Natur Cymru

Issue 21

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Biomass crops and the environment

Farmers are being encouraged to diversify, and all of us are being urged to lead more sustainable lives and cut back on greenhouse gas emissions. Energy crops could help to address both concerns. Catherine Heywood describes the potential of two energy crops which could become a part of 21st century Welsh agriculture.

Summary

Bringing fungi into focus: the Moelyci Festival

Over two weeks in October the Moelyci Environmental Centre in North Wales became the focus for a festival of fungi. This married popular events and "awareness-raising" with a serious attempt to raise conservation profile of a neglected branch of biodiversity, as JOHN HAROLD explains.

Natur Cymru

Dragonflies on the move

Dragonflies and damselflies are changing their distributions in response to our warming climate in the same manner as some other insect groups. Several resident British species with more southerly distributions are undergoing range expansions, with breeding populations occurring farther north and north-west than previously known. Also, new species are arriving from the continent to become part of the British fauna for the first time, as ALLAN BRANDON explains.

Having a wild time at the foot of the Orme

The pupils of San Siôr School, Llandudno, must be among the most fortunate in Wales. Here is a school where the land and the natural environment provide as good as, if not a better classroom than any space within four walls. The enthusiasm and enjoyment of the teachers and children mean that the environment penetrates into all aspects of school life and provides very memorable experiences. IAN JONES reports on the dynamic and thrilling work happening at the foot of the Orme.

This article is written in Welsh. A translation is available on request.

Wild harvest - a walk on the wild side…

Forager YUN HIDER has spent the last 12 years learning about edible wild plants. Working with Michelin-starred chefs, he's been out 52 weeks a year rain or shine, providing them with an array of Wales's finest wild fruits, herbs and vegetables. Here he describes the spirit of adventure which accompanies his forages.

Slate waste and green waste meet: new techniques recover wildlife habitats

Slate and other mineral wastes cover large areas of the country where mining has been, and often continues to be, a landscape-shaping industry. How do you soften and re-vegetate some of these tips? Sterile and expensive reclamation projects involving bulldozers and topsoil are being replaced by schemes based on aiding natural processes, through ecological research, and… compost! MARK NASON reports.

Learning on the farm

In 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak signalled a change of direction for many farmers. For NICK REBBECK, who had farmed organically for nearly 30 years, it was a chance to share his passion for farming with a young generation in danger of losing touch with this most vital and basic industry.

The enigmatic and elusive sewin, our Welsh sea trout

Most of us have heard of the sewin or sea trout, but do we really know what it is? For a start, is it a trout or a salmon? The answer, and other surprising facts about the lifestyle of this most desirable and beautiful of fish, is provided by TRISTAN HATTON-ELLIS, ZIGGY OTTO and MAGGIE HATTON-ELLIS.