Greater Gwent Biodiversity Action Group Glamorgan Biodiversity Advisory Group

G w e n t - G l a m o r g a n Recorders’ Newsletter

Issue 10—Spring May 2014 Glow worms in Glamorgan

Hello everyone and welcome to the Last summer I did a Glow worm survey at 3 2014 Spring edition of the Gwent – sites in Glamorgan (1. Oldcastle Down, 2. Glamorgan Recorders Newsletter. Ogmore Down, 3. Parc Slip Nature Re- This is my first time editing and I serve). I spent a month wandering around have really enjoyed putting it my sites (with my Dad) after dark, looking together. for glowing females. We managed to record 22 glowing females across the 3 sites. I In this edition we have updates from hope to carry out the survey every year to Andy Karran on the Local Wildlife get a better idea of the local Glow worm Sites – SE Wales Project , Rob Par- population. ry on Parc Slip Nature Reserve and Alice Rees on the GWT Watervole The Glow worm (Lampyris noctiluca) be- Male and Female Glow worms at Oldcastle Down, reintroduction at Magor Marsh. longs to a family of beetles known as South Wales © Rudi Bright Lampyridae. As the name suggests, Glow emerge usually in June and July and mate, As always we keep you up to date worms are able to emit light from their bod- lay eggs and then die. Glow worm larvae with our data and recording projects ies by means of a reaction between two feed on snails and slugs. Adults do not feed including Square of the Month and chemicals, luciferin and luciferase. The light and survive on energy reserves laid down SEWBReCORD. As this year is our is emitted from the tip of the underside of through the larval stage. Adult Glow worms 10th Anniversary we have a special the abdomen as a green glow. The adult live for a short period of approximately 14 extra Biodiversity-blitz planned. females use the light to attract males. The days. Once mated the female will cease larvae, eggs and adult males can also pro- Thank you to everyone that contrib- glowing and lay between 20 and 150 eggs duce a glow, but this is not as bright as the uted to the newsletter, I hope you under stones, logs or vegetation. females. enjoy reading it. Glow worms can be very difficult to find so The Glow worms life cycle consists of 4 your best chance of recording them are Libby Wilcox, SEWBReC main stages (1. The Egg, 2. The Larva, 3. during the glowing season. If you want to The Pupa, 4. The Adult). The eggs are laid Included in this issue: record Glow worms you should go out into in July/August and hatch in the autumn. The suitable habitat (unimproved grassland/ Glow worms in Glamorgan 1 larvae then feed and hibernate through the downland/canal towpaths/disused railway winter, they become active again in the SEWBReC News & events 2-4 lines etc) between mid-June and mid-July. spring, feeding and growing throughout the Newport Urban Bat Survey 5-6 They are best seen on moonless or over- year before hibernating again for their sec- cast nights between 10 and 11pm. You are Mary Gillham Data Project 6 ond winter. In their third year the larvae more likely to see one if you let your eyes Parc Slip Nature Reserve Update 7 become active in the spring and continue adjust to the dark so you can wander Exotic trees in the Gwent landscape 8 feeding to build up energy reserves before around without using a torch. If you want to pupation in the early summer, the adults will Local Wildlife Sites 9-10 know more have a look at my Youtube Watervoles at Magor Marsh 11-12 guide to Glow worms - Moths of Glamorgan 12 http://www.youtube.com/watch? Butterflies at Silent Valley 13 v=eDZ3nx7bUu4&feature=share&list=UUwg Monitoring of Great Black-backed Gulls 14-15 yaduvWuKjLkldP9TTBLw Brynna Woods Observations 16 If you manage to find any please report Botanical news in VC35 17-18 them to the UK Glow Worm Survey (http:// www.glowworms.org.uk/) as well as SEW- Glamorgan fungus group 19 BReC (or your own Local Records Centre). Volunteering at Parc Taf Bargoed 20 Good Luck! SEWBReC Biodiversity Blitz Days 21 Female Glow worm at Oldcastle Down © Rudi Rudi Bright (age 10) Other events 22 Bright

Issue 10—Spring May 2014

SEWBReC News in Brief

Launch of New Online Data Access SEWBReC) are able to login to perform Partnerships to help lobby Local Author- Tool (DAT) spatial and taxonomic queries with ac- ities to establish properly-funded agree- cess the complete data holdings of the ments with SEWBReC, as we believe SEWBReC is pleased to announce the four LRCs (subject to normal restrictions that many decisions are still not being launch of a new web portal - the Local on sensitive data). SEWBReC is cur- made in the light of the best available Records Centres Wales Data Access rently offering short trial DAT registra- biodiversity data. Please contact SEW- Tool (see: http://www.lrcwalesdat.org). tions to its local authority partners, with BReC to find out if there’s anything you This tool, developed by the Biodiversity a view to including full DAT access as a can do to help. Information Service for Powys and Brec- chargeable product within future Service on Beacons National Park (BIS), allows Level Agreements. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and online access to the combined wildlife Welsh Government records held at the four Welsh Local We believe that the DAT provides a new Following a number of meetings with Records Centres (LRCs). and valuable method for the public and funding partners to readily access the NRW and Welsh Government staff (as There are two separate levels of ac- biodiversity information we hold. Future well as the Minister for Natural Re- cess: developments and enhancements are sources) last year, SEWBReC (along with the three other Welsh LRCs) are Public access: does not require a log- planned which will provide improved hoping to secure the continuation of the in and allows you to: functionality and speed, and which may eventually enable commercial searches interim funding arrangements that were Search for information on records to be commissioned, completed and in place with NRW last financial year. held, around a point on the map: This paid for via the DAT. Once this is in place we will then work search will provide a summary list of hard to ensure that longer-term funding species records held within that 1km Please feel free to use the DAT and let is committed, to enable us to provide a square. Any sensitive species records us know what you think. We will keep better range of products and services to will not be returned in summary list but you informed of future developments all parts of NRW and Welsh Govern- the number of sensitive species records and improvements via this newsletter, ment in the future. found will be shown. so watch this space! Financial Update See a distribution map for a species: SLA Update Despite the continued pressure on our This function brings together the spe- income streams from the public sector, cies databases from across the four Work is currently underway to renew we are happy to report record figures for LRCs in Wales to create a Wales-scale Service Level Agreements for the sales of services to the private sector! plot of species records or produce a 2014/15 financial year. As usual we will Our sales target for the 2013/14 finan- 10km square distribution map. Zooming hope to secure funding from all 12 Uni- cial year was greatly exceeded and we in produces a 1km square distribution tary Authorities, although the figure ended up generating of £65,000 of (although sensitive records will only could be rather lower, as two Local Au- sales. This enabled SEWBReC to break ever be shown at 10km square resolu- thorities were funding work by SEW- even during 2013/14 and stands us in tion). BReC through short-term funding streams last year, and there is no pro- good stead for yet another successful Partner access: registered users spect of extensions. In some areas we year in 2014/15. (initially from public sector bodies who will be approaching Local Biodiversity hold Service Level Agreements with Adam Rowe, SEWBReC

SEWBReC Membership

SEWBReC is run as a not-for-profit Has read SEWBReC’s Memorandum ing. Please consider joining and have company and is governed by a volun- and Articles of Association* and sup- your say in the future direction of SEW- tary Board of Directors which is drawn ports the aims of the company; BReC – we need your expertise and from its membership. By becoming a enthusiasm! Understands that as a Member of the member of SEWBReC you will be auto- Company they accept a liability not ex- * The membership form gives details of matically invited to attend our Annual ceeding £1 if the Company should be where to find the Memorandum and Articles General Meetings and you will be eligi- wound up. of Association via our website. If you don’t ble to stand for election to the Board of have access to the internet but are interested Directors. We are currently very keen to grow our in joining, please get in touch and we will membership and to this end we have send you a copy. Subject to Board approval, SEWBReC included a copy of our membership ap- membership is open to anybody who: plication form with this newsletter mail- Page 2

Issue 10—Spring May 2014

Square of the Month Project

In March 2013, the team at SEWBReC The project has set ourselves and the local wildlife re- built a loyal follow- cording community a challenge: to fill ing over the past every 1km square in South East Wales 14 months, and with at least one species record. The aim many people have of the project was obviously to target made a special poorly recorded areas, but also to en- effort to visit the courage people to get out into the coun- empty squares, tryside and enjoy the process of wildlife with some record- recording. ers going out eve- ry month. Since The starting point of the project was to the project began, work out exactly how big a task we were 30 Squares of the undertaking; analysis of our database Month have been revealed that of the 3785 1km squares Progress: graph showing current status of empty 1km squares targeted, of which within the SEWBReC area, 79 of them identified at the start of the project 26 now contain contained zero records. This seemed like records. This success rate of over 86% have 250 1km squares with less than a large undertaking, potentially taking is truly phenomenal, and more than we ten records, which sounds like the ma- over three years to target every square! dared hope for at the start of the project. kings of a great spin off project to me… Fortunately, a bit more analysis revealed 2198 species records have been gener- that several of these squares were just Elaine Wright, SEWBReC ated by the project, and the Gwent re- outside the SEWBReC border and/or in cording effort has been particularly im- With many thanks to every single per- the sea, so could be weeded out. Five of pressive, with 100% of targeted squares son who went recording in our empty the squares were also discovered to have now containing records. 18 of the other squares. no legal access (either by road or Right of empty squares now contain records Way), so were also excluded from the from other data sources, meaning that Like to get involved? Details of the project. This process left us with 58 emp- there are just 10 empty squares left to project, including maps of previously ty squares to target. targeted squares are available online at target. http://www.sewbrec.org.uk/biological- Due to the large geographical area in- recording-folder/sewbrec-square-of-the- volved, the decision was made to split As to the future of the project – don’t month.page. If you don’t currently re- Gwent and Glamorgan, and select a tar- worry! Even when we have succeeded ceive the monthly email / letter and get 1km square for each vice county at in our original goal of filling in all the would like to, please contact us on in- [email protected] or call 02920 the start of every month. An email (or gaps in our maps, we will find plenty of new ways to keep you all busy. We 641110 to be added to our distribution letter) containing maps of the targeted list. squares was sent out, including details of how the square could be Squares of the Month which are still empty – could you visit any of them? accessed. We also provided infor- SN7212 Glamorgan Neath Port Talbot Square of the Month in March 2013 mation on how to submit records to SEWBReC – a process which was SS9189 Glamorgan Bridgend Square of the Month in May 2013 made a lot easier with the launch of SS8998 Glamorgan Neath Port Talbot Square of the Month in July 2013 www.SEWBReCORD.org.uk in SS9970 Glamorgan Vale of Glamorgan Square of the Month in Feb 2014 November 2013!

