New KIT on the Block
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The Post Over 4700 copies Also ONLINE at Your Local Community Magazine www.postdatum.co.uk Number 276 February 2019 Published by PostDatum, 24 Stone Street, Llandovery, Carms SA20 0JP Tel: 01550 721225 NEW KIT ON 2018 Harry Photograqphy © Paul THE BLOCK AN EXCITING NEW DEVELOPMENT FOR THE RED SQUIRREL PROJECT IN MID WALES! Evidence from red squirrel hairs has provided positive lid of a popular feeder box located above Llanddewi news about the condition of these iconic creatures in Brefi; a rural village in Ceredigion. This feeder box mid Wales! After collecting and analysing red squirrel contained seeds and nuts, food for red squirrels. In spring hair samples from one of the Mid Wales Red Squirrel 2018 we had seen a whopping 5 red squirrels making Project’s (MWRSP) squirrel feeding stations, we have good use of its contents, all of which was captured found a unique DNA sequence that hasn’t ever been on our trail camera along with some cheeky mating found anywhere else in the world. The Wildlife Trust of behaviour. Lucky for us, the sticky pad provided us South and West Wales are thrilled to report this exciting with a few hair samples from the reds new finding! which we then sent away to undergo The Wildlife Trust’s Red Squirrel Officer, Becky analysis of genetic haplotype. Hulme works with a team of dedicated volunteers to track down and monitor red squirrels in mid Wales. A Project volunteer had attached a sticky pad beneath the continued on page 3 FOR ALL YOUR LOCAL NEWS & BUSINESS SERVICES ALL ABOUT The Post COPY DATE for next issue: 15th February 2019 Next issue distributed: 1st March 2019 The Post Future Copy Dates April .................................................15th March May .....................................................16th April June ....................................................16th May 02/19(3) Opinions expressed in The Post are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or designer and the magazine is in no way liable for those opinions. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, the editor 06/19(6) can accept no responsibility, and hereby disclaims, any liability for the veracity of claims made by contributers in either editorial or advertising content. COPYRIGHT: All text, images and design in this publication are subject to copyright. Any unauthorised duplication is strictly prohibited. All artwork is accepted on the strict condition that permission has been given for use in the publication. Not all copy submitted is guaranteed to appear. Position guarantees are not always given. The Post is published by PostDATUM, 24 Stone Street, Llandovery, Carms. SA20 0JP. Tel: 01550 721225, [email protected] PostDatum Opening Hours: 9.30am – 5.30pm (Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri). 9.30am – 4.00pm (Wed). We do not close for lunch. 2 THE POST www.postdatum.co.uk continued from page 1 MWRSP is coming to the end of its five year funding stream, which means that work to help the red squirrels in WHAT’S A HAPLOTYPE? mid Wales may stop if we can’t find the funds to continue. Haplotype is a genetic marker, a DNA sequence that can To continue to stage 2 of the project, The Wildlife Trust help us to understand the genetic make-up and ancestry of South and West Wales needs to raise £110,000 to fund of an animal. Put simply, haplotype is a close-knit group work on the ground over the next 2 years. This will ensure of genes which an offspring inherits from one parent. that we can continue to maintain and enhance habitats for Results from these hair samples in mid Wales revealed red squirrels, but also expand our team to restore some two different haplotypes. One was already known in key areas that could be improved to make them more Wales, but the other was unique and hasn’t been recorded suitable for red squirrels. We’re also keen to investigate anywhere before! This adds a fifth haplotype to the four and develop innovative monitoring techniques to-track red already identified in the mid Wales red squirrel population. squirrels which will provide useful information to feed into future forest management plans. