Opportunities for Field Research FSC Discovery Centre: South

ABOUT THE DISCOVERY CENTRE: Margam Discovery Centre is a state of the art, low carbon footprint building located within Margam Country Park run by the Field Studies Council in partnership with Council. It provides research opportunities to students both in the Park and at other nearby locations by providing: field site advice, basic field equipment, workspace, free Wi-Fi and accommodation if required (subject to availability). Accommodation consists of en suite single, twin, three or four bed bedrooms. There are classrooms and common rooms with drink making facilities. The Centre has a small shop and bar facilities. It is a 10 minute drive from Port Talbot railway station and only 5 minutes from junction 38 of the M4.

FIELD RESEARCH AREAS: Margam Discovery Centre is well situated for a range of field research. The Country Park offers a range of ecosystems from freshwater ponds and streams to mixed woodland and grassland. There are large herds of deer, including the rare Pere David deer. It is also one of Wales’ richest bat locations. The centre is within easy driving distance of the extensive sand dunes of Kenfig, the upland ecosystems of the Brecon Beacons, the rocky shores of the AONB and other protected habitats such as Crymlyn near . There are also many local geographical studies that could be carried out on topics such as post-industrial landscapes, regeneration, rebranding and impacts of tourism.

SOME SUGGESTED RESEARCH TOPICS Title Locations The effect of deer browsing on plant and invertebrate biodiversity (MP) MP Social behaviour of deer species MP Influence of habitat structure and time of year on tick abundance (linked to pathogen screening) MP Bat ecology and distribution – wide variety of possibilities and existing projects MP The influence of woodland structure on bird communities and biodiversity MP, OX Freshwater biological communities MP, KF, CM Mustelid diet and distribution MP, KF The impact of Rhododendron on soil dwelling invertebrates and plant diversity MP, KF The effectiveness of Rhododendron / non-native plant control MP, KF Public perception of nature / ecosystem service and functionality studies MP, KF, OX, CM Impacts of dog walking on sensitive ecological communities (effect of dog fouling/parasite distribution) MP, KF, OX Evaluating the impact of fieldwork on sites MP, KF, CM The impacts of trampling on vegetation and animal communities KF, OX The effect of browsing on sand dune plant communities KF, OX orchid distribution and ecology ( KF, OX Occurrence and distribution of medicinal leech* KF Rocky shore and tidal ecology (KF- Sker Point & The Gower) Various Plant communities at Crymlyn Bog CM Impact of nutrient enrichment, grazing and other management strategies on bog communities CM Strandline Invertebrate communities OX, KF Impact of the use of ICT in fieldwork (in conjunction with FSC staff) - The effect of field courses on behaviour change in students ( in conjunction with FSC staff) - Tourism studies – The Gower, Swansea, Kenfig, Brecon NNP GeoPark - Industrial and post-industrial landscapes and environmental impact in Swansea/Port Talbot - *Note: some species (e.g. Medicinal leech) are legally protected and require a license via NRW before research is done. MP = Margam Park, KF = Kenfig, CM = Crymlyn Bog, OX =

This list is not exhaustive. Contact the Centre to discuss these suggestions or any others of you own in more detail. More information on key field sites is provided overleaf.

FIELD LOCATIONS

MARGAM COUNTRY PARK: Margam Park country estate is situated on the narrow coastal plain and southern slopes of Mynydd Margam. There has been over 4,000 years of continuous human habitation, with evidence of Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman and Celtic occupation. A monastery and an abbey were founded in the 12th century, then after the Dissolution, successive owners built and rebuilt their houses on the site. The present 19th century was a family residence until the Second World War. The estate was opened by Council as a Country Park in 1977. The Park lies on the South Wales Upper Carboniferous coal measures, which in lower latitudes is typically dominated by oak, birch or alder woodland. Before the last century, much of the Park’s woodland remained, but during the First World War, the need for timber led to deforestation. Today broad leaved, coniferous and mixed woodlands, scrub, grassland, bog, lakes and streams habitats provide a diverse range of habitats. The large deer herd that ranges freely in the Park, possibly introduced by the Romans, presently consists of approximately 300 fallow deer with, in recent decades, the introduction of a herd of about 60 red deer and about 30 Pere David deer (an endangered species which is part of a breeding programme run with Whipsnade Safari Park). Margam Park is one of Wales’ richest bat sites with at least 10 species present, including Barbastelle, Brandt’s and Nathusius’ Pipistrelle. The bats are monitored as part of the Margam Bat Project. On-site monitoring: Daily Met Office meteorological readings have been taken since 2013. Regular live moth trapping is carried out. Birds, mammals, invertebrates and fungi are systematically recorded. A new Centre pond (2017) is monitored monthly.

KENFIG NNR (4 miles from Margam): This is one of Wales' best sand-dune systems. It includes areas of dune slack and is bordered by sandy shores with some rocky shores at Sker Point. The adjacent Kenfig Pool is 's largest lake. With more than 90 percent of UK’s plant species, Kenfig is noted for wild orchid species including Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea), Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera), Fen Orchid (Liparis loeselii) and Autumn Lady's Tresses (Spiranthes spiralis). Other flora include Autumn Gentian (Gentianella amarella) and Sea Holly (Eryngium maritimum). The dunes also support rare fungi including False Morel (Gyromitra esculenta), Nail Fungus (Poronia punctata), Winter Stalkball (Tulstoma brumale), a white milkcap, Lactarius controversus, and a salt-tolerant inkcap species, Coprinopsis ammophilae. Rare terrestrial sand dune invertebrates include a weevil, Tychius quinquepunctatus, the Shrill Carder Bee (Bombus sylvarum), a Solitary Wasp (Minumesa littoralis), a snail-killing fly (Pteromicra pectorosa), and a Robber Fly (Pamponerus germanicus). Kenfig Pool has a diverse aquatic invertebrate community, which includes Caenid Mayflies (e.g. Caenis luctuosa), Damselflies, Pea Mussels (Pisidium spp.) and the Medicinal Leech (Hirudo medicinalis). Wildfowl and waders are abundant around Kenfig Pool, especially in the winter.