SEWBReC Events News

This year SEWBReC is officially 10 years diversity Blitz days we are holding a moth trapping. old and our celebratory events are well special one-off Biodiversity Blitz Bonan- SEWBReC couldn’t have reached 10 underway. In February we had a special za on the 5th of July at Bryngarw Coun- years old without your support, so joint Gwent—Glamorgan Recorders Fo- try Park (pg. 21). We would like as thank you to everyone who has helped rum, with a wonderful range of speakers many people as possible to go out re- us this far and I hope you enjoy our celebrating Welsh people, places and cording in the daytime before the event 2014 events. wildlife, not to mention cake and Wildlife to see how many species they can spot Pointless! in their local patch. We will then meet up Libby Wilcox, SEWBReC at 6pm for an opportunity to socialise Coming up, in addition to our regular Bio- outdoors, followed by a bat walk and Page 3

Issue 10—Spring May 2014

SEWBReCORD Update

Within just six months of launching SEW- Contact iRecord ([email protected]) through – I had a few thousand moth BReCORD, we have already passed the and let them know which taxonomic records to deal with, from various 12,000 record mark, so a big thank you to group you would like to verify and schemes. Whilst daunting at first, there everyone that has submitted records so which recording scheme you are asso- are a number of tools to assist with the far. Of these, around 800 are of our top- ciated with (if applicable). You will then process allowing you to bulk verify a tier species (the priority and protected gain access to all records entered onto given species or all records for a given ones), and these started to appear in our any Indicia based website (like SEW- recorder. It also employs the NBN data products back in November. BReCORD) which match your species record cleaner rules which can help interest and your geographical area. At indicate difficult species or records To date around 1500 of the SEWBReC- present there is a mixture of national outside of the known range for that ORD records have been verified by the schemes and local county recorders species. experts and specialists signed up to the making use of this system, but the iRecord verifier scheme. That does leave more that are involved the better for If you want to talk to us about verifica- around 85% of the data as yet unverified, everyone. tion, then please feel free to get in and if you are a county recorder perhaps touch. you could help? When you first log into the verification pages you might start off with a very David Slade, SEWBReC To register as a verifier on iRecord, simply large number of records to work

Breakdown of SEWBReCORD records by taxon group, showing the number of records submitted and the number verified

Taxon Group Name Records Verified Taxon GroupName Records Verified acarine (Acari) 2 0 insect - caddis fly 14 13 (Trichoptera) alga 9 0 insect - dragonfly (Odonata) 55 0 amphibian 133 0 insect - earwig (Dermaptera) 7 0 annelid 13 0 insect - hymenopteran 207 160 bacterium 1 0 insect - lacewing (Neuroptera) 5 0 bird 2580 0 insect - mayfly 10 10 bony fish (Actinopterygii) 6 0 (Ephemeroptera) cartilagenous fish 1 0 insect - moth 821 681 (Chondrichthyes) insect - orthopteran 20 2 centipede 9 0 insect - scorpion fly 2 0 chromist 7 0 (Mecoptera) coelenterate (=cnidarian) 9 0 insect - silverfish (Thysanura) 3 0 conifer 69 0 insect - stonefly (Plecoptera) 3 2 crustacean 65 0 insect - true bug (Hemiptera) 88 27 echinoderm 3 0 insect - true fly (Diptera) 243 47 false scorpion 2 0 lichen 167 0 (Pseudoscorpiones) liverwort 122 0 fern 457 0 marine mammal 1 1 flatworm (Turbellaria) 5 0 millipede 16 0 flowering plant 4768 1 mollusc 179 0 fungus 149 0 moss 658 0 harvestman (Opiliones) 15 0 reptile 22 0 horsetail 8 0 ribbon worm (Nemertinea) 1 0 insect - alderfly (Megaloptera) 3 0 roundworm (Nematoda) 1 0 insect - beetle (Coleoptera) 187 49 slime mould 110 0 insect - booklouse (Psocoptera) 1 0 spider (Araneae) 96 0 insect - bristletail 4 0 (Archaeognatha) springtail (Collembola) 5 0 insect - butterfly 421 310 terrestrial mammal 293 215 TOTAL 8927 360 TOTAL 3149 1156

Issue 10—Spring May 2014

Newport Urban Bat Survey (NUBS)

In 2013, in collaboration with Newport The methodology devised by the Bat A total of thirty seven volunteers took City Council and the Bat Conservation Conservation Trust, asked volunteers to part, the majority of whom were com- Trust, SEWBReC resurrected the New- adopt a 1km urban square, and walk a pletely new to bat survey work, and they port Urban Bat Survey (NUBS). A sur- 1km transect during each survey period. covered a total of sixteen 1km squares. vey had been run in 2009, but as no bat As the survey took place after sunset, The map below shows each 1km square surveys had been formally organised volunteers were strongly advised to pair where at least one bat was recorded since then, it seemed like it was a good up with a buddy and to ensure that they during the survey. Nineteen (rather time to try it again. Following the same were safe at all times. Using their bat than 16) squares have been shaded, as format as the very successful surveys detectors, volunteers listened for bat some transects extended beyond the run in the Cardiff, Swansea and Neath calls as they walked the transect, and boundary of the allocated 1km square. Port Talbot areas, SEWBReC started again for 4 minutes at c.100m intervals Some squares were not strictly urban; the ball rolling. With the assistance of (i.e. at 10 stopping points). Each volun- although the main aim of the survey was Lucy Kelly at Newport City Council, teer recorded the presence or absence to focus on the urban area we did not SEWBReC publicised the survey and of bats. More confident surveyors also want to discourage those participants had over 30 people interested in taking distinguished between pipistrelle spe- who wanted to be involved but lived in on a 1km square. cies and identified commuting bats or the rural parts of Newport. The survey feeding buzzes. If volunteers were very produced 171 new records of bats, and Steve Lucas from the Bat Conservation skilled and confident, they also recorded it is estimated that around 25% of New- Trust led a training day in Newport for other bat species such as noctules. All port’s urban environment was surveyed. all those interested. It covered the aims volunteers were requested to also rec- Whilst the survey has its limitations, it is of the survey, methodology and perhaps ord some basic survey details such as evident from the data that the urban most importantly of all…how to identify date, weather conditions, the presence area of Newport is very important for the presence of bats. A survey pack and type of lighting in the immediate bats with many individuals recorded as consisting of a map showing their allo- area, start and end times, and the grid feeding or foraging. The data collected cated 1km square(s), survey methodolo- references of each bat recorded. Volun- will be shared with the Bat Conservation gy, and recording sheets were provided teers were asked to survey during three Trust and Newport LBAP partnership, to each volunteer. A bat detector was specific weeks during June, July and and has been incorporated into the also loaned to each surveyor for the September, but they could do more if SEWBReC databases. duration of the survey. they wished. Newport Urban Bat Sur- vey has made an excel- lent start in surveying the Newport area for bat activity, but there is still much more to be done. We very much hope that the survey will be re- peated in the Newport area in future years, and that those who partici- pated continue to be involved in conservation work. A very big thank you to all the volun- teers who gave up their valuable time to under- take the surveys. We could not have made the survey a success with- out their enthusiasm and commitment.

Rebecca Davies, SEWBReC

Page 5 1km squares covered by the survey © Rebecca Davies

Issue 10—Spring May 2014

NUBS — A volunteer’s perspective

Bats are a widespread and successful us whilst trudging around the streets in active on the lit streets where moths group of mammals but because they are the dark. It could feel quite uncomforta- might be attracted to the lamps. In the small, active at night and, to our ears, ble strolling about the streets for an hour event however, there were no bats de- silent, we are seldom aware of them. without any obvious destination and tected in the built up parts of my walk. clutching a mechanical device that As soon as I went away from the hous- However, armed with a bat detector, made weird ticking noises! The es towards the road the detector started which transforms ultra-sound echoloca- “buddy” (in my case my husband) to pick up flying bats. Every so often I tion, into sounds audible to humans, it is helped explain to passers by what it was would hear the sharp “BZZZZZZZZTT” possible to “hear” the bats’ night-time all about, whilst I concentrated on bat made by a hunting bat as it zoomed in activities. detector, pencil, torch, spreadsheet and on a hapless moth. I joined other volunteers on the Newport phone. Each survey walk took about an hour Urban Bat Survey partly to help collect Fortunately bats don’t fly in very cold and even on warmish nights strolling information about these tiny hunters, but weather nor when it is raining, which slowly for an hour can be chilly. Perhaps also to learn how to use a bat detector can damage the detector, so surveys it is not so surprising therefore that at and to hear for myself, the “sounds” only took place on dry and warmish the end of each session this surveyor they make. Simple really! In practice it evenings, for which this volunteer was and her “buddy” felt compelled to go to was a bit more complicated….. very grateful! the pub to warm up…….. For health and safety reasons we were I had wondered if the bats would be Diana Westmoreland each instructed to take a “buddy” with

