News from Coed Cadw, the Woodland Trust in Wales
Isn’t it funny how bees like trees?
Rory Francis
Following the work of Natural Resources Wales
Giving Nature a hand: Natura 2000 species and habitats
Kathryn Hewitt
Our regular look at the islands off the Welsh coast. This time:
Farewell to Mary Gillham and Robin Pratt; Birds and cetaceans; Bardsey Bird & Field Observatory 60th birthday
Geoff Gibbs
Gloom or hope? An update on the prospects for marine nature conservation
Blaise Bullimore
Interesting insights from the National Museum Wales
New lichens from Welsh rivers
Alan Orange
Hedgerow harvest
Simon Goodenough
Moths and mothing – 50 generations on – the importance of long term monitoring.
John Harold
Meadows by George Peterken
What Has Nature Ever Done for Us? by Tony Juniper
Feral by George Monbiot
The plight of bees and other pollinating insects has touched the public imagination, and is of very practical concern because of its economic implications. Friends of the Earth Cymru have been campaigning for action to address the issue, and their ideas and suggestions have been taken up in a Welsh Government Action Plan, as BLEDDYN LAKE reports
Hydro-electric schemes are not new in Eryri. Here TWM ELIAS looks as some of the history of these schemes and reports specifically on the turbine that has just had its official opening on land at Plas Tan y Bwlch this year – the third such scheme there. He also describes the ecological considerations that were critical for the success of the project.
In the Summer of 2012, RHIANNON BEVAN and DAN FORMAN carried out an ecological study of the larval host plant of the Welsh Clearwing, aiming to get a better understanding of its habitat requirements. Here they describe what is known about this fascinating insect, what they have found out, and what remains to be discovered: your observations could help safeguard its future in Wales.
PAT O’REILLY finds fungi fascinatingly unfathomable.
Few of us who grow up surrounded by fields and hedges get to know the names of most of the flowering plants we encounter. An inspiring teacher can change that. NEIL LUDLOW’S list of the plants on his farm conjures up the colourful diversity of one small unimproved farm, a richness he hopes to rediscover in the future.
Returning a large native animal like the beaver to the Welsh countryside is a long way from the self-gratification of ‘re-wilding’ advocacy. It requires the building of bridges, addressing the concerns of those who might be affected; considering practicalities, identifying benefits, drawing up contingency plans – painstaking work. Since the last article on beavers appeared in Natur Cymru (22:8), much progress has been made, as ADRIAN LLOYD JONES reports.
The Welsh uplands have come in for criticism lately for the intensity of their land management and lack of natural dynamism. In contrast to this gloomy view, one upland National Nature Reserve has been on a journey towards greater diversity and attractiveness, as BARBARA JONES and DAVID PARKER report. It should give policy-makers and land managers the confidence that in certain locations, transformation is possible and desirable.
A new book has stimulated debate about the way we manage our uplands. Will this leave a lasting impression, or is will it be quickly forgotten? LIZZIE WILBERFORCE considers some limitations behind a superficially attractive vision, and ANDY JONES joins the debate.
