Harbour for Flowers Wales Home Discover a Worldwide Floral History That's Arrived Over Two Centuries in Burry Port Docks

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BBC Homepage Harbour for flowers Wales Home Discover a worldwide floral history that's arrived over two centuries in Burry Port Docks.

And visit our latest nature images and send us yours. South West Nature Click the map for places to go Things to do Places to go Features The Great Outdoors Meet your neighbours! Wild sights Over 60 nature Walks, Who's who in the wild - Great galleries and even Organisations local events and wild discover some of your birdsong! Look and listen volunteering! natural neighbours... Habitats Species Useful Links Rural Life Out and about! Who's out there? UK Wildlife! Useful Links Visit some great nature Find out who's doing what Find out how and where to reserves, aquariums, for nature and wildlife near spot wildlife with Wild parks and gardens. you. Britain's field guides!

More than a decade on Get the knowledge! Life through a lens Contact Us exploring the aftermath of Botanic Garden Diaries, Get up close to nature with the Sea Empress disaster, Birds in Love, Iolo Williams Byron Williams' wild gallery. Like this page? in words and pictures. & more! Send it to a friend!

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BBC Homepage Wales Home Things to do Cycling Events Head for the great outdoors! Volunteering And while you're thinking Walks about where to go why not visit some of Derek's walks South from his last Weatherman West Nature Walking television series. Things to do Cycling Events Volunteering Walks Have Your Say Walks Voyage through the dunes at Oxwich Bay, Add an event Message Board Places to go explore historical habitats near Llansteffan, stroll around Skomer Island, take an epic Walk Submit a Photo Features Send us an email Organisations Through Time from Sandy Haven to Milford, or Get the newsletter Look and listen check out over 50 walks in Habitats Pembrokeshire!More... Species Events Rural Life Head for the great outdoors with our listings of events and places to go near you. Symud eglwys More... Tair blynedd ers i Volunteering eglwys agor yn ei Contact Us Volunteers are an invaluable resource for nature chartref newydd. organisations! There's plenty to do across the Like this page? Send it to a friend! whole region, and we've got all you need to know to help you get started. Cycling After more than a walk? Then get on your bike and hit the country trails. Why not try out some Go wild nationwide at Wild Britain! of the routes that are favourites for nature addicts.

If there's an activity or event you'd like us to feature, email us at [email protected], or fill in pop-up form. 28 May 2012 Accessibility help Text only

BBC Homepage Nature Wales Home Abereiddi/Pwll-caerog walks Cistercian Way: Margam to Neath Cistercian Way: Penally to Amroth Llansteffan Wild Walk Oxwich Bay Walk Skomer Island Walk Weatherman Walking: Pontneddfechan South Waterfalls West Weatherman Walking: Worms Head and the Gower Peninsula Nature Things to do Cycling Events Volunteering Symud eglwys Walks Tair blynedd ers i Places to go eglwys agor yn ei Features chartref newydd. Organisations Look and listen Habitats Species Rural Life There are few better ways to get to know the landscapes, flora and fauna of South West Wales than on an outdoor walk. Whether it's a trek through wild woodland, a ramble Take a look through the wildlife windows and discover a wealth of through rolling dunes, or a taste of island life, we've got a nature on your doorstep at Wild taste here of some of the best in the region. Click on the Britain. map above or select a walk from the drop-down menu. Cistercian Way: Margam to Neath

Trevor Fishlock follows in the footsteps of pilgrims across the Health and Fitness landscapes of South West Wales. In this stretch he travels Entertainment: Outdoors from Margam to Neath. Guided walks in Llanelli MCP Cistercian Way: Penally to Amroth Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims as Trevor Fishlock takes a journey around the stunning landscapes of Southwest Wales. We begin with a journey from Penally to Amroth... Carmarthenshire Urban Walks Walking Wales Llansteffan Wild Walk Walking Routes A selection of walks starting from Llansteffan, Carmarthenshire. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites

Oxwich Bay Walk Visit Gower and see a rich variety of habitats and wildlife at Oxwich Bay.

Skomer Island Walk A journey around the spectacular wildlife and scenery of Skomer 31 May 2012 Accessibility help Text only

BBC Homepage Amroth Wales Home Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes Length: 3.0m, 4.8km How to get there: Service bus Amroth Grid ref: SN166072 South West Nature Things to do Cycling Abereiddi/Pwll-caero Events Volunteering Visit the woodland gardens, sandy beaches and Walks drowned forests of Amroth. Places to go Features Look out for: Amroth Church, wooded valleys, storm beach Organisations Cistercian Way: Margam to Neath Look and listen Amroth's sand and pebble beach is famous for its drowned Cistercian Way: Penally to Amroth Llansteffan Wild Walk Habitats forest - at very low tides tree stumps can be seen poking Oxwich Bay Walk Species through the sand and fossilised antlers, nuts, animal bones and Neolithic flints have been discovered. Amroth itself is a Skomer Island Walk Rural Life Weatherman Walking: Pontneddfechan pleasant hamlet with a wonderful beach in summer. Waterfalls Weatherman Walking: Worms Head and In winter beware of the southerly storms which can strike the Gower Peninsula the beach, picking up the pebble bank at the rear of the beach and throwing it across the road which runs the length of the bay. A row of cottages once stood by the road but were washed away by particularly heavy storms in the 1930s. Amroth church was granted to the Knights of St John in 1150.

Nearby, Colby Woodland Gardens boasts one of the best Have Your Say collections of rhododendrons and azaleas in Wales, with Add an event bluebells and daffodils in spring, hydrangeas in summer and Message Board wonderful autumn colours. The Woodland Gardens, owned Submit a Photo Send us an email by the National Trust, are open from April to November. Get the newsletter

Libby Taylor, Senior South Ranger for Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority has done this walk. She says: "Walkers can see the submerged forest at low water on the beach and explore What's On the pretty wooded valleys above the Cinema, shows & village. The walk passes by the lovely festivals, places to go church at Amroth." and the latest events.

Young West What's bugging you? Talk, features and pictures from young people.

Click here for a map of the route.

Symud eglwys Characteristics: Fields and livestock, bridleways, Tair blynedd ers i seafront. Includes 410 m of walking on minor roads eglwys agor yn ei chartref newydd.

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BBC Homepage Wales Home Places to Go Aquariums Attractions South West Wales has a Farm Parks multitude of places to go wild Gardens and experience nature. Visit Reserves the sections below to find SSSI's South out more about Reserves, West Nature Gardens, Attractions and Things to do more near you. Lots more places to go in our . Places to go Outdoors & Attractions guide Aquariums Attractions Aquariums Farm Parks Gardens Explore the underwater world of rivers and coasts Tell us about it! Natural History Sites in one of the many collections of indigenous There's lots of great walks and Reserves fish and marine life. places to go in SW Wales - which SSSI's is your favourite? Attractions Features Do you know how a farm really works or why the Send us your photos Organisations Quakers hunted for whales from Milford Haven? Got a great image of nature or Look and listen wildlife you'd like to share? Email To find out, visit one of the many attractions in it to us and we'll add it to the Habitats the area. Check out this guide to find out more. site! Species Rural Life Farm Parks Find out more about rural life and nature down on the farm at one of many farm parks in South West Wales. Gardens Symud eglwys Wild dingle, woodlands, riverside walkways and Tair blynedd ers i eglwys agor yn ei secluded valleys are just some of the things chartref newydd. you'll find in South West Wales' Great Gardens! Reserves From lily ponds to otter's holts, wild islands to fascinating wetlands, our Reserves section features nature reserves from around the area.