Mary Gillham Data project

Many readers will personally remember documents, started previously by a Naturally one long term goal is to the late eminent naturalist Dr Mary Gill- SEWBReC volunteer. input the thousands of valuable rec- ham, and most will have heard of her ords accumulated through Mary’s At the time of writing, 23 large lever work (and may remember the fantastic career into the SEWBReC database. arch files, containing around 3450 “Great Welsh People” talk given on her It is equally as important however, separate documents, and photograph- by Andy Kendall at the SEWBReC 10th that Mary’s engaging (and often ic slides have been indexed. Work on Anniversary Forum back in February). amusing) writing style, beautiful indexing another 3 boxes of smaller drawings, and the story of her lifetime Mary’s lifetime fascination with natural folders and notebooks is ongoing. At commitment to wildlife and conserva- history led her to travel the world, edu- this point it has been possible to esti- tion are also preserved. It is therefore cate and inspire many as a university mate the number of biological records planned that resources such as a lecturer and field teacher and author held within Mary’s notes, and the fig- website and exhibition display will be many books – including several on her ure currently stands at over 106,000 created in order that the public can beloved South Wales where she lived records, spanning 60 years and cover- enjoy and be inspired by Mary’s life happily for over 50 years of her life. This ing almost every corner of South work. fascination, and the adventures that Wales (and beyond). Those who re- came of it, also led to the accumulation member Mary’s love of “botanising” Amy Hicks of a lifetime of field notes, letters, draw- will not be surprised to learn that the ings, photographs, articles & reports. vast majority (74%) of records are However, Mary was always mindful of estimated to be of vascular plants, wasting paper and more often than not with a further 13% birds, 10% inverte- wrote on envelopes or typed on the back brates and 2%’other’. of bank statements & junk mail. Looking ahead, another major project In 2007, Mary passed several large box- aim is to work with key partners to bid es of papers and slides to SEWBReC, for further external funding in order to and in 2012 when her health began to further mobilise the wealth of data deteriorate, several more boxes were held in the archive and to secure its collected. In late 2013 SEWBReC was long term safe storage. To this end a awarded seed funding by Wales Biodi- meeting is being held in May between versity Partnership to hire a part-time SEWBReC staff and representatives project officer (myself) with one of the of Cardiff Naturalists’ Society, Wildlife Examples of editorials written by Mary © main project aims being to carry on the Trust of South and West Wales and Libby Wilcox initial assessment and indexing of these other organisations. Page 6

Issue 10—Spring May 2014

Parc Slip Nature Reserve Update

Name: Parc Slip Nature Reserve Ownership: Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales Location: Tondu, Bridgend, CF32 0EH Grid Reference: SS 881841 Area: c.125ha Access Notes: Car parking and network of paths to most areas of the reserve. Facilities: Visitor Centre has café and toilets, as well as wildlife displays and bird feeders. Notable Habitats: Wader scrapes, wet meadows, hay meadows and mixed woodland Notable Species: Breeding lapwing, skylark, wildfowl, rep- tiles and amphibians as well as Odonata and Lepidoptera. Parc Slip Nature Reserve © Rob Parry

Parc Slip Nature Reserve is one of over 2014 and are already starting to at- are now only two scrapes left to be 90 nature reserves owned and managed tract wildlife, including wildfowl and named (Scrape 1 - £2,000) and by the Wildlife Trust of South and West waders, such as Lapwing, which re- (Scrape 14 - £1,000). As well as Wales (WTSWW). Formerly a site of mains one of the priority species for naming a scrape, all donations are open cast mining, the reserve today WTSWW at Parc Slip. greatly appreciated. comprises of mixed woodland, scrub, meadows and wetlands. It is hoped that the shallow water bod- When visiting the nature reserve and ies, plentiful edge habitat and islands the new scrapes please report your Over the past two years WTSWW have will provide the ideal breeding condi- wildlife sightings at the Parc Slip been working to increase the number tions for this iconic species as well as Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre as the and extent of wildlife habitats on the other waders, amphibians such as the more information we have the better nature reserve, including the creation of Great Crested Newt and many fresh- we can manage the land for wildlife. arable crops, wildflower meadows and water invertebrate species. most recently a large area of wader Thank you to everyone who has do- scrapes. Key to the new wetland habitat is the nated so generously toward the hide. creation of an elevated bird hide, For further details on Parc Slip, The network of scrapes has been creat- which stands 3.3m off the ground, please contact: ed in partnership with Natural Re- facing west, overlooking the scrapes. sources Wales (NRW) and covers an The elevated hide has been named Rob Parry area of c.3ha of former improved agri- the Mary Gillham Hide in memory and 01656 724100 cultural pasture, now comprising of 14 recognition of an inspirational natural- [email protected] large scrapes interspersed with marsh ist and one of the Wildlife Trust’s and bare soil for ground nesting birds. staunchest supporters. As well as The scrapes were completed in January enthusing people about wildlife, the hide will also be used by research- ers to record and monitor the changes in habitat and species over time.

WTSWW are currently raising funds to help cover the cost of the hide and have already raised three- quarters of the costs through dona- tions and a legacy left to the Trust by Mary. To help raise the funds, WTSWW are inviting wildlife enthu- siasts to have one of the remaining Mary Gillham Hide © Rob Parry Map shows the newly created scrapes © Rob scrapes named in their honour or Parry after a friend or loved one. There Page 7

Issue 10—Spring May 2014

Exotic Trees in the Gwent Landscape

The study of trees (dendrology) is Those found largely in – one that is greatly complicated by a COMMERICAL TREE range of different factors. Made PLANTATIONS difficult enough because of natural ‘sports’ and hybrids, mankind has FRUIT PRODUCING OR- also played a role in this complica- CHIDS tion by selectively breeding many ORNAMENTAL PLANT- species to such a degree that the INGS original parentage has been lost, to the field-naturalist at least. Such an or those which are example exists at Llangibby Castle SELF-SEEDED EXOTICS where the parentage of two hybrid IN THE ‘WILD’ thorns despite expert investigation, Autumn leaves of the American Smoke tree (Cotinus obo- is said to be unknown. Of the most interest to us vatus). The rich and varied autumn colour is a feature of here are the ornamental this rare tree. Drybridge Park, Monmouthshire. © Colin Titcombe In Britain we generally accept the plantings. These can liter- number of native tree species as ally be found everywhere since we the conifer known as Japanese being around 30+, this imprecise find them in parks and other public Red Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica). assessment is due to the actual places, in private gardens, on large And talking of conifers, in the gen- definition of a tree being opposed estates and as features bordering eral area of Bigsnap Woods, at to a shrub. So let us accept this commercial timber plantations. c.SO534055, an unusual mix of rough figure of 30 odd. This would species was planted in the past mean that exotic (introduced) tree In the area of the Wye Valley which include a fine grove of Coast species found in Gwent outnumber where I now live, there are a range Redwoods (Sequoia sempervi- the natives by at least a multiple of of exotic trees to be found in the rens), more Japanese Red Cedars three. Again the figure has to re- local woodlands. In some cases and an unusual multitude planting main imprecise because of the con- they have probably been planted of Chile Pine (Araucaria araucana), tinual introduction of new species, by the Forestry Commission, in oth- otherwise known as Monkey Puz- partially triggered by our changing ers they are likely to have been zle Tree. Along with these conifers climate. planted by earlier estate owners. There are also trees that were those responsible for this mini- The exotic tree species of Gwent probably planted by the railway au- arboretum also planted specimens can be placed into a number of dis- thorities at the time of the Wye Val- of the Himalayan Tree-Cotoneaster tinct categories. ley Railway. One such tree is an (Cotoneaster frigidus). Oregon Maple or Large-leaved Ma- For those wishing to seek out some ple (Acer macrophyllum) which of these exotic tree species in their stands to the side of own locality, I would recommend the former rail-line the autumn as a good starting (now the Wye Valley point, for deciduous trees at least. Walk) above Searching for unusual species dur- Whitebrook (at ing the summer can be quite hard c.SO532079). work, with a lot of neck-ache in- Other exotics in volved because of the frequent re- these local wood- quirement to gaze up into the cano- lands include Tulip- py. The autumn leaf-fall is not only tree (Liriodendron colourful, it can also be very re- tulipifera), Red Oak warding, with some unusual spe- (Quercus borealis), cies coming to light. Turkey Oak (Quercus The leaves of Oregon Maple (Acer macrophyllum) can be very Colin Titcombe large—up to 35cm across. © Colin Titcombe cerris), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) and Page 8

Issue 10—Spring May 2014

Local Wildlife Sites—What are they?

