Croeso to the 32nd edition of the Gwent-Glamorgan Recorders’ Newsletter!
Thanks to all contributors, I hope you enjoy reading their articles as much as I have. We produce the Gwent-Glamorgan Recorders’ Newsletter twice per year, and articles are always welcome. Email info@sewbrec.org.uk if you would like to contribute to the next edition.
Elaine Wright, SEWBReC (Editor)
Richard M. Clarke bto@gwentbirds.org.uk
You don’t need to be a professor to be a citizen scientist. Please consider taking part in one of the BTO’s exciting surveys and make your birdwatching really count.
The Heathland Birds Survey will survey all the Nightjars, Woodlarks and Dartford Warblers, in all habitats, throughout the UK and Channel Islands. The survey aims to cover all the main occupied sites as well as surrounding suitable habitats where these species may have expanded more recently. It will also record a number of other important heathland bird species. We urgently need updated population estimates to assess how breeding numbers and range for each of these species have changed throughout the UK and Channel Islands.
Although Gwent has historically had both breeding Dartford Warbler and Woodlark and the survey will cover these, the main species focus for the county will be finding Nightjar [Editor: Glamorgan will be focusing on Dartford Warbler as well as Nightjar]. The survey for Nightjar will take place between 25th May – 15th July and involves two evening visits covering the two-hour period after sunset, or the two hours prior to sunrise. A daytime recce visit is recommended before the survey is undertaken.
The Gwent Ornithological Society and the Gwent Wildlife Trust are promoting this survey and are encouraging people to take part. Glamorgan also has areas where surveyors are needed. Find out more about what sort of skills are required, how much time is needed, the location and survey sites, access permission and methods on the BTO website: https:// www.bto.org/get-involved/volunteer/projects/heathland-birds-survey
Cudyll Cymru is a newly developed scheme which monitors birds of prey in Wales - Buzzard, Kestrel, Raven, Red Kite and Sparrowhawk.
Wales is suffering the combined pressures of land use change and climate change, and birds of prey find themselves at the forefront of both ecological pressure and human interventions. More data about raptor populations is needed to understand how and why they are changing, and how we can help them. The data collected will serve as a baseline for monitoring future population trends, and will provide essential information to underpin effective conservation strategy and aid the Government’s legal commitments to wildlife protection.
The BTO will provide training on all aspects of the project, from raptor identification and survey methodologies through to using the online project portal and data entry – so you don’t need to have these skills already to sign up! To learn more about the project and its vital work, and find out how to get involved – whatever your skill level and experience –go to Cudyll Cymru on the BTO website: https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cudyll-cymru.
Steve Preddy is attempting to organise a census of the population of Cetti’s Warbler on the Gwent Levels to establish an accurate estimate of the Gwent population since there are few areas in the county that the species occurs outside the Levels. To this end he requests that birders record the locations and numbers of singing males during the year and Steve will circulate a map every couple of weeks to participants of known locations from the records received. If any of you notice that any locations are missing, then do please send him a message with details at steve.preddy@me.com
You can also get more involved with Gwent Ornithological Society by joining their events; find out more on the GOS website: http://www.gwentbirds.org.uk/my-calendar/
Carys Romney, Buglife
Colliery spoil the waste material left over from coal mining might not look like much at first glance. However, these brownfield sites are of huge conservation value in South Wales, supporting rare habitats and species by providing vital wildlife refuges and acting as habitat stepping stones in an increasingly fragmented landscape.
In recent years, at least 15 new species (most of which are invertebrates, but also include some fungi) have been discovered on coal spoil sites in South Wales that are completely new to Wales. Three are new to the UK and two are completely new to science, which makes protecting and understanding these sites even more vital.
Despite their importance, many coal spoil sites face ongoing and emerging threats from illegal off-roading and flytipping to inappropriate tree planting and the looming risk of potential coal extraction schemes and unsympathetic remediation. The threat of climate change compounds these issues: Storm Dennis, for example, triggered a significant spoil tip slip at Tylorstown in 2020, prompting new legislation in the form of the Disused Mine and Quarry Tips (Wales) Bill.
Amidst these challenges, awareness of their importance for nature recovery is growing. Biodiversity is finally being included in conversations about spoil tip safety and restoration thanks in part to input from conservation organisations including Buglife and advocates in the Senedd.
Recognising both the ecological and social value of colliery spoil sites, Buglife Cymru launched the Coal Spoil Connections (CSC) project the most ambitious colliery spoil biodiversity project to date in the South Wales Valleys.
