Opportunities for Field Research FSC Dale Fort: West and

ABOUT THE FIELD CENTRE: Dale Fort Field Centre is a converted Victorian Military Fort located in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park on a spectacular cliff-top setting overlooking . It provides research opportunities to students both close to Centre and at other nearby locations by providing: field site advice, basic field equipment, workspace, free Wi-Fi and accommodation if required (subject to availability). The Centre has a RIB that can collect water and plankton samples from around Milford Haven. Accommodation consists of twin, three and four bed bedrooms and small dormitories situated in three different blocks. Rooms are en suite or close to shower rooms. There are several common rooms, a small bar and shop, four workrooms (including a wet lab) and an extensive Library. The Centre is 10 miles from Milford and 13 miles from Haverfordwest railway stations both of which also have good bus and coach links.

FIELD RESEARCH AREAS: Dale Fort is well situated for a range of field research. Adjacent to the centre are a several rocky shores of varying wave exposures and also coastal grassland, a small pond and some areas of woodland. The Gann mudflats and saltmarsh are within walking distance. Since it was established in 1947, the Centre has hosted researchers carrying out many classic intertidal and coastal field studies. It is also only a 10 minute drive from the embarkation point to and the other offshore Islands with their seabird and seal colonies, making it an ideal base for researching marine conservation. There are also many geographical studies that could be carried out locally and in the wider area on topics such as coastal processes, landforms and management, rural settlement patterns and impacts of tourism.

Several scientific papers are available on research carried out from Dale Fort. Some have been printed in our online journal Field Studies.

SOME SUGGESTED RESEARCH TOPICS: Title Locations Bat ecology and distribution – wide variety of possibilities and existing projects DF Freshwater biological communities (ponds or upland streams/rivers) DF, PR Distribution of cushion star species (Asterina phylactica and Asterina gibbosa) on Pembrokeshire shores DF, MH Rocky shore and tidal community ecology (gastropod snails, barnacles, macroalgae, lichens etc.) DF, MH Long term changes in rocky shore communities 20+ years after the Sea Empress Oil Spill (1996) DF, MH Salt marsh and Shingle Ridge Plant communities at the Gann GN Ecology of mud-flat infauna communities at the Gann/impact of baiting digging GN The distribution of invasive marine species in Milford Haven waterway and surrounding coasts DF, MH The effect of thermal pollution from Pembroke Power Station on intertidal species MH Ecology of the Skomer Vole (in conjunction with Skomer NNR) SK Seabird Ecology and Behaviour (in conjunction with Skomer NNR) SK Marine Protected Areas; Skomer Case Study (in conjunction with Skomer MPA / NRW) SK Subtidal marine communities in and around Skomer MPA (in conjunction with Skomer MPA / NRW) SK Impact of the use of ICT in fieldwork (in conjunction with FSC staff) - Tourism studies – Pembrokeshire Coast NP, St David’s, various settlements - Evaluating the impact of fieldwork on sites (in conjunction with FSC staff) GN, DF The effect of field courses on behaviour change in students (in conjunction with FSC staff) - Public perception of nature / ecosystem service and functionality studies (any). - DF= Dale Fort/Dale Peninsula; MH = Milford Haven Waterway; GN = The Gann; SK= Skomer; PR = Preseli Hills

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

DALE FORT AND THE DALE PENINSULA: The Fort is on northeast corner of the Dale peninsula, which boasts a wide range of shores of all wave exposures and substrate types from the sheltered coast of Dale Roads to the exposed cliffs of St Anne’s Head. Although the peninsula is relatively tree-less there are areas of planted conifers and mixed deciduous woodland close to the Fort. These woods, along with various buildings belonging to the Fort, offer roosts for a range of bat species. The peninsula is has good coastal grassland communities, with two pony grazed fields next to the centre available for study. There is also a small farm pond accessible to students. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path circumnavigates the whole peninsula with several easily accessible shores within a short walk of the Field Centre. Much early research on rocky shore community ecology was carried out on these shores, including work on the Ballantine Exposure Scale, which links rocky shore community composition to the degree of wave action. Some of the best shores include: Jetty Beach: Moderately sheltered shore just below the Centre. The upper shore consists of old red sandstone bedrock with good barnacle, limpet and lichen populations. The lower shore consists of a boulder field with many microhabitats and a diverse rocky shore community of animals and macroalgae. There is kelp forest just below low tide. Different crab species, blennies, gobies, pipefish, many gastropod species and sessile fauna such as sponges, hydroids and bryozoans are all found. Castle Beach: Moderately exposed shore a few minutes south of the Centre. This small sandy bay has rich rocky shore communities on the bedrock on either side. There are plenty of rock pools and a kelp forest just below low tide. Black Rock (1 mile from Dale Fort): Sheltered shore near Dale village with good macroalgae, gastropod and crab populations. On-site monitoring: Daily Met Office meteorological readings have been taken since the 1950s. Permanent NRW data loggers at Castle and Jetty beach measure sea temperature and light levels. Long-term rocky shore surveys have monitored recovery after the 1996 Sea Empress Oil Spill. Regular live moth trapping is carried out. Birds, mammals, invertebrates and fungi are systematically recorded.