Everybody will be aware of Nature Re- numbers of woodland SINCs serves and most will be aware of Euro- are recognised as such be- pean Protected Sites such as Special cause they are known to be Areas of Conservation (SACs) & Special ancient woodland sites, but Protection Areas (SPAs), as well as the little is known about their spe- nationally protected network of Special cies composition or condition. Site of Scientific Interest (SSSIs). For Other SINCs are better rec- these sites there is legislation governing orded as they are on Open their protection, the owners are aware of Access Land or have Public their nature conservation value and in Rights of Way running through many cases there is positive manage- them. Full details of these ment to preserve/enhance them. sites are still likely to be lack- ing, but sufficient information There are however a host of other sites is available to recognise their that fall outside this network of value to wildlife. “protected” sites that never-the-less are Greater Knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa) © Andy Karran of substantive importance for nature It is here that the difference conservation, both as sites in their own between SINCs and LWSs is more than Gwent. The project raised awareness of right and in providing connectivity semantics, as, if a site is named a Local the importance of these sites, together throughout the landscape between the Wildlife Site, it indicates that there has with providing advice and support for more “high profile” areas. These sites been contact and liaison with the land- landowners. The project was a great are known as Sites of Interest for Nature owner. This is of great importance for a success with over 250 grassland Local Conservation (SINCs) or Local Wildlife number of reasons, as follows: Wildlife Sites identified, covering an Sites (LWSs). area of over 750ha of species rich  Permission has been given by the grassland. These 250+ landowners, SINCs and LWSs are not statutorily landowner for survey work to be together with 400+ additional landown- protected, however they are still of great undertaken so that complete floral ers, were provided with site visits and value and many contain habitat of SSSI species lists and incidental fauna advice, resulting in positive manage- quality and support priority Biodiversity records can be gathered. ment on over 350ha of already species Action Plan (BAP) habitats and species. rich habitat, and a further 80+ ha of low-  The landowner is made aware of the The recognition of their value for wildlife er value land being restored. is also an important consideration in the wildlife value of their land, which is planning process. crucial as habitats can easily be GWT and MMG’s grassland and Local degraded by accident if the landown- Wildlife Site work continued with a fur- Within the SEWBReC recording area: er is unaware of its value and appro- ther funded project focused upon priate management.  There are 3030 SINC/LWS sites. churchyards, called “Gwent’s Living  The landowner can be offered ad- Churchyards”, which ran between 2007  These cover 64,300 ha. vice on how to manage their land in and 2010. This project again identified areas of wildlife value and provided sur- This represents 18% of the land cover- a wildlife friendly way. veys/advice. The project was also able age.  The landowner can be assisted with to deliver training programmes and All these sites are recognised for their any potential grants to help them grants to help manage some of the value for wildlife and there are detailed manage the land for wildlife. churchyards. guidelines (“Guidelines for the Selection History and Current Status of Local of Wildlife Sites in South Wales”) that Building on the success of previous Wildlife Sites in S.E. Wales outline the recommended criteria for the projects, in 2012 further funding was recognition of these sites in each Local Largely within Monmouthshire, Gwent received for the “Natural Assets Pro- Authority area. The guidelines are avail- Wildlife Trust (GWT), in close collabora- ject”. This work was focused upon Mon- able on the SEWBReC website tion with Monmouthshire Meadows mouthshire, and whilst still largely relat- Group (MMG) have been working for ing to grasslands, it also allowed valua- http://www.sewbrec.org.uk/content/ nearly 10 years to establish a co- ble work to be undertaken on wood- attachments/ ordinated network of Local Wildlife lands and orchards. The orchard work SouthWalesWildlifeSitesCom- Sites. built on the success of the “Gwents Or- pleteDoc.pdf. chard Project” that ran from 2010 – Between 2005 and 2007, “The Gwent 2012. The Natural Assets Project also However, the level of survey work un- Grassland Initiative” (GGI) focused on followed up the successful programme derpinning SINC selection is variable as identifying areas of species-rich grass- many are on private land. Considerable land in Monmouthshire and Blaenau Page 9

Issue 10—Spring May 2014

Local Wildlife Sites continued...

In this pilot scheme The Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales and Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales Gwent Wildlife Trust are working in Laura Dell collaboration, together with Wales Tel: 01656 724100 Biodiversity Partnership (WBP), e-mail: [email protected] Natural Resources Wales (NRW), Or [email protected] the 12 Local Authorities, SEWBReC and The Bumblebee Conservation All records generated from survey work Trust, to create a LWS network and privileged access to private land across S.E. Wales based on our will, with the due permission of landown- work in Monmouthshire. The pilot ers of course, be submitted to SEW- project is focused on grassland and BReC! heathland habitats, and will result in a total of 5 LWS in each of the 12 Andy Karran Local Authority areas. Each LWS owner will be made aware of the wildlife value of their land, given land management toolkits to assist them in managing the land appro- Small Blue (Cupido minimus) © Andy Karran priately, and for some, grants will be of grant awards started in the church- provided to undertake habitat manage- yard project. The Natural Assets Project ment. The project also intends to hold is now drawing to a close (Spring 2014) land management demonstration days after two successful survey seasons to further inform interested landowners (2012 decidedly soggy) and (2013 glori- on how best to manage land for wildlife. ous weather). This has generated a further total of 150+ sites surveyed, with It is hoped that further funding can be 100+ Local Wildlife Sites being recog- secured and work subsequent to this nised or extended. The grant scheme pilot study will enable the creation of a that accompanied the Natural Assets full LWS network across the whole of Project was a particular success with 43 S.E. Wales. This will result in an im- landowners being awarded grants of up proved record of habitats and their con- to £2,000 to undertake management dition across the region, and land being activities such as fencing to allow appro- better managed for wildlife through edu- priate grazing, scrub control and or- cation of landowners and provision of chard restoration. grants.

Records from these Local Wildlife Sites Do you know of/own existing SINC/ are sent to SEWBReC, this amounts to LWS sites that would benefit from an estimated 20,000 records, many land management advice or grants to from sites that would not normally be preserve/enhance them? accessible to recorders. These have Or included new sites for scarce species such as Greater Butterfly Orchid and Maybe you know of an area of land of Green-winged Orchids. particular value to wildlife that has The future for Local Wildlife Sites in not previously been recognised and SE Wales would benefit from a survey to see if it is LWS quality? Given the importance of Local Wildlife Sites we are therefore pleased to say If so then please contact us as fol- that the vital work is ongoing and being lows: Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) © Andy extended during 2014 in the form of a Karran Gwent Wildlife Trust pilot scheme (Local Wildlife Sites – Andy Karran S.E. Wales Project) which is funded by Tel: 01600 740600 the Welsh Government’s Resilient Eco- e-mail: [email protected] systems Fund. Or [email protected] Page 10

Issue 10—Spring May 2014

A Brief History of the Water Vole at Magor Marsh

As Britain’s fastest declining mammal, den close to a Water Vole colony. She Strachan, we then made the decision to the Water Vole has suffered a lot. At is capable of wiping out the colony over release Water Voles at Magor Marsh. one time common and widespread, the the period of just a few months. population has crashed to only a few After all our hard work and preparation, isolated populations across the United The good news is that habitat can be over 200 Voles were released there Kingdom. protected and Mink can be controlled during 2012 and 2013. which can safeguard Water Voles. This is exactly what has Water Voles must be lucky for the happened at Gwent Wildlife weather, as on both release days we Trust’s Magor Marsh Nature were met with glorious sunshine. The Reserve. Voles arrived from their breeding facility in Devon and were placed into ‘soft re- Magor Marsh was bought by the lease pens’ ready for release on the Gwent Wildlife Trust in 1963 reserve. The idea behind soft release is and has been managed for wild- the Voles are kept in cages for a few life and people ever since. The days on the reserve, by the water’s habitat there is perfect for Water edge in a secluded spot, to help them Vole but a search from SEW- get used to their surroundings. We fed BReC revealed to us that the them on fresh apple and carrot every last probable record for a Water day, as well as a handful of vegetation. Vole at Magor Marsh was in There is enough water in the food to Water Vole at Magor Marsh © David Sankson 2003, and thorough surveys since sustain the Voles, so we did not need to never picked up any signs. Because of worry about that. Finally after around 5 But why have they declined? this we were as confident as we could days the doors to the cages were Since the early 1900s, the massively be that Water Voles were extinct at Ma- opened and the voles were free to ex- important wetland habitats that the Wa- gor Marsh and the area around it. The plore their new home. We continued to ter Vole called home began to be mis- high suitability of the habitat suggested put food in the cages for a few days but managed, drained and developed. The the reason we had lost our Water Voles to be honest the Voles were happy massive push for agricultural intensifica- was due to predation from Mink. It is enough being free at Magor Marsh, eat- tion after the Second World War result- agreed that humane Mink control, to- ing all the natural vegetation growing ed in the loss of large areas of flood gether with appropriate habitat manage- there! Once we were happy the Voles plain and unsympathetic management ment and restoration, is key to the re- had left, we then collected in the cages of the riparian habitat which remained. covery of the Water Vole. So in 2006 ready to be returned to the breeding This not only reduced the number of we made the decision to begin trapping facility. Water Voles which could be supported Mink on the reserve, using the most by the remaining habitats, but also frag- humane methods possible. In the first We carefully survey the Water Vole pop- mented the landscape, splitting Water year we trapped a staggering 26 Mink ulation twice a year, once before winter Vole colonies up and reducing genetic and almost as many the following year. and once just after. Water Voles do not diversity. After this the numbers caught gradually hibernate and so a very high mortality fell. In 2012 we extended our Mink rate may be seen during winter so the Then, from the 1950s onwards Ameri- monitoring and trapping network into a pre and post winter surveys are a good can Mink from fur farms across the 3km ‘monitoring zone’ around the re- way to estimate how well the Voles sur- country were accidentally and deliber- serve. Mink rafts were placed at strate- vived the winter. During the survey, a ately released. These voracious non- gic points in this zone and were moni- native predators are one of the most tored by volunteers, creating a surveil- important causes for the decline in Wa- lance system around the reserve. In ter Vole populations. Although Water 2012 we caught just 4 Mink from this Voles have evolved with an extensive huge area including Magor Marsh and suite of natural predators, none are as numbers have remained as low ever capable as the American Mink. Mink since. This was excellent news, as it can not only chase Voles fast on land, suggested we had knocked out the resi- they can out-swim them too. To top it dent Mink population and were now just all off, female and juvenile Mink are picking up transient individuals. even small enough to follow Water Voles into their burrows, so there is truly Under guidance from the Gwent Levels American Mink © Peter Thomas no escape. The biggest impact is felt if Water Vole Steering Group, including a female Mink establishes a breeding the leading UK Water Vole expert Rob Page 11