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR RED Red squirrels numbers in the UK have fallen from SQUIRRELS AND THEIR CONSERVATION? Firstly, it means that the work our team are doing to help around 3.5 million in the 1870’s to between 120,000 maintain and improve the habitat for red squirrels in mid and 140,000 individuals today (according to different Wales is incredibly important. This evidence also tells us estimates). We’re finally seeing positive results with more that the red squirrels in mid Wales have a high level of and more sightings of red squirrels in mid Wales, but it genetic diversity. This means that our conservation work is vital that we continue to encourage and protect these and efforts are more likely to be successful because having iconic native animals. a diverse gene pool helps populations to adapt to changing HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED? environments. With more variation, it is more likely that There are many different ways in which you can help! some red squirrels in mid Wales will have variations in We’re always on the look out for more volunteers and of their genes which are suited to the environment. These course funding and kind donations. We are hoping to raise individuals are also more likely to survive and produce kits the £110,000 needed to continue and expand this project (baby squirrels) that will also have these beneficial genes. through grants, Trust funds and individual donors like All music to the ears of the project staff and volunteers! you who want to see red squirrels thrive in mid Wales. If Our fingers are crossed that we have some new kits in mid any of these are you, please email Becky on b.hulme@ Wales come spring next year. welshwildlife.org or contact us on 01656 724100 to Becky Hulme remarked: “We are delighted to have found yet another haplotype present in red squirrels in kindly donate. For more information please visit… the mid Wales forests. The analysis suggests that mid Wales forests are an important site for the conservation of British red squirrels”. She added “without the massive time-commitment, initiative and dedication of survey volunteers, none of this data could have been recorded”. WHAT’S NEXT? The information and research that we undertake as part of the MWRSP is vital for improving conditions for red squirrels. Research evidence helps us to better understand where our conservation efforts need to be focused. We can also use this information to encourage other Project participants such as land owners, Natural Resources Wales and the Welsh Government about how we can all work towards conservation goals to benefit wildlife. But it may be that this discovery is bitter sweet. The Septic Tanks & Cesspools emptied TUTOR CENTRE FRIENDLY FAMILY OPENING MARCH 1ST Llanwrda School BUSINESS All subjects – All levels Registered Waste Carriers Call to register: Tel: 01550 720309 Mobile: 07831 461414 01550 777701 12/19(12) 02/19(1) Please send all emails to: [email protected] THE POST 3 MISSINg – Undeterred and buoyed up by research by proven experts who point to the intelligence, resourcefulness SPOT and resilience of collies, the Powell family have every reason to believe that SPOT is still out there. It is well documented that lost dogs go into ‘survival mode’ Overwhelmed with the kindness and tremendous support of whereby it knows that they only have themselves to rely the local community, the Powell family would like to thank on for survival. Basically, survival mode means that the everyone who has helped from the local community, as dog reverts to its primal instincts and prioritises food/ well as those from further afield. Devasted by the situation water safety and shelter. This is why anyone seeing her of SPOT being lost, they are all extremely grateful to shouldn’t call out to her or chase her/attempt to catch her. everyone who has supported, and who are continuing to What is needed now is that positive sighting. support them in their tireless efforts to get SPOT home; to Determined to get SPOT home, the Powell family are where she belongs and where she needs to be. asking for people in the area and indeed who may be Distinctive looking SPOT, the young collie bitch driving through the SA19 and SA20 area to please missing since Wednesday December 5th, has sadly yet continue to remain vigilant. Should you sight SPOT, to be reunited with her owners, the Powell family of please don’t attempt to call her or try to catch her under Llanwrda. Lost from another farm in Gwynfe SA19, any circumstances. If you can get a photograph of her, where she was about to receive some training, SPOT that would be extremely helpful, but please contact the is unfamiliar with the area, having never been off her owners on one of the following numbers: home farm before. There have been some possible, but unconfirmed sightings, as well as more positive sightings 07760 491 131 but nothing has, as yet, resulted in her being located. 07488 373 466 01550 777589 The Powell family would like to reiterate their gratitude for the on-going kindness and support. 02/19(12) 4 THE POST www.postdatum.co.uk 10/19(12) 04/19(12)05/18(2) Please send all emails to: [email protected] THE POST 5 06/19(12) 11/19(12) 6 THE POST www.postdatum.co.uk HOW GOOD IS YOUR WATER? WATER.