Natur Cymru

Issue 40 Autumn 2011

Linnet (c) Jill Pakenham BTO Cymru - New office in Wales

As the British government becomes devolved there is a need for this to be reflected in organisations such as the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). KELVIN JONES reports on the creation of BTO Cymru with its new office at Bangor University.

Summaries

50 Years Ago – Leatherback turtles

Fifty years ago not much was known about the leatherback turtles that occasionally washed up on Welsh shores. KAMELIA KOUNTCHEVA assesses how far we've come since then.

Moths, butterflies and the need for names

Preparing a list of standard names of plants and animals is an enormous task. It requires a great deal of patience as well as an interest in research - and perhaps a penchant for discussion and also the ability to be a diplomat at times! DUNCAN BROWN is a member of a small diligent group who have been engaged for many years in the task of preparing volumes of names - and the latest deals with butterflies, moths and dragonflies. Here he describes the different challenges associated with the work over the years.

Reptiles - A cold-blooded tale of sun worshippers

Are things going to get better or worse for our native reptiles as the climate changes? ZIGGY OTTO and ELEN ANGHARAD HALL explain the pros and cons.

Male Emperor dragonfly Anax Imperator (c) Allan Brandon

Inspired by Nature Competition Runners-up

For three years now our writing competition has proved just how many of you really are inspired by the beauty of the natural world around you and the wildlife that inhabits it. For JOHN WOOLNER the inspiration comes from seeing the reaction of his young son to a kayaking trip down the River Wye, while JULIAN JONES was spurred into action after witnessing thousands of toads and newts failing to reach the safety of Llandrindod Lake. After much campaigning the lake was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 2010.

Tycanol National Nature Reserve

Maintaining diversity in an ancient oak wood

PAT WOLSELEY and CELIA THOMAS describe the changing circumstances of an ancient woodland and how some of the lichens for which it became a nature reserve are disappearing.

Where have all the sparrows gone?

A declining population

In the 5th edition of Natur Cymru (Summer 2002) TONY JENKINS explained the early success of the project to encourage breeding house sparrows. Since then there has been a significant decline at ‘sparrow terrace’, but what are the reasons for it?

North Wales Butterfly and Moth Website

JULIAN THOMPSON, Moth Recorder for the vice-county of Caernarvonshire, reviews a fantatstic resource, the North Wales Lepidoptera website created by Andrew Graham.

Abergwesyn Commons - Not such a common place

Abergwesyn Commons, owned by the National Trust, are about as close to a wilderness as you get in Wales. For the last two years Project Officer JESS TYLER has been working on management of the area, and wonders if we are taking the uplands for granted.