Issue 10—Spring May 2014

A Brief History of the Water Vole at Magor Marsh continued... predetermined section of reen or ditch is It is still very early days, but all the evi- continue to protect the Water Voles now searched for signs of Water Vole, in- dence so far indicates that the Water and in years to come. cluding feeding remains, latrines (distinctive piles of droppings used to Voles at Magor Marsh are thriving, but Alice Rees, Water Vole Project mark territories), burrows and to a less- we must make sure we help them con- Officer at Gwent Wildlife Trust er extent footprints. The best evidence tinue to do so. If you would like more information or to to find (aside from a Vole itself!) is a get involved with the project, please get latrine. Latrines are used by Voles to Not only will we maintain our excellent in touch with Alice on mark their territory and it can be very wildlife friendly management of habitats [email protected] roughly estimated that six latrines on a at Magor Marsh but we must also work or stretch of water way equates to one with landowners around the reserve to female Water Vole. Year on year since promote good habitat management on a the release, more and more Water Vole landscape scale. Crucially we need to evidence is being found on the reserve. maintain our Mink monitoring network, If you can get down there now, you will but this needs to extend even further out see the latrines all over our Water Vole in the Gwent Levels and requires the monitoring rafts (baited with apple each help of more volunteers. Lastly we will week for the sole purpose of recording begin to survey for Water Voles in the Water Vole droppings!) and you might wider area around Magor Marsh as we be lucky enough to see a Vole in the are already picking up records as far flesh. I was there this morning and saw from the reserve as Bishton! So what one right outside the centre in all its started off as a very sad story may now glory! have a happy ending on the Gwent Levels, at least for now, but we must Cages in place © Chris Hatch

What’s that coming over the hill – is it a moth book?

In 2005, Tony Blair won a third term of And in Glamorgan, work began on a Hallett produced his county fauna for office of Labour, Chelsea won their first book. Since then, we’ve had two Prime the Cardiff Naturalists’ Society nearly top flight football League title in 50 Ministers, the league has been won by 100 years ago. Priced at £40, you can years, and Doctor Who returned to our Chelsea (twice), and Man City (five get your copy from the SEWBReC office televisions after a 16 year gap. times), the Doctor is now in his twelfth during office hours, from Kenfig at the incarnation, and this book has reached weekends, or just flag me near mythological status. down in the street – I’m sure to have a copy on me. So it is with great pleasure (and relief) that I can finally announce that The At a push we will even post them out to Moths of Glamorgan is out. This 424 you at an additional cost of £4.50 for page hard backed tome with 32 colour postage and packing. plates represents the first major publica- Dave Slade tion on the county’s moth fauna since

Have you seen this leaf miner?

If you have Field Maple growing near you check the leaves for signs of the lar- vae of the tiny Phyllonorycter acerifoliel- la moth. The caterpillars fold over the edge of a leaf and feed from within. There are two broods so mines may be found in summer or autumn. At present Female Phyllonorycter acerifoliella there are scattered records from the (4mm) emitting pheromones from her Gower Peninsula and eastwards. Autumn leaf of field maple with pupa abdomen to attract a mate. © Chris Chris Manley Manley in folded edge © Chris Manley

Issue 10—Spring May 2014

Surveying butterflies at Silent Valley

Silent Valley is a Gwent Wildlife Trust still with its wings open so that I could Small Heath became quite easy, despite nature reserve in Blaenau Gwent and is identify it. That was the only butterfly I its small size, because it seemed to a real gem, containing unique Beech saw that day, but at least I had some- have a very distinct appearance and wood. The transect starts by crossing a thing to record. movement. The very last butterfly that I stream and going uphill past a few counted, in September, was a Speckled On my next visit two weeks later I ar- Beeches and Hawthorn trees and a Wood, which landed at my feet a few rived at the dram road after a hot sticky couple of lovely old Crab Apple trees, minutes before I finished the walk. climb and just as the ground levelled out then through a beautiful Bluebell field. I spotted a Small Pearl Bordered Fritil- Silent Valley is a beautiful area to walk Then it follows an old ‘dram’ road lary, just waiting for me, perched on a in and a good place for beginners as the through a mixture of wet woodland, dis- blade of grass. I was pleased to discov- number of species is limited. I enjoyed used spoil tip and open scrub, before er that I was the first surveyor to see learning as I went along and having a dropping past a swathe of Bracken, both of these species. scenic walk at the same time. It’s good through a bog and back through an area exercise too! of Beech wood. The numbers of butterflies and species increased gradually after this and then, My favourite butterfly? The speckled I have just started my second season of when the hot weather arrived in the mid- wood, not because it is the prettiest, surveying butterflies at Silent Valley. dle of July, there was a population ex- although it is quite attractive, but be- When I started I was a complete begin- plosion. As I walked along the dram cause it is the most helpful as it was the ner who recognised just the big well road the air was full of butterflies and it first and last. known species. was quite a hard task to count them Jane Corey After doing Tom Eyles’s course on but- accurately. The little blighters wouldn’t terfly identification, I went round my first keep still and there were brown flutter- transect with him in great anticipation, ing shapes everywhere. At least there but we didn’t see a thing! On my next were very few whites. I happened to visit I was all prepared, making sure come across Tom at the top of the spoil everything I might need was in the right tip and he pointed out some Graylings. I pockets and the binoculars were at the couldn’t see them to start with as they ready, but I needn’t have bothered. were so well camouflaged. It was a very cold spring and it wasn’t My next visit was much less hectic and until early June that I spotted my first the numbers quickly fell away towards butterfly, which was a Speckled Wood. I the end of the season. By then I felt had never seen one before, but it very much more confident and could recog- Speckled wood (Pararge aegeria) © Tom obligingly landed at my feet and stayed nise some species straight away. The Eyles Garden Observations: A short Comment on Garden birdlife

You don't have to go anywhere exotic to You can watch young men doing the the male will usually watch out while the see interesting wildlife behaviour. Even same thing. female feeds, and then they will change around my house and very small gar- over. den, spring has brought two interesting 2. This winter I restarted feeding garden This has been consistent behaviour for observations: birds after a long break due to cat at- the last few months. tacks. I put out sunflower hearts. Initially any bird who tried to feed would be at- 1. In spring, the male Dunnock, normally It's fascinating what insights into avian tacked by a missile in the shape of a a shy, skulking little brown job, becomes behaviour can be gained by looking emboldened by testosterone. I went Robin who was defending my bushes, through your window! outside one morning in March and possibly as a nest site. The robin occa- heard three Dunnocks singing. One was sionally fed from the feeder himself. In Paul Seligman singing from the aerial on my chim- time he disappeared, and the feeder ney, one was on the highest point of a has attracted House Sparrows who tree and the third was on my garden come in groups of 2, 4 or 6. fence - around 5m away from my cat who was slowly moving his way towards House Sparrows are often thought of as him. squabbling birds, but mine seem quite well ordered. Of particular interest is Each was saying, probably to that one (or more) bird always stays on a watching female unseen by me, 'Look guard duty at the top of the shrubs, while others feed. If a single pair comes, at me! I'm fit and I'm really brave." Page 13

Issue 10—Spring May 2014

Monitoring of Great Black-backed Gulls (Larus marinus) on Denny Island, Monmouthshire

Introduction Results

The Goldcliff Ringing Group has been On 16 June 2013, 20 pulli Great visiting Denny Island in the Bristol Black-backed Gulls were caught by Channel (ST4581) since 2000 to moni- hand and fitted with both BTO and tor the breeding seabirds present. colour Darvic rings. Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax car- Since the 20 birds were ringed, there bo) have been the priority species, how- have been 19 re-sightings involving ever, to a lesser extent Great Black- ten birds. Re-sightings have includ- backed Gulls (Larus marinus) have also ed birds on the Welsh islands of Flat been monitored. The approach to moni- Holm in the Bristol Channel and toring has been to count adult birds pre- Skokholm in Pembrokeshire, howev- sent and to ring juvenile birds to help Juvenile Great Black-backed gull © Richard Clarke er, the majority have come from the track their subsequent post-breeding reservoirs to the south of Bristol, namely dispersal. Given that ringed birds had travelled Chew Valley Lake and Blagdon Lake, beyond the Bristol Channel area, the Some 180 Great Black-backed Gull which between them account for ten of Group decided to enhance its monitor- the re-sightings. juveniles have been ringed in the period ing of the species and to introduce the between 2000 and 2011. Disappoint- use of colour rings - the aim being to ingly, despite the number of birds increase the number of re-sightings marked in this way the subsequent re- being made. The study got underway in sightings/recoveries of birds has been June 2013, with the objectives of gain- very low. In total, there have been just ing a better understanding about: eight re-sightings/recoveries with the majority of these unsurprisingly being  the dispersal patterns of birds origi- from the Bristol Channel area. For ex- nating from Denny Island. In partic- ample, in the West Country birds have ular, where birds go in the non- been seen at the Gloucester landfill site breeding season and the timing of at Hempsted; Lower Parting, Glouces- dispersal; ter; and at Uphill, North Somerset. In Wales, birds have been at Great Rum-  the species’ faithfulness to their win- D:AT on Chouet Beach, Vale, Guernsey ney Wharf near Cardiff and at Barry in tering sites and the extent to which © Paul Vernon the Vale of Glamorgan. they change location within and be- tween seasons; Away from Wales and the wider Severn estuary area, two individuals, D:AC and  longevity, the circumstances of mor- D:AP were recorded initially on the tality, age of first breeding and Camel Estuary in Cornwall on different whether birds return to their natal dates in December 2013 and then sub- colonies to breed or move else- sequently recorded on the Lizard in where. Cornwall, the UK’s most southerly main- land location. Away from the mainland, The study method involves visiting Den- in March this year, D:AT was seen at ny Island annually during June to catch the Channel Islands on Guernsey. This Great Black-backed Gull pulli. Birds are is apparently the first Great Black- Denny Island © Richard Clarke ringed below the tarsus with a British backed Gull ringed in Wales to be sub- Trust for Ornithology (BTO) metal ring sequently recorded in the Channel Is- on the left leg and a colour Darvic ring In addition to records of sightings/ lands. being placed on the right leg. Darvic recoveries of ringed birds in the Bristol rings are coloured yellow with a black Channel, two other records related to The use of colour-rings on Great Black- three alpha code – the first letter being birds being seen from further afield at backed Gulls has helped to significantly 'D' followed by a colon and then two Lyme Regis in Dorset and at Cayeux- increase the number of re-sightings of letters. The BTO’s IPMR computer pro- sur-Mer, Somme in northern France. Denny Island birds, but it is too soon to gramme is used to record details of The recovery of a bird in France was draw any firm conclusions from the re- ringed birds and the study is registered unusual in both distance from its natal sults of the study to date. on the Euring website. breeding site (a median distance of 115km is stated in Wernham et al., 2002) and location of recovery. Page 14