SSSIs Find out which species does what, There are many places in South West Wales that where, and why at Wild Britain. are Sites of Special Scientific Interest - but what does that really mean? Click here to read more about them. Events & Attractions in SW Wales 31 May 2012 Accessibility help Text only

BBC Homepage Wales Home Gardens

From fascinating modern gardens to timeless heritage sites, SW Wales has plenty of gardens rich in species and colour. We begin our guide right here - if there's a garden we're South missing, tell us about it! West Nature Things to do Aberglasney Gardens Begelly Park Gardens Aberglasney Gardens Places to go Small but perfectly Visit a Japanese garden Begelly Park Gardens formed - ten acres of here and a natural water Aquariums Bro Meigan Gardens restored gardens near garden. Attractions Carew Castle Gardens Llandeilo. Farm Parks Clyne Gardens Gardens Bro Meigan Gardens Carew Castle Gardens Colby Woodland Gardens Natural History Sites Variety of new and A magnificent castle with Dyffryn Fernant Garden Reserves Gnoll Estate Country Park SSSI's traditional garden a history spanning 2000 environments. years. Hilton Court Gardens Features National Botanic Garden of Wales Norwood Gardens Organisations Clyne Gardens Colby Woodland Gardens Penlan Uchaf Look and listen Famous rhododendron Woodland and walled and azalea collection. gardens near Amroth. Picton Castle Habitats Plantasia Species Singleton Botanical Gardens Rural Life Dyffryn Fernant Garden Gnoll Estate Country Park Upton Castle Gardens Plantsman's garden of Landscaped estate and four acres, including a gardens. bog garden, fernery, courtyard and wildflower meadows. Hilton Court Gardens National Botanic Garden Lakes, gardens and of Wales woodland near Hundreds of plants & Tell us about it! Haverfordwest. things to do in and There's lots of great walks and around a giant dome. places to go in SW Wales - which Norwood Gardens Penlan Uchaf is your favourite? The gardens at Norwood Landscaped, raised and Send us your photos cover an area of sensory gardens in the Got a great image of nature or approximately 3 acres. Gwaun Valley. wildlife you'd like to share? Email Picton Castle Plantasia it to us and we'll add it to the site! 40 acres of gardens and Exotic plants in hothouse woodland. pyramid in Swansea.

Singleton Botanical Upton Castle Gardens Gardens Wooded gardens on the Botanical and Ornamental banks of the Carew. Top Towns gardens in Swansea. News, views, events and essential info for SW Wales' towns.

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BBC Homepage Wales Home Aberglasney Gardens

South West Nature Things to do Aberglasney Gardens Places to go Begelly Park Gardens Aquariums Bro Meigan Gardens Attractions Carew Castle Gardens Farm Parks Clyne Gardens Gardens Colby Woodland Gardens Natural History Sites Dyffryn Fernant Garden Reserves Aberglasney Gardens offer a variety of environments Gnoll Estate Country Park SSSI's including the Cloister Garden, Pool Garden, Ninfarium, and Hilton Court Gardens Features National Botanic Garden of Wales Stream Garden, and a 18th Century Yew Tunnel. Norwood Gardens Organisations Aberglasney Gardens cover approximately 10 acres, Penlan Uchaf Look and listen including two woodlands. Since 2005 visitors have also been Picton Castle Habitats able to enjoy an award-winning 'Ninfarium', an indoor Plantasia Species garden filled with exotic plants from around the world. The Singleton Botanical Gardens Upton Castle Gardens Rural Life name Ninfarium derives from the gardens at Ninfa, to the south of Rome. Gravel pathways connect all elements of Aberglasney, and wheelchair users able to visit most areas. The History of Aberglasney House.

Open: Every day (Except Christmas Day), April - Sept 10.00 am- 6.00 pm (last entry 5.00pm), Oct - March 10.30 am- 4.00 pm. Tell us about it! Admission: Adults £6.50, OAP's £6.00, Children £3.00, Disabled £6.00 There's lots of great walks and (carers free) Under 5's - Free. Family Ticket (2 + 2) £16 places to go in SW Wales - which Address: Aberglasney Gardens, Llangathen, Carmarthenshire SA32 8QH. is your favourite? Aberglasney is situated at the small village of Llangathen, 400 yards from the A40 at Broad Oak (4 miles west of Llandeilo and Send us your photos 12 miles east of Carmarthen). The M4 motorway is 14 miles Got a great image of nature or away. wildlife you'd like to share? Email it to us and we'll add it to the Tel: 01558 668998 Fax: 01558 668998 site! Website: www.aberglasney.org

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites

Symud eglwys There's more gardens and country Been to a great garden? Tell us Tair blynedd ers i parks in our attractions section! about it! Fill in this form or email eglwys agor yn ei us at: chartref newydd. [email protected].

Opening times and admission charges are subject to change - please contact the venue before your visit

Find out which species does what, where, and why at bbc.co.uk/nature.

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BBC Homepage Wales Home Reserves

Nature reserves are a great place to observe birds and mammals in their own habitats. Below is a selection of reserves in South West Wales - if you have a reserve near South you that you would like to tell us about - click here! West Nature Things to do Bishops Wood Local Bosherston Lily Ponds Bishops Wood Local Nature Reserve Places to go Nature Reserve Bosherston Lily Ponds and Nature Reserve. Nr Bosherston Lily Ponds Aquariums Reserve and Countryside Stackpole, Cwmllwyd Wood Local Nature Reserve Attractions Centre, Caswell Bay, Mumbles. Pembrokeshire. Hillside Wildlife Corridor Farm Parks Kilvey Community Woodland Gardens Cwmllwyd Wood Local Hillside Wildlife Corridor Mumbles Hill Local Nature Reserve Natural History Sites National Wetlands Centre Wales Nature Reserve One of a network of Reserves Ramsey Island green spaces and wildlife SSSI's Oak woodland and ponds Skomer Island National Nature Reserve in an area with a history sites in Swansea. Features Swansea Vale Nature Reserve of coal mining. The Welsh Wildlife Centre, Cilgerran Organisations Look and listen Kilvey Community Mumbles Hill Local Habitats Woodland Nature Reserve Species One of the first large Multi-habitat reserve with Rural Life scale community an all-ability access trail. environmental projects in Britain. National Wetlands Centre Ramsey Island Wales Take a boat trip and visit Tell us about it! The centre features RSPB Cymru's Island There's lots of great walks and many usual and Nature Reserve. places to go in SW Wales - which incredible birds in a is your favourite? variety of water habitats. Skomer Island National Swansea Vale Nature Send us your photos Got a great image of nature or Nature Reserve Reserve wildlife you'd like to share? Email Sail away to this unique Wetlands reserve in it to us and we'll add it to the island haven for seabirds North-East Swansea. site! and wildlife off the Pembrokeshire coast. The Welsh Wildlife Centre, Cilgerran Home to many kinds of wildlife - birds, badgers, Young West butterflies and much What's bugging you? more! Talk, features and pictures from young people.

Wild Britain has loads of information about the kinds of species that you will find in Nature Reserves. 28 May 2012 Accessibility help Text only

BBC Homepage Wales Home Skomer Island National Nature Reserve

South West Nature Things to do Skomer is home to one of the most spectacular and Bishops Wood Local Nature Reserve Places to go accessible seabird colonies in Europe. Gulls, puffins, Bosherston Lily Ponds Aquariums guillemots, razorbills and Manx shearwaters are just some of Cwmllwyd Wood Local Nature Reserve Attractions the birds you can see in season along with a range of other Hillside Wildlife Corridor Farm Parks Kilvey Community Woodland Gardens birds, insects and small mammals including the prolific but Mumbles Hill Local Nature Reserve Natural History Sites elusive Skomer vole. The islands unique status is recognised National Wetlands Centre Wales Reserves by its designation as National Nature Reserve and a Site of Ramsey Island SSSI's Special Scientific Interest. Skomer Island National Nature Reserve Features Swansea Vale Nature Reserve The Welsh Wildlife Centre, Cilgerran Organisations Where is Skomer? Click here for a map. Look and listen Habitats What to see on the island Species Puffins are the island's best known residents, nesting in Rural Life burrows on the turf on the island's cliff top. Bear in mind if you're heading out to Skomer that the Puffins have mostly departed by mid-Summer.

