PROJECT PUTS PEOPLE IN TOUCH WITH NATURE

The project was largely financed by the Hanson Environment Fund, which was created through the landfill tax credit scheme. Landfill operators pay tax per tonne of material disposed of, up to 6.7 per cent of which can be directed towards environmental projects.

Additional funding was provided by Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd. of Abergavenny, without whose support the Trust could not have claimed the landfill tax credits.

The project had three aims: to enhance the wildlife habitat on the reserves, to improve public access and to encourage the local community to use the reserves more. The conservation and access work on the reserves was managed by the Wildlife Trust’s Reserves Officer Jonathan Stone.

Much of this work was carried out by the Trust’s own group of conservation volunteers, though the Hanson Fund grant also allowed contractors to be employed for jobs that were beyond the capacity of the volunteers.

A key aim of the project was to involve young people with wildlife. The Trust’s new People and Wildlife Officer Linda Tedford was responsible for this aspect of the work.

The five nature reserves included in the project were Bailey Einon, an ancient wood along the River Ithon at Shaky Bridge; Werndryd, a wetland reserve at Franksbridge; Rhayader Tunnel, a disused railway cutting and tunnel at Cwmdeuddwr; Pentrosfa Mire near Llandrindod Wells; and Gorse Farm, a small urban reserve in Llandrindod Wells.

At Bailey Einon, Trust volunteers carried out repairs to paths and steps. They also coppiced hazel to encourage the display of spring flowers.

Following a winter visit to the woodland, Year 6 pupils from Trefonnen Primary School have adopted Bailey Einon as their own special reserve and plan to help to take care of it.

Werndryd is another reserve where a link has been set up with the local primary school – the school in this case being right on the doorstep in Franksbridge! Here volunteers built 45 metres of boardwalk over boggy ground to enable the public to visit the reserve all the year round. In addition 60 metres of hedge were laid and scrub was cleared to maintain the special wet grassland habitat.

Conservation work at Rhayader Tunnel was directed towards maintaining the precious flora of the grassland there. However the reserve is also notable for the fact that four different species of bat hibernate in the tunnel. Studying bats formed the focus of a visit to the reserve by Year 6 pupils from Rhayader Primary School.

Pentrosfa Mire has a large lake which is now mostly silted up. Here contractor Trefor Prothero of Brecon did an excellent job clearing aquatic vegetation from part of the lake. This clearance work created a thousand square metres of open water and has greatly increased the value of Pentrosfa Mire for birds and other wildlife.

Conservation work at Gorse Farm included clearing aquatic vegetation, grass cutting and hedge-laying.

However the most exciting event at this reserve was a nocturnal visit of exploration by members of Llandrindod Wells Scout Group working for their Global Challenge Badge.

Jonathan and Linda have both been delighted with the success of the project. According to Jonathan, the project has made a big contribution to preserving the value for wildlife of the five reserves involved. It has also made it easier for members of the public to enjoy them. Jonathan paid tribute to the skilled and dedicated members of the Wildlife Trust’s voluntary work parties for carrying out all the conservation work with such enthusiasm.

Linda would particularly like to thank all the school staff and scout leaders who took part in the project. She said, ‘Setting up a link between these enthusiastic groups of young people and their local nature reserve was just the beginning. I want now to see more school and community groups making good use of the array of opportunities that the Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves have to offer.’

Radnorshire Wildlife Trust Reserves Officer Jonathan Stone (back row, third from left) with some of the Trust’s regular conservation volunteers. Photo Joan Payne.

Linda Tedford, People and Wildlife Officer for the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust. Photo Joan Payne.

Year 6 pupils from Rhayader Primary School helping to make bat boxes. Photo Linda Tedford.

Year 6 pupils from Rhayader Primary School playing ‘Bat and Moth’ games at the Rhayader Tunnel reserve. Photo Linda Tedford.

The lake at Pentrosfa Mire Reserve before clearance work began. Photo Jonathan Stone.

The lake at Pentrosfa Mire Reserve with clearance work well nearly completed. Photo Jonathan Stone.

The Radnorshire Wildlife Trust now wants to encourage members of the public to take advantage of the improved access on these reserves.

You might for example enjoy strolling through the springtime bluebells and wood anemones at Bailey Einon or the old-fashioned summer meadows at Rhayader Tunnel. On warm days at Pentrosfa Mire and Werndryd you can sit and watch dragonflies hawking over the water.

Information about the the reserves can be found on this website. Alternatively you could visit the Trust’s shop in High Street, Llandrindod Wells, which is open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10am to 1pm.

CONTACTS

Jonathan Stone, Reserves Officer, The Radnorshire Wildlife Trust
tel: 01597 823298 e-mail stonej@radnorshirewildlifetrust.org.uk
Linda Tedford, People & Wildlife Officer, The Radnorshire Wildlife Trust
tel: 01597 823298 e-mail tedfordl@radnorshirewildlifetrust.org.uk