Issue 10—Spring May 2014

Monitoring of Great Black-backed Gulls (Larus marinus) on Denny Island, Monmouthshire continued ...

Nevertheless, early results suggest that Acknowledgements References the Somerset lakes of Chew Valley and Blagdon are important for the species, This project would not be possible with- Wernham, C., et al., (2002). The Migra- as five different birds have been present out the kind help provided by various tion Atlas: Movements of the Birds of there at some point. Following dispersal organisations and individuals: Gwent Britain and Ireland. T. & A.D. Poyser, from Denny Island, juvenile birds have Ornithological Society; Portishead Yacht London initially been recorded at the lakes, the and Sailing Club; Peter Rock; and, final- earliest being 7 August. Furthermore, at ly, a big thank you to the many observ- least one bird remained present ers who have submitted sightings of throughout the winter of 2013/14. The Great-blacked Gulls already. species uses Blagdon Lake for feeding, with roosting taking place at Chew Val- Re-sighting details of colour-ringed Great Black-backed Gulls ley (RMC, pers. com.). The enhanced from Denny Island study has provided further evidence that some birds originating from Denny Is- Distance/Direction & Code BTO Ring Location Date land travel considerable distances away Duration from the Bristol Channel to the south, Blagdon Lake, D:AB MA30852 02.12.13 21km SSE 169days which is consistent with the results sug- North Somerset gested by earlier work. Blagdon Lake, D:AC MA30853 29.08.13 21km SSE 74days North Somerset The Group is particularly keen to hear Camel Estuary, from anyone who has seen a colour 21.12.13 181km SW 188days Cornwall ringed Great Black-backed Gull. We Cadgwith, Lizard, would appreciate details of where and 26.01.14 239km SW 224days Cornwall when the bird was seen and, if possible, details of: the leg to which the colour Chew Valley Lake, ring was fitted; the ring code; the ring D:AD MA30854 24.08.13 23km SSE 69days colours; and, the bird’s age. Please Somerset send sightings either direct to Richard 22 & Blagdon Lake, 21km SSE 74days Clarke, who will acknowledge and pro- D:AG MA30856 29.08.13 North Somerset vide details of the bird’s life history, or 14.10.13 21km SSE 120days submit details via the BTO’s wesite at Chew Valley 14.08.13 23km SSE 59days www.ring.ac Lake

Herons Green Richard Clarke Bay, Chew Val- 15.02.14 23km SSE 244days ley Lake Herriot’s Pool, Chew Valley 29.03.14 26km SSE 286days Lake Flat Holm, D:AH MA30857 29.08.13 28km SW 74days Bristol Channel Camel Estuary, 22.12.13 182km SW 189days Cornwall Lizard Point, D:AP MA30861 28.02.14 & 242km SW 257days Cornwall

14.03.14 242km SW 271days

Skokholm, Pem- D:AR MA30862 01.10.13 172km W 107days D:AR at Skokholm, Pembrokeshire, © brokeshire Richard Brown Chouet Beach, D:AT MA30864 29.03.14 443km ESE 286days Vale, Guernsey Chew Valley D:AX MA30868 07.08.13 23km SSE 52days Lake, Somerset Dunster Beach, D:AY MA30869 25.04.14 57km SW 313days Somerset

Issue 10—Spring May 2014

Brynna Woods observations

My main location for recording is Elf Cups Sarcoscypha there are many Brynna Woods and Llanharan Marsh – in Brynna Woods. Microscopic exami- a Nature Reserve managed by the nation by Rich Wright of Glamorgan Wildlife Trust South and West Wales. Fungus Group, confirms (so far) Scar- let Elf Cup S. austrica. My main interest is fungi but I am not an expert! I am a member of the newly Fire Rug Inkcap Coprinellus domesti- reformed Glamorgan Fungus Group cus, identification of this species is and hope to learn much more from the confirmed by ginger mat of mycellium. more experienced members of this It was on an old tree trunk (possibly group. Salix) which has hosted a number of Fungi and Slime Moulds! I don't limit myself to Fungi or Brynna Woods and below are some of the (to Fairy Inkcap Coprinellus dissemenina- me) more interesting observations that tus – on possible old Salix log. I have noted this year. Cuckoo flower © Dan Reed Trametes ochracea – no common Red Kite Milvus milvus – often seen non-native plant covered by Schedule 9 English name and it might be T. gib- over a meadow just on the edge of Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and bosa Lumpy Bracket. In hedgerow just Brynna Woods. Amendments. outside of Brynna.

Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamnii, first Lady's Smock/Cuckoo Flower Common Bird's Nest Fungus Crucibu- seen 5th March in 'Large Meadow', Cardimine pratensis – on roadside lum laeve – on woodchips around new Brynna Woods. Alder Buckthorn Fran- verges and other usually wet locations, housing. first for me! gula alnus not far away. a very important plant for Orange Tip Butterfly Anthcaris cardamines. I have Pestle Puffball Handkea excipuliformis tried to persuade the local council – old over-wintered remains. Blowing (RCT) not to mow! along the pavement on the outskirts of Brynna! FUNGI et al. Mark Steer Collared Earthstar Geastrum triplex – just outside of Brynna in a hedgerow. To view Mark’s observations on i-spot I'm pretty certain with identification be- follow the link below: cause of size. A first Earthstar for me! http://www.ispotnature.org/search/ Birch Polypore Piptoporus betulinus – node/brynna Brimstone butterfly © David Slade very common where Birch occur but this one was different as very friable Violet Oil Beetle Meloe violaceus – this and distorted. The underside had yel- year first seen on 10th April just to the lowish 'mould' infection. north west of Brynna below hedgerow, and then in 'South' meadow, Brynna False Puffball Reticularia lycoper- Woods on 11th April. This latter loca- don is not a Fungus but a Slime tion is regular for this species. Identifi- Mould. I watched one that was on cation was confirmed at Cardiff Muse- a dead Birch stump, over a 4 um and voucher specimen now held week period; very interesting, there. and they move from year to year!

Three Cornered Leek/Garlic Allium Witch's Broom Taphrina betulina triquretum – has been present for a – high up in one of Brynna number of years on the old railway line Wood's Birches. on the northern boundary of Brynna Woods. It is spreading down the em- Cobalt Crust Terana caerula – Common Bird’s Nest Fungus © Rich Wright bankment and this year I have found lots in Brynna Woods, mainly on clumps dumped, presumably as dead Hazel. 'garden waste'. This is a very invasive Page 16