On the cliffs you'll find a wide variety of seabirds including Tell us about it! Razorbills, Guillemots and Kittiwakes. Herring Gulls and There's lots of great walks and Great Black-Backed Gulls nest on rocky outcrops, with the places to go in SW Wales - which is your favourite? lesser black-backed gulls on the plateau. Send us your photos The island has an internationally important population of Got a great image of nature or Manx Shearwaters. Feeding at sea by day, they return to wildlife you'd like to share? Email their nests in rabbit burrows at night. The birds make a huge it to us and we'll add it to the site! noise with their raucous coughing calls as they fly in to the island.

Skomer is also one of the best places in the British Isles to see grey seals - they can be seen on rocks at low tide throughout the year, especially near the Garland Stone. From late August to October the female seals come ashore Symud eglwys to have their pups. Tair blynedd ers i Want to know more about the island's seal population? Click eglwys agor yn ei chartref newydd. here to read more from the island's warden Juan Brown.

Vegetation In spring and early summer Skomer has some of the best wild flower displays in western Britain. Spring sees an eye-

popping bloom of Bluebells carpet large sections of the Find out more about coastal island. Island vegetation is shaped by wind and salt, habitats at Wild Britain. manured and trampled by seabirds, and grazed by thousands of rabbits. Red Campion flourish in sheltered areas, with thrift and sea campion on the clifftops. Skomer Marine Reserve Feature The sea surrounding Skomer and the Marloes peninsula is Take a walk around Skomer Island also part of the Skomer Marine Nature Reserve. While the island of Skomer itself is run by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales under a lease from the Countryside Council of Wales, the Marine Nature Reserve is one of only three in Wales and is managed directly by the CCW itself.

MORE: Under the waves: Explore Skomer's Marine Nature Reserve Explore the island: three-part Skomer Island walk Gallery: Best of the Skomer Island Puffin-Cam Desktop Wallpaper: Skomer Puffins

Skomer Island is accessible by boat from 1st April to 31st October (weather permitting) and there's a fee payable for visiting, so contact the Wildlife Trust before departing for more details.

Skomer Island in the News:

Sept 2005: Work on target for £3.2 million Skomer visitor centre Feb 2005: Skomer considers curb on fishing July 2004: 'Hundreds' of dolphins spotted off Skomer April 2004: Early seal pup arrivale causes stir April 2004: Skomer's first barn owls for 100 years

Location: From Haverfordwest take the B4327 to Dale/Marloes; pass through the village of Marloes to Martinshaven. The route is clearly sign-posted from the B4327 and there is a Car Park (small parking fee payable to The National Trust) close to the landing stage. Sailing 10.00 a.m., 11.00 a.m. and 12.00 noon - and more frequently times: on demand. Return from 3.00 p.m. hourly. Length of crossing: 15 minutes approx. (no booking required). Boat Fee: Adults £8.00; Children £6.00 return (payable to the ferry company, Dale Sailing, on board). Landing Fee: (which pays towards the wildlife conservation costs on the island, run by The Wildlife Trust South and West Wales): Adults £6.00; Retired £5.00; Students over 16 £3.00; under 16 f.o.c. (payable on landing). More The Wildlife Trust South and West Wales, Welsh Wildlife information: Centre, Cilgerran, Cardigan, Ceredigion SA43 2TB Telephone: 01656 724100 Email - island nature reserve: [email protected] Email - marine nature reserve: [email protected]

Discover Skomer by Find out more about the taking a wild walk waters around the island around the island... in our Skomer Marine Reserve feature!

Opening times and admission charges are subject to change - please contact the venue before your visit 28 May 2012 Accessibility help Text only

BBC Homepage Wales Home Features Save Our Squirrels! Ask the Experts! At Home with the Buffalo From gardens to undersea environment, Iolo Williams to Begelly Park Gardens birds in love, we've all sorts of features about wildlife, Birdwatching for Beginners nature and the environment. Iolo's Autumn Colours South Nature Needs You! West Pembroke Dock's Green Flag Award 'Wildlife up close' galleries from Mark Suckling & Byron Williams Pembrokeshire Park Life Nature Secret Life of Ponds Things to do Save Our Squirrels! Ask the Experts! Skomer's Marine World Places to go Teifi Journey A project to save the Our experts answer your Features Terry's Walk Red Squirrel population nature questions. More The Wings of Love Organisations in Carmarthenshire has ... Tywi Journey Look and listen had its first success! Wetland Whoopers! Habitats At Home with the Buffalo Begelly Park Gardens Where now for Waders? Species A visit to the Teifi Discover how Useful Links Marshes Reserve at Pembrokeshire's Begelly Rural Life Cilgerran - and its small Park Gardens were family of water buffalo. brought back to life. Useful Links More ... Birdwatching for Iolo's Autumn Colours

Beginners Iolo lets us in on why Iolo Williams takes you Autumn's a great time to Have Your Say through your first get out for a nature Add an event birdwatching steps! More walk! More ... Message Board ... Submit a Photo Nature Needs You! Pembroke Dock's Green Send us an email Our nature expert, TV's Flag Award Get the newsletter Iolo Williams gives us the Learn about the school's inside story on environment work.More Volunteering.More ...... Pembrokeshire Park Life Secret Life of Ponds A look at what makes the Dragonflies, kingfishers Symud eglwys coast of the or frogs - Find out Tair blynedd ers i Pembrokeshire Coast what's living in and eglwys agor yn ei National Park so special. around ponds. More ... chartref newydd. More ... Secret Life of Ponds - 2 Skomer's Marine World Try Pond dipping - it's Phil Newman takes us great fun! More ... into the undersea world of a Marine Nature Reserve

Teifi Journey Terry's Walk Go wild nationwide at A journey through West A personal view of bbc.co.uk/nature! Wales along the river walking along the Teifi, looking at the Pembrokeshire Coastal habitats, history and key Path by Terry O'Brien. species along the way. More ... More ... The Wings of Love Tywi Journey Discover the romantic A journey along the river world of birds with the Tywi looking at the Wildlife Trust's Derek history, flora and fauna Moore along the way. More ... Wetland Whoopers! Where now for Waders? All the way from Iceland Could some waders and - Whooper swans at the wetland birds be facing Wetlands Centre!More... extinction?

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BBC Homepage Wales Home At Home with the Save Our Squirrels! Buffalo Ask the Experts! At Home with the Buffalo Begelly Park Gardens The heart of the West Birdwatching for Beginners Iolo's Autumn Colours South Wales countryside is not Nature Needs You! West where you'd expect to find Pembroke Dock's Green Flag Award Pembrokeshire Park Life Nature buffalo, but in 2003 at the Teifi marshes reserve at Secret Life of Ponds Things to do Skomer's Marine World Places to go Cilgerran half a dozen water buffalo could be seen Teifi Journey Features roaming the fields. Terry's Walk The Wings of Love Organisations Posted Summer 2003. Tywi Journey Look and listen Wetland Whoopers! Habitats These giants of the field, descended from Asian River Where now for Waders? Species buffalo, are used at the centre for grazing, a crucial part of Useful Links reserve management that helps keep the land under control. Rural Life When visiting the reserve you can get a glimpse of them Useful Links from a hide - and as you can see they believe in taking things easy.