THE GANN ESTUARY (2 miles from Dale Fort): The Gann estuary, associated shingle beach and muddy shore (the Gann Flat) are in an inlet of Milford Haven close to Dale and are part of the Pembrokeshire Marine SAC. This complex of habitats includes a brackish lagoon and a salt marsh with halophytes such as glasswort (Salicornia europaea), sea purslane (Halimione portulacoides) and sea lavender (Limonium vulgare). The shingle ridge (the Pickleridge) was constructed artificially during WW2. The lagoon and pools behind it are fed by freshwater streams, but are also flooded by higher tides. The Gann Flat, despite being used heavily for bait digging, is a diverse intertidal fine sediment shore and supports both ‘sandy - Echinocardium cordatum’, ‘muddy sand - Macoma balthica’ and ‘muddy gravel - Venerupis senegalensis’ communities. A bait digging Code of Conduct is in place after much research and stack holder engagement.

PEMBROKESHIRE COAST NATIONAL PARK: Dale Fort is within the National Park. The Park was designated primarily because of its spectacular coastline, and exhibits a variety of rock types and geological features such as arches, stacks and sea caves. In the north are the moorland ecosystems of the Preseli Hills. In the west, is the broad sweep of St Bride's Bay, with Ramsey Island to the north and Skomer Island to the south. The southern part of the Park consists of the limestone plateau and cliffs of the Castlemartin peninsula, the steep wooded valleys around Amroth and the tourist resorts of and . The Park is dissected by the Milford Haven waterway with the Daugleddau estuary feeding this natural deep water harbour. In contrast to the Park’s natural beauty, outside its boundaries several large oil refineries, a Liquefied Natural Gas terminal and a new Power Station line the Haven.

MARLOES PENINSULA (5 miles from Dale Fort): This peninsula, like the Dale Peninsula, offers dramatic coastal scenery and island views. The spectacular geology includes both sandstones and volcanic rocks with folds, faults and jagged stacks. Marloes Sands, on its southern coast, is one of Pembrokeshire's finest beaches. The National Trust owns the western half of the peninsula, including the Deer Park on its western tip, where the fierce currents of Jack Sound are excellent for viewing seals, porpoises, choughs and gannets. Below the Deer Park is Martin’s Haven from where boats depart for Skomer and the other islands. Marloes Mere is a birdwatching hotspot, attracting many waterfowl in winter.

SKOMER ISLAND MPA/NNR (6 miles from Dale Fort): Skomer Island NNR, run by South and West Wales Wildlife Trust, is an incredible wildlife site off the tip of Pembrokeshire. It is home to thousands of puffins (Fratercula arctica), razorbills (Alca torda), guillemots (Uria aalge), kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla), lesser black backed (Larus fuscus) and greater black backed gulls (Larus marinus) and most impressively over 120,000 pairs of burrow nesting Manx shearwaters (Puffinus puffinus). The bracken feeding Skomer vole (Myodes glareolus skomerensis), a sub-species of bank vole, is only found on the island. In spring the island’s treeless interior is dominated by swathes bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-script) and red campion (Silene dioica). The waters surrounding Skomer are a NRW managed marine protected area (MPA). Warm Atlantic currents and fast tidal races give a rich diversity of subtidal species including rarities such as cup corals (Caryophyllia smithii) and sea fans (Eunicella verrucosa). The sheltered bay of North Haven contains important beds of eelgrass (Zostera maritima). Inaccessible beaches around the Island and adjacent mainland are pupping sites for Atlantic grey seals (Halichoerus grypus). There are regular sightings of harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) and several species of dolphin. 16 miles further west is the tiny island of Grassholm, colonised by 39,000 pairs of gannets (Morus bassanus). and Ramsey Islands are two other protected coastal islands off Pembrokeshire with differing and contrasting geology and ecology to Skomer. Skomer MPA and NNR conservation and research staff, who the FSC has excellent connections with, work at the front line of various initiatives and policy discussions around marine coastal zone management.

PRESELI HILLS & AFON SYFYNWY (36 miles from Dale Fort): A 13 mile long upland area in north Pembrokeshire, much of which is unenclosed moorland or low-grade grazing with areas of bog, surrounded by farmland and littered with prehistoric sites. A number of rivers descend from the hills including the Afon Syfynwy, which is well suited for studies into fluvial geomorphology, hydrology and freshwater ecology. The Welsh Water/NRW Llys y Fran Catchment Project is an ongoing study of the Afon Syfynwy catchment from its source to Llys y Fran Reservoir, focusing on blue green algae blooms in the reservoir and the impact of farming, sewage and forestry on water quality and invertebrate populations.

ST DAVIDS (23 miles from Dale Fort) There are several settlements within driving distance of Dale Fort, which are ideal for geographical investigations into populations, settlements and impacts of tourism. St David’s in particular is an important tourist hot spot. It is the UK’s smallest city and is dominated by its impressive 12th century cathedral.

THE BENEFITS OF CARRYING OUT FIELD RESEARCH BASED AT DALE FORT

 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 1947, collected in line with Met Office standards.  Long-Term Data. Free access to any existing data sets and monitoring or survey data.  Local Partners and Research links. Links to local partner organisations and conservation bodies such as Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, Skomer NNR and MPA, the National Trust and South and West Wales Wildlife Trust.  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 DALE FORT 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 many good field sites are within walking distance of Dale Fort.

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 and also at 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 Dale Fort Field Centre, Dale, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA62 3RD Tel: 01646 636205 Email: [email protected], Web: www.field-studies-council.org/centres/dalefort

Mark Ward and Chris Millican, Updated October 2017