Issue 10—Spring May 2014

Botanical highlights in Monmouthshire (VC35) in 2013

Weekly visits were made by us both Butterfly Orchids Platanthera chloran- right up until December 2013 to differ- tha continue to be reported – the most ent tetrads (2km x 2km squares) notable in 2013 being 39 plants on 20 throughout the county. This was spe- May at Far Hill found by Andy Karran cifically to record plants for the new and 59 flowering spikes found by Atlas planned by the Botanical Society George Tordoff on 8 June at Kings of Britain and Ireland, for which post Wood, Hendre at a site where bramble 2000 records are required. Sites visit- had been cleared to benefit the Drab ed included Penhow Quarry, Craig Looper moth. The scarce coastal Syrffydin at Dawn of Day, Sudbrook Bird’s-foot Clover Trifolium ornitho- and other areas of the Gwent Levels poides was found by Paul Green at and along the Three Castles footpath Rumney Great Wharf where it was first between Newcastle and Cross Ash. recorded in 1922, whilst Paul also Herb Paris © Rebecca Davies turned up Corky-fruited Water Drop- We saw much of interest but the most Neottia ovata and the best find of all a wort Oenanthe pimpinelloides at Mal- memorable records were of two stone- plant of Wild Liquorice Astragalus gly- worts – one in small pools and rivulets pas near Newport. Heather Colls con- cophyllos which we failed to find at the at Penhow Quarry which turned out to tinues to turn up interesting species base at Caerwent where it was formerly be new to the vice county, and an in- too and on waste ground in northwest known. teresting one in a pond at MOD Caer- Newport in August 2013 she found two went which remains unidentified be- A visit with GWT volunteers to Rogiet relatively recent alien species, Guern- cause, frustratingly, it disintegrated Poor Land and along the lane up to the sey Fleabane Conyza sumatrensis and before we could determine what it was. meadow and the woodland turned up Bilbao’s Fleabane C. floribunda; in When we returned later in the summer Meadow Rue Thalictrum flavus, away October Paul Green found both spe- we could not find it. We will try again in from its Levels stronghold. On the cies in a different area of Newport. 2014. sands and gravels of the Trellech Plat- 2013 was the first year of the Mon- eau, we were delighted to find a We had several scattered records of mouthshire Plant Group. Participants healthy population of the rare Bird’s- two declining arable plants, Field came from the BSBI, Gwent Wildlife foot Ornithopus perpusillus growing on Woundwort Stachys arvensis and Trust, Monmouthshire Meadows a sandy track on Beacon Hill. This Sharp-leaved Fluellen Kickxia elatine, Group, local authorities, SEWBReC, small leguminous plant had not been in the east and northeast of the VC, as well as other interested individuals. seen for 20-30 years in the area and whilst Stinking Chamomile Anthemis We held five successful field meetings Trevor Evans in his Atlas recorded it in cotula turned up in several fields near with numbers ranging from 6 to 14. only four tetrads throughout the vice- Abergavenny. On the Gwent levels we county. Small populations of Lesser The first group in May visited MOD found a new site for Brookweed Sa- Cudweed Filago minima were found at Caerwent and despite a slight tangle molus valerandi. On two of our visits two sites on Trelleck Hill; this declining with one of the military manoeuvres, we were accompanied by Paul Green, species is scarce in eastern Mon- we managed to record many of the the BSBI Welsh officer, and he was mouthshire. able to confirm the hybrid of Soft Rush Juncus effusus and Hard Rush J. in- On 18 July we, together with a group of flexus, Juncus x diffuses, by a pond GWT volunteers, visited Wyndcliff, and near Mathern. The hybrid between counted a record 54 of the rare Yellow Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense and Bird’s-nest Hypopitys monotropa in Marsh Thistle C. palustre, C. x cela- woodland at Blackcliff. We were unable kovskianum was confirmed near the to find the Common Wintergreen Pyrola drained Nant-y-Draenog reservoir in minor at the Wyndcliffe last year; it of- the west of the county. Paul also found ten suffers from people collecting leaf an alien grass, Poa infirma, at Magor litter from the area. At the Blackcliff, Service Station. though, we were able to see the nation- ally scarce Fingered Sedge Carex digi- Spring and summer visits to Llanmelin tata and the leaves of Mountain Medick Hill Fort were most rewarding with Melica nutans. good finds including Herb Paris Paris quadrifolium, Tor-grass Brachypodium Green-veined Orchid Anacamptis morio pinnatum, much Reed-grass Cala- turned up at a new site – at Leechpool magrostis epigeios (another ‘new’ col- Holdings near Portskewett where Rich- Adder’s Tongue © Richard Poole ony of this striking grass was also ard and Nicola Cornock photographed found at MOD Caerwent), Wild Col- one flower in their hay meadow. New Page 17

Issue 10—Spring May 2014

Botanical highlights in Monmouthshire (VC35) continued... calcicolous plants that grow there! species. The July visit took us to the west Butomus umbellatus. The populations of Small-flowered of the county and ‘The British’ brownfield Buttercup Ranunculus parviflorus, in site where Steve Williams showed us The last organised visit of the year was its only site in the county were thriving some of the special species. We saw to Pen-y-fan pond in September. High- along with hundreds of Adder’s Lesser Cudweed whilst Round-leaved lights there included Shoreweed Litto- Tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum, Sea Sundew Drosera rotundifolia, Lesser rella uniflora, a small established pop- Storksbill Erodium maritimum that has Skullcap Scutellaria minor and Ivy-leaved ulation of Greater Spearwort Ranuncu- increased dramatically in numbers Bellflower Wahlenbergia hederacea were lus lingua, Wormwood Artemisia ab- over the last few years and Common growing in wet flushes. sinthum and more Lesser Skullcap. Storksbill Erodium cicutarium, far less The coastal saltings at St Brides present- common than the former species on Stephanie Tyler and Elsa Wood, ed a different assemblage of plants for the base but more frequent in the Joint VC35 Botanical Recorders the group in August. The highlights were county. We saw plenty of calcicoles as Sea Lavender Limonium vulgare, Sea Madder Rubia peregrine and Early Barley Hordeum marinum and Sea Purs- Purple Orchids Orchis mascula but no lane Atriplex portulacoides. After the dry Green-winged Orchids Anacamptis summer when the salt pans dried we morio. were unable to find the Beaked Tassel- weed Ruppia maritima that had been The Group visited some of the species found in abundance the previous year by -rich meadows in the Shirenewton Julian Woodman. Visits inland to some area in June in conjunction with the reens produced a range of reen speciali- Monmouthshire Meadows Group’s ties from various duckweeds to Sagittaria Open Day, and saw interesting assem- sagittifolia (Arrowhead), Frogbit Hydro- blages of both wet and dry meadow chaeris morsus-ranae and Flowering Round-leaved Sundew © Libby Wilcox

Monmouthshire Meadows Group Open Days and Bioblitzes

On Sunday June 8th fields at two prop- flies and other invertebrates. Activities coed near Raglan, thanks to Rachel erties near The Hendre will be open to will include plant and bird walks and an and Tudor Morgan. There are many members and friends for a BioBlitz. inspection of moths caught the previous Southern Marsh Orchids there as well night in light traps. The day will start at as a diversity of other plants. Opening They include lovely pastures at Middle 10.30 a.m. and continue to 4.30 p.m. times and arrangements are as for Crwys belonging to Paul Mobbs- Please bring a sandwich and drink so June 8th. Morgan, and a small species-rich field that we can have a communal picnic and and pond area at Great Crwys belong- For further information on MMG events exchange information on what we have ing to Simon and Alex Dawson. We please go to the website seen in the morning. On Sunday June aim to record all that we see from www.monmouthshiremeadows.org 15th a similar Open Day/BioBlitz will be plants and birds to moths and butter- held at fields at Kingcoed Farm, King- Steph Tyler

Plant identification and surveys in vc35 in 2014

All are welcomed, whether beginners Wed 21st May Plant recording in SO32 Please let us know if you would like or more experienced botanists. We near Llanvihangel Crucorney. to come. hope to visit a variety of interesting Sat June 14th Grasses, sedges and rush- Steph Tyler sites and on some dates visit tetrads es day at Springdale Farm near Usk. [email protected] and (2km x 2km squares) for which we Elsa Wood [email protected] have few data, so that we can record Wed 16th July – Tarren yr Esgob in the all that we see, for the new atlas. Black Mountains – joint meeting with Brecon Plant Group; you need to be fit to Walks will start at 10a.m. and continue climb up to the crags. usually into the afternoon so please being a picnic lunch, drinks etc. Ven- Sat 16th Aug – Rogiet Countryside Park. ues and meeting places to be an- Wed 17th Sept – Plant recording –beech nounced or confirmed nearer the time woods near Crumlin . but all will be in VC35 Monmouthshire. Page 18

Issue 10—Spring May 2014

Glamorgan Fungus Group

We are pleased to announce that the we had a foray around the Coed Hills  Oldcastle Down and Alun Valley, recently re-formed Glamorgan Fungus Forest Gardens site (a SEWBReC Bio- Sunday 5th October Group is now up and running! diversity Blitz Day is arranged there for  Penllergaer Valley Woods, Satur- Saturday 12th July 2014). A number of day 1st November We would like to thank the individuals interesting fungi were spotted there, who ran the previous Group for their including: In addition there will be other forays sterling work and allowing us to contin- organised on an ad hoc basis through- ue the Group.  St. George's Mushroom Calocybe out the year. gambosa We are affiliated to the British Myco-  A Grey Disco, possibly Mollisia ci- If you would like further information, logical Society and would like to thank nerea please e-mail Mike Bright. them for their help and support. If you  Alder Tongue Taphrina alni would like to join us please email Mike  Alder Goblet Ciboria caucus Bright, Secretary; glamorganfun-  Glue Crust Hymenochaete corru- [email protected] gate  Vinegar Cup Helvella acetabulum We have already produced a first  A Ganoderma, possibly Ganoderma Newsletter and hope to issue Newslet- resinaceum ters every 3 months or so. We also are in the process of putting our website We have further forays arranged this together but for future reference the year including: website address is: www.glamorganfungusgroup.co.uk  Merthyr Mawr, Sunday 18th of May  Taf Fechan Nature Reserve, Satur- Following our AGM on 12th April 2014, day 6th September St George’s Mushroom © Mike Bright

Pentwynmawr Primary School Eco Clubbers win Award

Eco Clubbers in Pentwynmawr Primary Newbridge Partnership Eco Sub- ference in October School were delighted to be winners of committee cleared a stretch of the Riv- this year and was the Eco Schools Award during the Tidy er Sirhowy bank of litter in conjunction greeted with much Wales Awards in Cardiff in January. with Hywel Abbot of Healthy Rivers. applause and praise. This was done in order to clear up the Environment charity Keep Wales Tidy river and to provide a safe habitat for Other initiatives the host the annual Tidy Wales Awards the future release of salmon fry. Pupils pupils have been which is sponsored by Natural Re- then attended a workshop on salmon, involved in include; designing a long sources Wales, to thank community looked at real salmon eggs and fry and life hessian bag, running a litter cam- groups, schools and organisations for studied the habitat needs and life cycle paign, and designing posters to pro- their outstanding dedication to improv- of the salmon. mote the correct dispersal of rubbish ing the local environment. and the recycling and reusing of un- Pupils, parents and members of the When the salmon fry were ready for wanted and waste items. Pupils recy- release, pupils and parents cle paper, batteries, ink cartridges and released the salmon fry up envelopes. river from Blackwood. For further information on Keep Wales Eco Club representatives Tidy please contact the communica- created a film about the river tions Team on clear up and the importance [email protected] of keeping river banks litter or 029 2038 1737 free. They shared the many difficulties that salmon face, Jackie Nash including man made weirs, American crayfish and of course litter. This was pre- sented to over 50 attendees Page 19 Pentwynmawr pupils receiving tidy wales award © Keep Wales Tidy at the Annual Fisheries Con-