Chris Lawrence, reserve officer for the Teifi marshes, is the man who knows his buffalos. Horses and cows were tried in Have Your Say an effort to keep the grasses at bay, but they turned out to Add an event be fussy eaters. "They just won't go into wet or rough Message Board areas," says Chris, "whereas the great thing about water Submit a Photo buffalo is that they'll graze everywhere, and break up the Send us an email Get the newsletter scrub with their horns at the same time."

"Without grazing the land would become dense and overgrown, blocking out the

light and preventing growth," Symud eglwys Chris adds "and we want to Tair blynedd ers i manage the area as what's eglwys agor yn ei called an 'open habitat', which chartref newydd. is predominantly fen and swamp."

So in came the buffalo. Hailing from Romania and Italy, a farmer from Whitland loans them to the Reserve from April to October, after which they return to the farm until the following spring. "We hope to get a much bigger herd," Mark Find out more about marsh habitats at bbc.co.uk/nature continues, "as there's still lots of work to be done."

As well as proving a draw for visitors, the buffalo mark an innovative direction for the Cardigan on bbc.co.uk South and West Wales Wildlife Wales Nature website Trust, which runs the Reserve. The first body in the UK to opt for the buffalo method, other Wildlife Trust South & West Wales bodies countrywide are said to be considering following suit. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites The buffalo are just part of the huge reserve at Cilgerran that spans some 260 acres. Home to a huge number of species, the trails that criss- cross the reserve will show you the homes of otters, water voles and countless other mammals. Birds galore swoop through the air, from the ubiquitous sedge and cetti's warblers to kingfisher, marsh harrier and even the region's airborne success story - the red kite. Overlooking the flora and fauna below is the award winning Wildlife Centre, a hub of activity year round. It's here that you can get involved in activities for all ages, and even get a glimpse of the inside of an otter holt courtesy of a micro-camera link-up. As dusk settles in you can even meet a badger outside as they come out on their supper run.

The buffalo initiative is just one of the the recent projects undertaken by the Trust at Cilgerran, with their work at the Reserve stretching back many years. The centre itself, two years in construction, was built after the Trust purchased the old Cardigan Wildlife Park in 1992. With the centre completed in 1994 it would be another year before the purchase of neighbouring marshes brought the entire area under Trust management, which was when many of the conservation plans were able to go into action.

The Trust has many projects underway across the region, and the use of th buffalo is a great example of wildlife bringing in visitors and underlining the importance of diversification in both farming and conservation. Diversifying farmers are looking to rear more buffalo for their low-cholesterol meat, and with their milk used for mozzarella it seems the buffalo's popularity can only rise!

Find out more about the Find out more about the Teifi Marshes Nature Wildlife Trust of South reserve in our Places to and West Wales in our go section. More ... Places to go section. More ... 31 May 2012 Accessibility help Text only

BBC Homepage Wales Home Birdwatching for Save Our Squirrels! Beginners Ask the Experts! At Home with the Buffalo Begelly Park Gardens It couldn't be easier to get Birdwatching for Beginners Iolo's Autumn Colours South started birdwatching. Nature Needs You! West Whether it's out your Pembroke Dock's Green Flag Award Pembrokeshire Park Life Nature window, in your garden, in a park or further afield, there's Secret Life of Ponds Things to do Skomer's Marine World Places to go plenty of places to choose from. We asked TV nature expert Teifi Journey Features Iolo Williams to let us in on his Essential Top Tips for Terry's Walk The Wings of Love Organisations beginners: Tywi Journey Look and listen 1. Firstly, get a good bird identification guide which Wetland Whoopers! Habitats has all the British breeding birds and common Where now for Waders? Species migrants in it. Useful Links It's often a matter of personal preference, but there are Rural Life several good books on the market now, so have a good Useful Links look around.

2. Start with the birds in your garden and/or local park. Most of these will be Have Your Say quite common, but there Add an event won't be too many to Message Board Submit a Photo confuse you. Make repeated Send us an email visits until you get to know Get the newsletter not only their basic shape and colours, but also take time to watch their behaviour. Birdwatching in gardens can be great fun.

3. A pair of binoculars will Symud eglwys be essential, but there's Tair blynedd ers i no need to spend a eglwys agor yn ei chartref newydd. fortune. My first pair cost only £21 and lasted me almost twenty years! If you've got the money and are looking to do a lot of birdwatching, then Leica or Swarovski are among some of the best on the Find out more about nature on market, but they could set you back up to £600 to £700. A your doorstep in good idea is to shop around for a second hand pair as this bbc.co.uk/nature could save you a small fortune.

4. Join a local birdwatching group. This is a good way to get out to some of the better birdwatching areas and to Wales Nature website learn from more experienced birdwatchers. You could also join an organisation like the RSPB or BTO or subscribe to a birdwatching magazine. RSPB Wales 5. Birdcalls often confuse British Trust for Ornithology beginners and The BBC is not responsible for the experienced birdwatchers content of external websites alike. Don't worry! Start by learning the easy ones like chiffchaff and common birds like robin and blackbird. Then move on gradually to the more difficult species and soon you'll be surprised to realise that you know most of the birds in your area. Some people use CDs, but I've always spent time out in the field listening and watching.

6. We all make mistakes, so don't be afraid. Any birdwatcher who tells you that he can identify every bird correctly is a liar!

7. Most importantly of all - enjoy it. Birdwatch to the standard that you're happy with. I get more pleasure watching my local robins nest building than I would rushing 200 miles to see a rare migrant from America or Russia.

Ever wondered how Robins survive the winter? Click here to find out how!

Iolo wasn't always an Nature reserves are a expert - he began his great place to spot birds career as a volunteer - - check out our guide to read how he got started reserves in South West here. Wales. More ... 31 May 2012 Accessibility help Text only

BBC Homepage Wales Home Teifi Journey Save Our Squirrels! Ask the Experts! At Home with the Buffalo Begelly Park Gardens Birdwatching for Beginners Iolo's Autumn Colours South Nature Needs You! West Pembroke Dock's Green Flag Award Pembrokeshire Park Life Nature Secret Life of Ponds Things to do Skomer's Marine World Places to go Teifi Journey Features Terry's Walk The Wings of Love Organisations Some 75 miles in length, the river Teifi runs through Tywi Journey Look and listen the heart of south-west Wales and is home to a huge Wetland Whoopers! Habitats number of species. Join us on a journey along the Where now for Waders? Species riverbanks from its source to the sea, or take a trip Useful Links down the Tywi here. Rural Life The river Teifi begins its journey at Llyn Teifi, its source Useful Links 1500 feet up on the western flanks of the Cambrian Mountains. It flows west through a picturesque river valley that forms a natural boundary between the Ceredigion plateau to the north and the Carmarthenshire plateau to the south. On its journey west to Cardigan Bay the Teifi passes Have Your Say through spectacular white water gorges, waterfalls, lush Add an event Message Board water meadows and shallow riffles over gravel beds that Submit a Photo provide a rich range of habitats for wildlife. Send us an email Get the newsletter The basin of Cors Caron, also known as Cors Goch Glanteifi (The Red Bog on the Banks of the Teifi) lies near the source of the river and is one of the few remaining raised bogs in Symud eglwys Tair blynedd ers i Wales. It's an important eglwys agor yn ei conservation site for a wide chartref newydd. variety of plants, particularly liverworts and mosses, and a range of insects and other invertebrates. In nearby Tregaron the Red Kite Centre has exhibitions on the birds that can be seen at Cors Caron and, of course, on the fortunes of the red kite itself.

