flower meadows are colourful fields of wild flowers that buzz with the sound of grasshopper's, bees and butterflies, they also support fungi, insect and seed eating birds and other wildlife. These meadows have all but disappeared from the Welsh Countryside, many are now lush ryegrass pastures and heavily fertilised silage fields.
Where flower rich meadows have survived, they are isolated and often surrounded by intensively farmed land, making it difficult for wildlife to migrate between areas.
Wild meadows are not only restricted to agricultural land. They can also be found in churchyards and parks that have escaped the use of fertilisers and weed killers. Areas can be developed in urban green spaces, school nature areas and gardens, often areas can be restored simply through changes to the cutting regime.
Carmarthenshire has retained a relatively rich grassland habitat, especially in the 'coalfields' area in the south–east of the county where land was less intensively farmed and unimproved grassland has survived. Where intensive agriculture is dominant flower rich pastures are few and far between, isolated within wetter valley bottom or steep slopes, which are difficult to access with machinery.
In an attempt to reverse the decline, Flora locale, with funding from the Countryside Council for Wales and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, has established the Wild Meadows (Wales) Initiative. This aims to:
- significantly raise the profile of this habitat among the public, landowners and politicians – create a profile for Wild Meadows on a par with that already achieved for trees and woodlands
- increase the available resources (cash and people) invested into restoring species–rich grasslands
- improve the policy and funding climate in support of restoring and protecting the habitat
- promote and develop effective coordination of work relating to this habitat, including resource and information–sharing, among all relevant groups (e.g. nature conservation organisations, agricultural bodies, local authorities and LBAP groups)
- through the above, to substantially increase the number of species–rich grassland sites that are in a favourable condition and to extend the available resource through habitat creation initiatives.
- Encourage the production and supply of Welsh wild flora seed and plants for wild meadow projects; these include identifying and using wild donor sites for collecting seed or hay, and identifying opportunities to develop nursery–grown stock.
The website www.wildmeadows.org.uk/www.dolyddbyw.org.uk will be on line soon, and will provide a 'one–stop–shop' for information on wildflower meadow management and restoration. It will also include wildflower grasslands open for visiting, restoration case studies and other material, such as technical information.
For more information on the Wild Meadows (Wales) Initiative, or to obtain an advisory leaflet on restoring meadows contact the Project Officer Ivy Berkshire by phone on 07912 789 003, or email wildmeadows.ivy@googlemail.com
Copyright 2008 Carmarthenshire Biodiversity Partnership