Issue 10—Spring May 2014

Three Cheers for Volunteers

Parc Taf Bargoed Wardens have been ’I would like to thank every one for their park, please get in touch with the war- encouraging community groups to get hard work and enthusiasm whilst work- dens. involved in projects on the park. ing on the project. Volunteering is a great way of learning new skills, meet- We also have opportunities for individ- One such group Transition into Em- ing new people, keeping fit and improv- uals who would like to get involved and ployment, have signed up to help the ing your CV. Not only will the volunteer take part in conservation, education wardens with practical conservation projects help the wardens create a and wildlife survey tasks, then please activities and have already carried out more attractive park but we hope that contact the Environmental & Heritage a great deal of work. the group will help make friendships Warden on 07515189844. One such conservation project is the and foster that famous Valleys commu- extension and improvement of the nity spirit.’ Paul Virgin ditch network and new path running If you work for an organisation that alongside the lakes, towards the reed would be interested in helping on the beds. Over the course of a few weeks, the groups have been involved in the planting of wildflower seeds and plugs. Hopefully, as time passes, the ditch will be colonised by these plants, such as Foxgloves, and Hollyhocks and will provide excellent habitat for wildlife, including Butterflies, Bees, and In- sects. Warden Paul Virgin commented: Planting the wildflower plugs © Paul Volunteers in action © Paul Virgin Virgin

Events at Parc Taf Bargoed

Parc Taf Bargoed have a jam-packed Aug 7th – Grasshopper Hunt – A walk Events must be booked. calendar of free events this year. See and talk collecting insects. All activities start at 1pm and finish at if there’s something that takes your 3pm. Aug 12th - Creepy Crawlies - A walk, fancy: talk and invertebrate collection.

Children must be accompanied by an May 27th – Spot the birds nest – A Aug 14th – Dragonfly Hunt – Walk and adult. walk and talk on the birds’ nests at talk, and collection of dragonflies. Taff Bargoed Park. Pets not suitable on certain events. Aug 19th – Meet the Minibeasts – May 29th – Amphibian and Reptile Fascinating facts and Safari. Tel. Warden Paul Virgin on 07515 Safari – A walk and talk around Taff 189844 or 01685 724972 Aug 21st – Wildflowers and their Bargoed Park. Friends – walk, talk and activity. July 22nd – Woodland People – Cre- Aug 26th – Underwater Pond Life – ate your own forest creatures from Discover the mysteries of pond life with woodland habitat. underwater cameras. July 24th – Incy Winncy Spider - Aug 28th – Meet the fireman—Meet Spider themed activity and collection. our local firemen. July 29th – Build a Bug Home - Bug Oct 28th – Hedgehog Day – Fun activi- home construction and activity. ties and help build a hedgehog nest July 31st – The History of Taff Bar- and hibernation home. goed Park - Walk and talk on the Oct 30th – Tree Planting Day – Plant construction and heritage of the park. and label your own tree. Aug 5th – Caterpillar to Butterfly – A walk and talk collecting butterflies. Page 20

Issue 10—Spring May 2014

SEWBReC Biodiversity Blitz Days 2014

Coed Hills, Cowbridge Saturday 12th July 10am—4pm Coed Hills encompasses over 180 acres of mixed use land near Cow- bridge, Vale of Glamorgan. The site includes a wide variety of habitats such as limestone pasture, ash woodland, spruce and larch plantations, several ponds and wetland, forest and market gardens, plus dry stone walls and hedgerows. The site includes a few areas with good mixes of ancient woodland indicators. Botanical highlights include Herb Paris, Greater Butterfly Orchid, Goldilocks Butter- cup and Early Purple Orchid. Brown Hare, Grass Snake and all three varieties of newt are found on site, as are high numbers of Emperor Dragonfly. The site is particularly known for its fungi, including species such as Wrinkled Peach, Fluted Bird,s Nest and Giant Puffball. Greater Butterfly Orchid © Rich Wright

Garden City, Ebbw Vale Saturday 26th July 10am – 4pm Garden city is a large ex-industrial site owned and managed by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council. The site was forested 30 years ago with a mixture of broadleaved and conifer woodland. It is situated to the South of Ebbw Vale and is within walking distance of Ebbw Vale Parkway railway station. Garden City is approximately 42ha. Although it is primarily wooded it also encloses areas of grassland, damp flushes, multiple quarries and 2 ponds (1 natural and 1 post-industrial) and is adjacent to Domen Fawr common. The site was surveyed botanically during the 1990s but not recently and is likely to have changed in character since this time. Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillaries have been spotted as well as sightings of Northern Goshawk and Green Woodpecker. Green woodpecker© Dan Reed

SEWBReC Special 10th Anniversary Biodiversity Blitz Bonanza Bryngarw Country Park, Bridgend Saturday 5th July 6pm—Midnight During the day, we would like local recorders to go blitzing on their own turf: hunting for as many species as possible in your back garden, local park or favourite reserve. Then join us in the evening to share & discuss your findings whilst enjoying a picnic at Bryngarw Country Park, Bridgend, fol- lowed by a bat walk and moth trapping session (children welcome).

 Daytime: Backyard Blitzing: go on a wildlife hunt on your own patch!

 6pm - 9pm: Picnic O’Clock: **please bring your own picnic**

 9pm - 10pm: Bat Walk: led by Geri Thomas

 10pm - midnight: Moth Trapping Session: led by David Slade This FREE event is open to all wildlife recorders (and their families), but booking is essential. © David Slade

The sites are sure to contain a wealth of interesting species which are as yet un-recorded. Join us on the Biodiversity Blitz Days and help us add to the existing knowledge about the sites. These FREE events are open to all wildlife recorders. Please en- sure you register your interest with us so we can send you further details of the events.

Page 21

Issue 10—Spring May 2014

Other Bioblitzes...

BioBlitz at Abergavenny Castle and Castle Meadows (Monmouthshire) organised by Monmouthshire Environment Partnership fund - 17th May 10am – 4pm Join experts to learn how to identify wildlife that lives in and around the castle and castle meadows. Guided walks lead by ex- perts from 10.15am—2.15pm. Other activities include bug hunts, bird spotting and pond dipping. No booking needed. Free. http://www.sewbrec.org.uk/event/events-calendar/bioblitz-at-abergavenny-castle.page

Amelia Trust Farm BioBlitz, Barry (Vale of Glamorgan) organised by Amelia Farm Trust - 24th May 6am—10.30pm Come along to this free BioBlitz and help record as many species as possible in a 16 hour period by taking part in our planned wildlife surveys. For more information call 01446 782030 or email [email protected] http://www.sewbrec.org.uk/event/events-calendar/bioblitz-at-amelia-farm-trust.page

Parc Cwm Darran BioBlitz (Caerphilly) organised by Caerphilly County Borough Council - 7th June 11am—4pm Parc Cwm Darran comprises 750 acres of country park and is a hidden gem in the north of Caerphilly County Borough. Why not come and help record as much wildlife as possible in this stunning area during 'Wales Biodiversity Week'? Booking re- quired. Please contact 01443 875557 or 01495 235450. Wildlife walks charged at £1.50 per person.

Other events

SEWBReC Species Identification Training Workshop - Plants of Heathland and Bog Habitats, Trellech, Monmouthshire 26th June 2014 10am - 4pm Join Monmouthshire VC recorders Stephanie Tyler and Elsa Wood to explore a series of heathland and bog sites around Trellech, including Cleddon Bog. The course is suitable for beginners, you will learn the distinguishing characteristics of the common plants of these habitats and how to recognise them. The course is entirely field based, regardless of weather condi- tions and some walking over uneven terrain will be required.

This event is free but booking is essential as spaces are limited. Please return an application form to SEWBReC (details be- low) by Friday 23rd May if you are interested in attending. Please note that our autumn courses will be advertised later in the year. http://www.sewbrec.org.uk/event/events-calendar/plants-of-heathland-and-bog-habitats-training-day.page

Unknown Wales Conference 2014 The Unknown Wales Conference is a partnership between the National Museum Wales (NMW) and the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW) and aims to celebrate some of Wales’ least known wildlife.

The Unknown Wales Conference 2014 will again take place at the NMW in Cardiff on Satur- day 11th October and will include closer insights into topics as varied as fossil ferns, diatoms and sand lizards. We hope you can join us for this free event and look forward to seeing you there.

For further information and booking please visit: www.welshwildlife.org/things-to-do/ conferences or Contact Rose Revera on 01656 724100. G w e n t - G l a m o r g a n Recorders’ Newsletter

SEWBReC Interested is volunteering at SEWBReC? 13 St Andrew’s Crescent We now have office volunteer opportunities available. If you are interested in vol- Cardiff, CF10 3DB unteering and would like more information please get in touch. Telephone: 02920 64 1110 Fax: 029 20 38 7354 A big thank you to all those who have contributed to this newsletter! But, E-mail: [email protected] thinking ahead to the next issue, we want more articles from Recorders – it Web: www.sewbrec.org.uk

could be just a list of species you have recently recorded, or an update of Follow us on Facebook or Twitter: where you have been surveying in the last year. This is an opportunity to

plug your favourite recording location, to raise awareness of the species www.facebook.com/sewbrec that you record, and to communicate to a wide range of individuals about your hard work! Please forward any comments, articles, events, species sightings etc. to SEWBReC. @sewbrec