The red kite, once extremely rare, has become a symbol for There's lots more on habitats the conservation movement in Wales, and a reminder of how including some 360-degree successful conservation action can be. The hills of Ceredigion panoramics at Wild Britain and the upper Teifi and Towy valleys were, for most of the last century, the last remaining stronghold for the bird in the UK for many years there were only 10 pairs in Wales. The first Kite protection organisation was formed in 1903, Cardigan on bbc.co.uk and more recently the Wildlife Trust of West Wales, the Take a tour along the River Tywi RSPB and the Welsh Kite Trust have contributed to the growth in numbers with around 195 pairs by the end of the last century. Welsh Kite Trust RSPB Wales The River Teifi and its tributaries are designated The BBC is not responsible for the Sites of Special Scientific content of external websites Interest (SSSI) and are also a Special Landscape Area. It's also been proposed as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), due to the presence of the bullhead (a fish which is unusual because the cock fish cares for the eggs until they hatch), three different kinds of lamprey (a primitive jawless fish which looks like an eel), and salmon. Rare plants such as floating water plantain and water crowfoot can also be found along the river.

But the river doesn't just provide a rich environment for wildlife. Man has also taken advantage of the abundance of natural resources the Teifi has to offer. Historically, net fishing from the famous Teifi coracle provided food for the communities living along the river, with sea trout (sewin) and salmon being caught, although the river is also renowned for its brown trout and grayling. At Cenarth Falls salmon can be seen negotiating the leaps during Spring from April to June, and in the Autumn during late September and early October. Sea trout make their run in summer from June to August.

In the nineteenth century Teifi coracles were constructed by platting a frame from hazel and willow gathered from coppices along the river and covering the frame with flannel obtained from the mills around Newcastle Emlyn, which was waterproofed using tar or pitch. They're still produced, though now covered with calico or canvas, and can be seen at the National Coracle Centre at Cenarth Falls. The fishing industry on the river is in serious decline however - in 1861 there were 300 coracles fishing on the Teifi wheras today only 12 people with licenses fish the river using them. Rod fishing is now a favourite pastime on the river providing a rich source of income for the inhabitants of the Teifi valley through tourism.

As the river reaches the sea at Cardigan (Aberteifi) it passes through an array of habitats including reed-beds, ancient woodland, water meadows, salt marsh, shingle banks, sand dunes and crumbling cliffs of clay which provide food and protection for marine and other wildlife. Otters are seen around the river and marshes and badgers thrive in the woods. At the Welsh Wildlife Centre at Cilgerran even Asian water buffalo can be found as theyve been introduced to manage the reed beds by controlling the growth of invasive plants like the common reed and reedmace. Management of the reed beds is important as they offer food and vital cover for birds such as cettis warbler and kingfisher, while out in Cardigan Bay the Teifis mud flats provide food for waders such as greenshank, dunlin, sandpiper and curlew. 31 May 2012 Accessibility help Text only

BBC Homepage Wales Home Tywi Journey Save Our Squirrels! Ask the Experts! At Home with the Buffalo Begelly Park Gardens Birdwatching for Beginners Iolo's Autumn Colours South Nature Needs You! West Pembroke Dock's Green Flag Award Pembrokeshire Park Life Nature Secret Life of Ponds Things to do Skomer's Marine World Places to go Teifi Journey Features The Tywi rises within 15 miles of the Teifi in the Cambrian Terry's Walk The Wings of Love Organisations Mountains and a mere six miles along its 75 mile length its Tywi Journey Look and listen swift flow is interrupted the Llyn Brianne reservoir. Wetland Whoopers! Habitats Where now for Waders? Species You can also journey down the Teifi - click here to find out Useful Links more. Rural Life Useful Links Surrounded by moorland and conifer forest, Llyn Brianne is periodically dosed with lime to ensure the health of the river downstream.

In the 1990s the stretch of river just below the reservoir Have Your Say was badly affected by acidification from acid rain and the Add an event leeching of pollutants by the surrounding conifer forest which Message Board subsequently entered the water and made the water acidic. Submit a Photo Young fish, particularly the salmon and sea trout, are Send us an email Get the newsletter sensitive to acid water conditions and both fish and birds such as the dipper suffer because the insects and invertebrates they feed on are badly affected by acid conditions. Subsequently liming was introduced to neutralise the river's acidity and more recent studies show that salmon and sea trout numbers are increasing in the affected stretch Symud eglwys of river. Tair blynedd ers i eglwys agor yn ei There's plenty to see here, with torrents of boulder-strewn chartref newydd. white water flowing into calm tranquil pools - in summer a haunt for the beautiful demoiselle, (a damselfly). The riverbanks are frequently covered by overhanging oakwoods and in the damp, bleak uplands beyond you can find common butterwort, round leafed sundew and club mosses.

Find out more about river habitats Downstream, situated amongst the spectacular waterfalls of on Wild Britain the upper Tywi valley above Llandovery, a few miles north of Rhandirmwyrn, is Dinas Nature Reserve. Redstarts, sandpipers, pied wagtails and wood warblers are just some of the birds that can be found. Take the Teifi tour From Llandovery the Tywi meanders through a broad, flat valley which contains some of the richest grazing land in Wales. At Llandeilo, the Castle Woods Nature Reserve (which has been designated an SSSI) rises steeply out of Countryside Council for Wales the water meadows and oxbow lakes and is dominated by The BBC is not responsible for the the ruin of Dinefwr Castle. content of external websites

The woods are a fine example of mixed mature woodland comprising oak, ash, sycamore, cherry, hawthorn, and spindle. They provide cover for foxes and badgers and are alive with birds including all native species of woodpecker, treecreeper, nuthatch and marsh tit.

Across the river at Gelli Aur Country Park there's a small herd of fallow deer and the arboretum contains Monterey pine and giant redwoods. In the water meadows teal, widgeon, mallard, coot and wading birds like golden plover and lapwing are regular visitors in the spring and winter, and the valley is the only regular wintering ground in Wales for Siberian white-fronted geese.

Although most famous for its fishing, the Tywi, like its Cambrian sister the Teifi is also home to some rare fish species, the allis and twaite shads, small members of the herring family, and as a result it has been proposed as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The shad spawn in only a few rivers in the UK (including the Wye and the Usk) but are becoming rare in rivers due to fishing, pollution and their inability to negotiate weirs.

But the Tywi has been home to some fishy giants in its time as well. In 1933 a salmon fisherman landed a nine foot long, 388lb sturgeon the largest fish ever caught without a net in Britain - near White Mill about three miles east of Carmarthen.

The Tywi, like the Teifi, was formerly home to a fleet of coracles of a design unique to the river that were used to fish for salmon and seatrout. Unfortunately, the fishing industry on the Tywi has suffered the same fate as the Teifi's and the salmon and seatrout now provide sport primarily for anglers with few coracles left.

The prevalence of oxbow lakes in the Tywi valley provides some spectacular shows through the year. In summer at Bishop's Pond in Abergwili (actually a magnificent oxbow lake formed when the Tywi flooded in 1802) there's a spectacular show of yellow water lilies on the pond when the water level drops and reed sweet grass fringes the edges - a species you'll also find nearby in the Teifi valley, further West in Pembrokeshire, on the Gower, in Powys (especially along the Montgomery Canal), on Anglesey and in several other sites along the N Wales coast.