CRYMLYN BOG & PANT Y SAIS BOG NNR (11 miles from Margam): Crymlyn Bog, sitting within the city of Swansea, lies in a large post-glacial depression and is the largest lowland fen in Wales. It has rare areas of Transition Mire, with a mix of acid tolerant and alkaline loving plants, and small, unstable areas of floating vegetation called Quaking Bog, under constant threat by the growth of Common Reed (Pragmites australis). It is also threatened by nutrient enrichment and the lack of suitable grazing. The plants species present include Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus), Bog Bean (Menyanthes trifoliata), Marsh Cinquefoil (Comosum palustre), the nationally rare Slender Cotton grass (Eriophorum gracile) and Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis), which is increasingly threatened in the UK due to wetland drainage. The reed beds are breeding sites for Reed Warblers (Acrocepholus scirpaceus), Sedge Warblers (Acrocepholus schoenobaenus), Reed Buntings (Emberiza schoeniclus), Cetti's Warbler (Cettia cetti) and Water Rails (Rallus aquaticus). The smaller Pant y Sais bog has species such as fen raft spiders, grass snakes and water shrew.

THE AONB (20 to 40 miles from Margam) & OXWICH BAY NNR (27 miles from Margam): The Gower AONB, was designated in 1956 for its classic limestone coast and the variety of its natural habitats and scenery ranging from fragile dune and salt marsh to the dramatic cliffs, intercut by sandy beaches. Inland, the hills of Cefn Bryn and Rhossili Down dominate the landscape of traditional small fields, wooded valleys and open commons. The AONB has many excellent field sites. One of the most diverse is Oxwich Bay NNR, which has a good diversity of orchids and other wildflowers (over 600 species) and abundant birdlife. Rare insect species include Cepero's Groundhopper (Tetrix ceperoi), which feeds on moss, lichen and algae in the dunes, the Strandline Beetle (Nebria complanata) and the Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense).

BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK (20-45 miles away from Margam): The National Park, established in 1957, stretches from Llandeilo in the west to Hay-on-Wye in the northeast and Pontypool in the southeast. The western Brecons gained European and Global status in 2005 as Fforest Fawr Geopark. In 2013, the Park achieved International Dark Sky Reserve status. Most of the Park is bare, grassy moorland, with scattered forestry plantations, mixed woodland and pasture in the valleys. It is known for remote waterfalls including the Henrhyd and Ystradfellte Falls and caves, such as Ogof Ffynnon Ddu. There are several National Nature Reserves including Craig-y-Cilau near Crickhowell, Craig Cerrig-Gleisiad near Brecon and Pwll-yr-Wrach near Talgarth.

PORT TALBOT/NEATH/SWANSEA: The urban and industrial landscapes of Port Talbot, Neath, Swansea and South Wales valleys are all within reach of Margam and make ideal research opportunities for geographical studies around industrial and post- industrial topics and as well tourism, settlement and population studies.

BENEFITS OF CARRYING OUT FIELD RESEARCH BASED AT MARGAM PARK

 FSC Staff Support. Local knowledge and practical advice on locations, field sites and access agreements.  FSC Safety Systems. Exemplar risk assessments for field sites. Indirect supervision for lone working field researchers.  Environmental Context. Existing studies provide an environmental context for new research.  Meteorological Data. Meteorological records since 2013, collected in line with Met Office standards.  Long-Term Data. Free access to any existing data sets and monitoring or survey data.  Margam Estate/Country Park. Nationally important species, biodiversity and geomorphology. Links to local partner organisations and conservation staff.  Secure Site. Safe installation of monitoring equipment. Field sites managed to support long-term data collection.  Facilities. Workspace (with free Wi-Fi) for individual researchers and groups, with access to field equipment  Accommodation. Full board and lodgings (subject to availability).

HOW TO USE FSC MARGAM DISCOVERY CENTRE FOR YOUR RESEARCH:

Summer Research Camps The Centre offers accommodation and basic research facilities, in selected weeks over the summer, open to any higher education students collecting field data for research projects or dissertations. Visit the FSC Higher Education web pages to find dates. During these periods centre staff are on-site each morning for advice on field sites and existing research data. Students may book any number of days during the allocated periods at £35 per night. They will need to arrange transport to the Centre and to field sites during their stay, although there many good field sites within the Country Park.

Individual Research visits Researchers may contact the Centre, outside the Summer Research Camp periods, to arrange research opportunities, either on a daily basis or to stay with accommodation and food provided. Day visits are free, residential fees and availability are dependent on which other customer groups are in residence.

ANNUAL RESEARCH SEMINARS Researchers using FSC Centres can present their work to academics, professionals and amateur naturalists at one of our Annual Research Seminars. These are currently held at FSC Dale Fort in Pembrokeshire, FSC Slapton in South Devon, FSC Millport in Scotland and FSC Malham in the Yorkshire Dales. They provide opportunities to share current research and to network with other researchers. The FSC also encourages submission of articles to the online 'Field Studies' journal.

FOR MORE INFORMATION FSC Margam Discovery Centre, Margam Park, Port Talbot. Tel: 01639 895636 Email: [email protected], Web: www.field-studies-council.org/centres/margam-discovery-centre

Mark Ward and Jane Richmond, Updated October 2017