Do you have any tales from the Tywi to tell us? What wildlife have you seen on your nearest riverbank? Would you like to write about your nearest stream or river? Email us at [email protected] or have Your Say. 31 May 2012 Accessibility help Text only

BBC Homepage Wales Home National Mud Festival Save Our Squirrels! Ask the Experts! At Home with the Buffalo Everyone go their hands Begelly Park Gardens thoroughly dirty at the Birdwatching for Beginners National Wetland Centre's Iolo's Autumn Colours South Nature Needs You! first Mud Festival over the West Pembroke Dock's Green Flag Award Pembrokeshire Park Life Nature weekend of the 10th and 11th of August 2002. Secret Life of Ponds Things to do Skomer's Marine World Places to go The South West Wales web team joined in the fun, and we Teifi Journey Features Terry's Walk weren't alone - we were joined by hundreds of others as The Wings of Love Organisations families from all over the country descended on the centre Tywi Journey Look and listen for two days of very messy fun. Wetland Whoopers! Habitats Where now for Waders? The first event of its kind held in Wales, the National Species Wetlands Centre Wales in Penclacwydd, Llanelli, threw its Useful Links doors open for a weekend of activities designed to show the Rural Life vital role of mud in the ecology of wetlands. Useful Links We were there on the lookout for budding artists, with nearly a hundred children entering our colouring competition. Have Your Say Add an event Split over two age ranges, Message Board there was a choice of Submit a Photo Damselfly Nymph and Send us an email common frog to challenge Get the newsletter their colour palettes, and everyone was impressed with the creativity unleashed!

Our trusty face painters Bianca and Rachel were a real draw, with the entire centre buzzing with small versions of Symud eglwys superheroes, mythical characters and humanoid bugs! Tair blynedd ers i eglwys agor yn ei There were no-holds-barred chartref newydd. 'Mud of War' contests with local teams, visitors and even some BBC staff getting involved. In and around the buildings there were displays and demonstrations, with Pottery Potters, Cosmetic All you need to know about Displays and 'Muddy Mug' face wildfowl and waders is at Wild Britain painting. Click here to visit our Community Gallery full of painted faces!

A series of talks revealed just why mud is so important to Superheroes Gallery wetland habitats, with demonstrations of pond clearing and More about the Wetlands Centre even a celebration of the many foods derived from local wetlands. You might not expect much to find its way to your dinner-plate from such places yet cockles, watercress, National Wetlands Centre Wales seaweed and lava bread are just some of the culinary classics wetlands provide. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites There were also some unexpected DIY champions among the visitors, who tried their hands at a spot of plastering and building in the 'Mud Hut' Contests.

The highlight for many was a special version of one of the Centre's most popular events - a Mud Safari. On several successful trips over the weekend, Centre manager Geoff Profett led expeditions out to the estuary, to see the fascinating wetlands habitats up close.

As always at the Wetlands Centre there was plenty to keep people occupied. The Reserve, widely acknowledged in Wales as the 'premier estuary' for wildfowl and waders, is home to hundreds of ducks, geese, swans and flamingos, many of which have no fear of feeding from your hand. The Centre's big success story is the Little Egret, a resident bird that has dramatically risen in number from just 2 in 1995 to 217 this year.

Indoors there's the 'hands-on' interactive Millennium Discovery Centre (home to an intriguing converted family house) while outside you can venture out to the many hides and walks in the Millennium Wetlands - where there's mazes, tunnels and even a Water Vole City.

With the success of the first festival under their belts, the plans are already being put together for an even bigger one next year. If you can't wait that long, there's still lots to do at the National Wetlands Centre Wales year round - click here to find out more. You'll never look at mud in the same way again!

Click here to see some of the colouring competition entries, or download our special competition screensaver!

Click here to find out There's always lots of more about the events being held at the Wildfowl and National Wetlands Wetlands Trust. More Centre - click here to ... find out more... 31 May 2012 Accessibility help Text only

BBC Homepage Wales Home Carys aged 6, Swansea Alun aged 8, Trimsaran Ammon aged 7, Pontclliu Anna aged 5, Llanelli Anthony Donald aged 5, Sandy Ayesha aged 6, Llandysul Bronte aged 3, Llanelli South Callum aged 7, Llangadog West Carys aged 6, Swansea Catrin aged 12, Llanelli Nature Charlotte aged 6, Bridgend Things to do Chloe Jane aged 6, Gorseinon Places to go Christopher aged 10, Bridgend Features Connor aged 5, Swansea Organisations Danielle aged 12, Swansea Dylan aged 6, Swansea Look and listen Elen aged 7, Cardiff Birdsong Elena aged 3, Llanelli Competition Elizabeth aged 7, Gorseinon Panoramics Ella aged 4, Wickwar Quizzes Ellen aged 8, Cardiff Send an e-card Ellie aged 3, Swansea Screensavers Emily aged 2, Swansea Webcam Esmae aged 5, Bristol Wallpapers Fenella aged 4, Reigate Habitats Ffion aged 8, Swansea Species Gabriell aged 6, Bridgend Gemma aged 11, Llanelli Rural Life Georgina aged 8, Chelmsford Guto aged 5, Carmarthen Hannah aged 8, Chelmsford Huw aged 8, Trimsaran Ivan aged 11, Llandysul Iwan aged 6, Trinsaran Jac Dylan aged 4, Llanelli Jacob aged 8, Llandysul Jay aged 5, Llanelli Jemma aged 9, Swansea Jennifer aged 11, Gorseinon Jodie aged 4, Pantderi Jodie aged 8, Gamlingay Jonathan aged 10, Swansea Jordan aged 3, Bridgend Katie aged 8, Llanelli Back to the entries page Kirsty aged 12, Llanelli Kyle aged 8, Swansea Laura aged 7, Llanelli Leah aged 5, Gowertown Lewis aged 2, Swansea Why not check out our great We took plenty of photos at the Liam aged 10, Llanelli screensaver featuring some of the Mud Festival colouring competition Liam aged 6, Swansea entries - click here to download - click here to have a look and Lloyd aged 4, Trimsaran and install it onto your pc. see if you can spot someone that Louise aged 4, South Woodham Ferrers you know! Luke aged 7, Swansea Matthew aged 10, Wickwar Megan aged 10, Llangadog Megan aged 5, Sheffield Megan aged 7, Carmarthen Michael aged 6, South Woodham Ferrers Molly aged 3, Pontadawe Natalie aged 9, Porthcawl Nicky aged 8, Porthcawl Rebecca aged 7, Swansea Rebecca aged 8, Llanelli Rowanne aged 5, Swansea Sophie Louise aged 8, Wickwar Sophie aged 2, Swansea Sophie aged 6, Ystalyfera Stacey aged 9, Ystalyfera Steffan aged 5, Llanelli Steffan aged 5, Llanelli Thomas aged 5, Llanelli Thomas aged 9, South Woodham Ferres 31 May 2012 Accessibility help Text only

BBC Homepage Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud Wales Home The National Wetlands Centre Wales in Penclacwydd, Llanelli, proved that there really is nothing quite like mud for stirring Entertainment Homepage Fun & Games Index the blood. People came from all over Wales to take part in Play Shoot the Big Cat their first ever Mud Festival, over the weekend of 10th and 11th of August 2002. In Pictures

BBC Local Despite the obvious appeal of all that mud, facepaint still South West Wales proved a real draw and our trusty painters, Bianca and Rachel were kept fully occupied. To find out more about the Things to do Have Your Say festival and the centre click here. Add an event People & Places Message Board Nature & Outdoors Submit a Photo History A Facepainter's Work is Never Done Send us an email Religion & Ethics Get the newsletter Arts & Culture Music TV & Radio

Local BBC Sites News Sport Weather Travel

Neighbouring Sites Mid Wales North West Wales

Related BBC Sites Wales Cymru Gogledd Ddwyrain

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BBC Homepage Wales Home Screensavers Birdsong We've put together a special Damselfly Nymph screensaver together from Tell us about it! some of the colouring There's lots of great walks and South places to go in SW Wales - which competition entries. Follow West is your favourite? Nature the instructions below to Send us your photos Things to do download and install it onto your PC! Got a great image of nature or Places to go wildlife you'd like to share? Email Features it to us and we'll add it to the Organisations site! Look and listen How to download and install your Damselfly Nymph Birdsong screensaver: Competition Panoramics Download and save the file to your hard-drive by Quizzes clicking on the link "Download Screensaver" now. Send an e-card Make sure you select 'save this program to disk' rather Screensavers than 'open file'. Remember where you save it - you'll Symud eglwys Webcam Tair blynedd ers i Wallpapers need to find it in the next step! eglwys agor yn ei Habitats Find where you saved it on your computer, double- chartref newydd. Species click the install.exe executable file. The screensaver Rural Life will automatically install itself. The screensaver's controls are accessable through the Screensaver tab of your computer's Display Control panel. Find this in the Settings Control Panels submenu of your Start Menu, or by right-clicking on your desktop and choosing Properties from the pop-up Check out some great 360-degree panoramics at bbc.co.uk/nature! menu. Please note that although the screensaver's controls have a sound setting, the screensaver contains no sound. The screensaver is only available for PCs, running Windows 95, 98, ME, NT and above.

Disclaimer: The BBC has taken all reasonable care to ensure that this Nature Screensaver contain no errors, viruses or defects, however, the BBC does not warrant that this is the case. You are advised to ensure that you take precautions to protect your computer from virus infection. The BBC will not be liable for any loss or damage which you may suffer as a result of or connected to the use of the software.

check out the colouring competition entries

Decorate your desktop with one of Want to go wild near where you our colourful wallpapers! live? Check out our Places to Go guide for some inspiration. 28 May 2012 Accessibility help Text only

BBC Homepage Wales Home Nature Organisations British Trust for Conservation Volunteers Countryside Council for Wales FWAG Cymru There are hundreds of organisations across England and Field Studies Council at Orielton Wales dedicated to wildlife, nature and the environment, Green Lane Cymru with many based right here in South West Wales. Neath & Port Talbot Borough Council South EQU From Government bodies working to maintain and develop West Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority Nature the countryside to volunteering groups and clubs, this guide will grow to become your one-stop shop for finding out Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum Things to do 'who's out there'. Pembrokeshire Marine Code Group Places to go Pembrokeshire Outdoor Charter Group Features RSPB Cymru Do you run an organisation or club and want to be listed? Swansea Environment Centre Organisations Know of one that should be here? Email us at The National Trust Look and listen [email protected], or fill in this pop-up form. The Pembrokeshire Darwin Science Habitats Festival Species WWF Cymru Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Useful Links British Trust for Countryside Council for Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales Rural Life Conservation Volunteers Wales Woodland Trust Useful Links Volunteer training and Promoting wildlife, nature Youth Hostel Association Broadhaven hands-on experience in and the great outdoors conservation. in Wales.

FWAG Cymru Field Studies Council at The Farming and Wildlife Orielton Group is a private charity Outdoor environmental that advises and education encourages farmers and landowners into conservation. Have Your Say Add an event Green Lane Cymru Neath Port Talbot CBC Message Board Environmental Biodiversity Unit Submit a Photo Conservation Services Advice on biodiversity Send us an email and environmental Get the newsletter issues. Pembrokeshire Coast Pembrokeshire Coastal National Park Authority Forum Conservation and Forum on the promotion of the Parks management of the wildlife, natural and Pembrokeshire coast. Get closer to wildlife nationwide at cultural history. Wild Britain! Pembrokeshire Marine Pembrokeshire Outdoor Code Group Charter Group Working for the long- Working in partnership term sustainable use of with local outdoor activity the Pembrokeshire coast. providers. RSPB Cymru Swansea Environment Working to preserve Centre birds and the A focal point for environment environmental activities, education and information. The National Trust The Pembrokeshire Largest conservation Darwin Science Festival organisation in Europe. Learn to appreciate science, nature and health. WWF Cymru Wildfowl and Wetlands World wide conservation Trust The vanguard of wetland conservation in Wales Wildlife Trust of South Woodland Trust and West Wales Working to preserve and 40 years conservation conserve woodlands in experience in the region. Wales

Youth Hostel Association Broadhaven Accommodation, volunteering and conservation in the south west. 31 May 2012 Accessibility help Text only

BBC Homepage Wales Home Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust British Trust for Conservation Volunteers Countryside Council for Wales FWAG Cymru Field Studies Council at Orielton The WWT is the largest Green Lane Cymru international wetland Neath & Port Talbot Borough Council South conservation charity in the EQU West UK. Founded in 1946 by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority Nature artist and naturalist Sir Peter Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum Things to do Scott, WWT is a registered charity and has nine visitor Pembrokeshire Marine Code Group Places to go centres throughout the UK where people can get closer to Pembrokeshire Outdoor Charter Group Features wetland birds and enjoy wetland landscapes. RSPB Cymru Swansea Environment Centre Organisations Based at the Ramsar site of the Burry Inlet, the National The National Trust Look and listen Wetlands Centre near Llanelli is at the forefront of The Pembrokeshire Darwin Science Habitats wetland conservation in Wales. They have a busy calendar, Festival Species WWF Cymru running events such as 'Breakfast with the Birds', and Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Useful Links Summer Safaris. Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales Rural Life Woodland Trust Useful Links Address: National Wetlands Centre Wales, Penclacwydd, Llanelli, SA14 9SH Youth Hostel Association Broadhaven Tel: 01554 741087

Email: [email protected] Website: www.wwt.org.uk

The BBC is not responsible for the contents of external websites.

Have Your Say Check out the National Wetlands Go wild near you with one of over Add an event Centre in our Places to go 60 great outdoor walks. Message Board section. Submit a Photo Send us an email Get the newsletter

Symud eglwys Tair blynedd ers i eglwys agor yn ei chartref newydd.

Find out more about wetland habitats at bbc.co.uk/nature 31 May 2012 Accessibility help Text only

BBC Homepage Wales Home Wallpapers Birdsong Give your computer a new look with one of our fantastic Nature images from around South West Wales.

South NEW! We've just launched a major new Wallpapers West section with lots of spectacular images from across Nature Southwest Wales - click here to find out more... Things to do Have Your Say Places to go Downloading an image for your desktop is easy - simply Add an event Features choose which photo you would like to use and follow the Message Board Submit a Photo Organisations instructions below. Send us an email Look and listen Get the newsletter Birdsong Competition Panoramics Quizzes Send an e-card Screensavers Webcam Young West Wallpapers What's bugging you? Talk, features and Habitats pictures from young Species people. Rural Life Autumn Trees Bluebell Seeing things? Autumn - a time when Hyacinthoides non-scripta Updated throughout every deciduous trees loose their Bulbous perennial found in week - hundreds of your leaves and bear fruit woodland and coastal cliffs pictures. 1152x864 | 1024x768 | 800x600 1152x864 | 1024x768 | 800x600 students@swansea Get the essentials for student life in the city in this new section.

Lleol i Mi Safle Cymraeg newydd sbon ar gyfer y de orllewin! Cappadocian Maple Common Frog Acer Cappadocicum Rana temporaria Native of China, grown in Native amphibian - males large gardens and streets utter faint croaking song 1152x864 | 1024x768 | 800x600 1152x864 | 1024x768 | 800x600

There's lots more habitats and species to see at Wild Britain, including some 360-degree panoramics of UK habitats

Lots more SW Wales Wallpapers

Common Gorse Common Poppy Ulex europaeus Papaver rhoeas Evergreen shrub - yellow Hairy annual weed of arable flowers smell of coconut land and disturbed ground 1152x864 | 1024x768 | 800x600 1152x864 | 1024x768 | 800x600 Downy Japnese Maple Highclere Holly Acer japonicum Ilex x altaclarensis Native to Japan - grown in Evergreen - hybrid between large gardens Common and Canary Holly 1152x864 | 1024x768 | 800x600 1152x864 | 1024x768 | 800x600

Honeysuckle Ivy Lonicera periclymenum Hedera helix Common Hedgerow and Evergreen climber that also woodland climber covers the ground 1152x864 | 1024x768 | 800x600 1152x864 | 1024x768 | 800x600

Japanese Maple Oriental Plane Acer palmatum Plantanus orientalis Small maple native to Japan, Deciduous tree native to grown in small and large southern Europe gardens 1152x864 | 1024x768 | 800x600 1152x864 | 1024x768 | 800x600

Puffin Ramsons Fractercula artica Allium ursinum Colourful seabird found on Bulbous perennial which Skomer Island smells strongly of garlic 1152x864 | 1024x768 | 800x600 1152x864 | 1024x768 | 800x600 Red Oak Strangalia maculata Quercus rubra Brightly coloured beetle that Deciduous tree native to feeds on pollen - active June eastern North America to August 1152x864 | 1024x768 | 800x600 1152x864 | 1024x768 | 800x600

If you have a PC with Mac OS Users... Windows installed...

1. First thing to remember, 1. Check your screen size. if you aren't brilliant with computers, is it's really easy 2. Next, choose a picture to do! you like and click on the appropriate screen size 2. First check what screen beneath it and wait for it to size you are using. If you load. Then hold the mouse don't know go to your button down so that a menu desktop and right click. appears. Netscape users Select Properties, then click select 'Save this link As...' the "settings" tab. Your and Internet Explorer Users screen size will be shown in select 'Download Link to pixels under the "Desktop Disk'. Save the file to your Area". desktop.

3. Next, choose a picture 3. Move the downloaded you like and click on the wallpaper file ("name".jpg) appropriate screen size into your wallpapers beneath it. directory. First time users make a directory at the top 4. You will get a big version level of your hard disk called of the picture appear in 'Wallpapers' and move it another browser window. there.

5. Make sure your mouse 4. Click on the Apple menu, pointer is over the large then select 'Control Panels > version of the picture, and Desktop Pictures'. A window right click your mouse. will appear. On the left-hand side hit the 'Picture' button. 6. You will get a list of On the right-hand side hit options appear - select "Set the 'Select Picture' button. If as Wallpaper". All done! you have a 'Remove Picture' button instead of a 'Select Picture' button hit this and your current desktop wallpaper will be removed, the 'Select Picture' button will now appear. A file selector box will appear, choose your wallpapers directory and then the wallpaper file ("name".jpg). Hit open followed by 'Set Desktop'. 28 May 2012 Accessibility help Text only

BBC Homepage Wales Home Nature Habitats Coastland Farmland Freshwater Habitat (noun) Grassland Heathland "The natural home of an Mountain South Upland Woodland animal or plant." West Urban Nature (Oxford English Things to do Dictionary) Places to go Features South West Wales has a huge range of habitats that are Organisations home to an enormous number of species, from the insects Look and listen that crawl under the paving stones of an urban habitat to Habitats the gulls and waders that roost at the coast. Within each Have Your Say Species habitat type you will find varied 'micro-habitats', each home Add an event Useful Links to a plethora of creatures and plants. Here we take a look at Message Board Rural Life some of the habitats you can find in South West Wales. Submit a Photo Useful Links Send us an email You can find out more about habitats, and look at some Get the newsletter 360-degree panoramics of them, over in Wild Britain, or have a look at a Nature walk that will take you out and about to see habitats up-close. Coastland Farmland Young West Coastland habitat is one Farmland provides an What's bugging you? of the most noticable important environment Talk, features and features of south west for many species. pictures from young Wales. people. Freshwater Grassland Freshwater habitats offer Off-shore habitats of a fantastic range of south west Wales. wildlife to examine.

Heathland Mountain Find out more about habitats and Often found near coastal Mountain habitats play view some 360-degree panoramics cliffs, heathland habitat host to many species at Wild Britain occurs in many areas of that can only be found at south west Wales. high altitudes. Upland Woodland Urban Pembrokeshire has one of Urban Habitats can be the largest concentrations home to a surprising of this habitat in the number of animals and country. plants. 31 May 2012 Accessibility help Text only

BBC Homepage Wales Home Coastland Coastland Farmland Freshwater Grassland Heathland Mountain South Upland Woodland West Urban Nature Things to do Places to go Of Britain's twelve National parks, only the Pembrokeshire Features National Park is predominantly coastal, covering 186 miles Organisations from St Dogmael's near Cardigan to Amroth in the south. Look and listen Further eastward along the Carmarthenshire coastline we Habitats traverse beaches and estuaries, reaching the trademark Have Your Say Species limestone cliffs of the Gower Peninsula, which was named Add an event Useful Links Britain's first Area of Outstanding National Beauty in 1956. Message Board Rural Life As we reach the very perimeter of the region the coastland Submit a Photo Useful Links then approaches the urban habitats of Swansea. Send us an email Get the newsletter There's a great selection of coastal walks in our things to do section - or check out our Swansea beach section!

students@swansea Get the essentials for student life in the city in this new section.

Find out more about habitats and see some great 360-degree panoramics at Wild Britain 28 May 2012 Accessibility help Text only

BBC Homepage Wales Home Meet the Species Adder Badger Basking Shark South West Wales and its Bottlenose Dolphin coastal waters are home to Chough an enormous variety of Common Ash South Common Beech wildlife ranging from the very West Common Oak Dragonfly Nature small to the giant. Some of the key species that help Fox Things to do make the area such a haven for nature are featured below. Grey Seal Places to go Harbour Porpoise We've got the lowdown on some that you might find easy to Features Holly see and others that are less conspicuous. Honey Bee Organisations Otter Look and listen Adder Badger Parasol Mushroom Habitats Peregrine Species Pipistrelle Bat Puffin Useful Links Basking Shark Bottlenose Razorbill Rural Life Dolphin Rowan Useful Links Skylark Water Vole Chough Common Ash Weasel

Common Beech Common Oak

Dragonfly Fox

Have Your Say Add an event Grey Seal Harbour Porpoise Message Board Submit a Photo Send us an email Get the newsletter Holly Honey Bee

Otter Parasol Mushroom Top Towns News, views, events and Peregrine Pipistrelle Bat essential info for SW Wales' towns.

Puffin Razorbill

Symud eglwys Tair blynedd ers i Rowan Skylark eglwys agor yn ei chartref newydd.

Water Vole Weasel

For the complete works on UK species and habitats, visit the Wild Britain website. 31 May 2012 Accessibility help Text only

BBC Homepage Wales Home Harbour Porpoise Adder Badger Basking Shark Bottlenose Dolphin Chough Common Ash South Common Beech West Common Oak Dragonfly Nature Fox Things to do Grey Seal Places to go A favourite for those out on coastal waters on a nature Harbour Porpoise Features expedition, the distinctive harbour porpoise - smaller than Holly Honey Bee Organisations many other porpoises and sporting a small triangular fin - Otter Look and listen can be seen inshore throughout the year, but are at their Parasol Mushroom Habitats most abundant between August and November, drawn in by Peregrine Species swelling numbers of fish on which they feed. Pipistrelle Bat Puffin Useful Links Razorbill Rural Life Although it is the most well-observed of all the cetacean Rowan Useful Links family (which includes porpoises, whales and dolphins), its Skylark numbers have been in decline for the last 30 years. The Water Vole Weasel exact reasons for this remain unclear, but many factors are under suspicion such as pollution, temperature changes affecting food stocks, and over-fishing.