Building on over a decade of groundwork by the Colliery Spoil Biodiversity Initiative, dedicated volunteers, and recorders, Buglife Cymru secured £217,730 of funding in 2024. This includes support from the Welsh Government’s Nature Networks Fund, administered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and a £4,000 contribution from the D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust.
Sites included in Coal Spoil Connections:
•Dare Valley Country Park
•Cwm Clydach Country Park
•Beaufort Hill Ponds and Woodlands
•Sirhowy Hill Woodlands
•Silent Valley
•Parc Bryn Bach
•Parc Cwm Darren
•Parc Coitre Bargoed,
•Parc Penallta and
•Bedwelty Tip
Research Sites (shown in red)
•Cwm Tips, Beddau
•Gelli Tips, Pentre
•Maerdy Colliery site
This 18-month project has three core goals:
• • • CSC builds on the success of earlier initiatives, including the Buglife Colliery Spoil Invertebrates Project and smaller studies funded by The Conservation Volunteers, Amgueddfa Cymru Foundation, and local councils like Rhondda Cynon Taf and Neath Port Talbot .
spoil site. Since launching last summer, the CSC team has run and participated in a variety of well received activities, including:
• ‘Go Wild’ event at Pontypool Park
• Wellbeing in nature walks led by Ai-Lin Kee
• Creative craft sessions with artist Jenny Ross
• Eco-clubs and bug walks, including sessions at Cwm Clydach, Dare Valley, Sirhowy Hill and for the Lost Peatlands Project
• Volunteer event at Beaufort Hill Ponds with walks led by Ai-Lin Kee and Christian ‘Sparrow’ Owen
• Fungi walk at Parc Cwm Darren led by Dr Murray of Glamorgan Fungus Group
We are working with writer-artist Tom Maloney, who is creating a bilingual children’s storybook about coal spoil wildlife and conservation that will be shared through school assembly ‘book launches’. Around 100 children across three schools in the project area are contributing artwork towards this resource which will be handed out to the schools taking part as well as others across the project counties of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly.
Over the winter, CSC collaborated with Duke of Edinburgh Award students from Coleg Y Cymoedd. They worked on habitat management at Cwm Tips and searched for the rare ‘Beddau Beast’ (Cranogona dalensi) millipede a species found only at Cwm Tips and one other Valleys location.
Behind the scenes, the project has contributed to national discussions around spoil tip safety. An upcoming ‘Integrated Tip Safety’ workshop will explore how restoration and nature recovery can go hand-in-hand, using Tylorstown as a case study.
Entomologist and myriapod and isopod expert Christian Owen began his surveys over winter by mapping the globally exclusive Maerdy Monster millipede at Maerdy Colliery site. His three visits to the site concluded with 29 Maerdy Monsters (Turdulisoma helenreadae) encountered in total; 16 males, 11 females and 2 immatures, with the species occurring across the whole of the site and into the surrounding Natural Resources Wales woodland estate.
Other notable species recorded included Lithobius tricuspis (Nationally Rare), Lithobius pilicornis, Leptoiulus belgicus, Choneiulus palmatus (all Nationally Scarce), and one of the new slugs for Britain - Arion iratii (Pyrenean Dusky Slug).
The Coal Spoil Connections team were lucky to join Christian on the surveys and we also relocated the Section 7 listed Stag's-horn Clubmoss (Lycopodium clavatum) and the carnivorous Round-leaved Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia). Project volunteer, MSc student Dave Hernon has assisted with these surveys, looking more closely at soil types, temperatures and other varying factors as well as distribution. Dave’s work is continuing so data is still increasing.
The final stretch of the CSC project is packed with lots of exciting plans:
• A heritage walk at Maerdy
• An evening of ecology and history at Silent Valley
• Bioblitzes at Cwm Clydach and Parc Cwm Darren [Ed: SEWBReC are looking forward to attending Parc Cwm Darran!]
• An adder walk at Cwm Clydach in conjunction with ‘Natur am byth!’
• New community partnerships with groups like Beddau Library’s over-50s club and Rhymney Valley Food Bank
• Coal Spoil Habitat Management Workshops
• Iconic Spoil Species - identification workshops
• Training workshop at Maerdy Colliery site for CIEEM (Chartered Institute for Ecology and Environmental Management) members
Habitat management advice and work will continue alongside depth surveying by local experts for a multitude of taxa including invertebrates, bryophytes, plants and lichens at project sites. CSC aims to share best practice across all sites and support both volunteers and rangers to continue their work protecting and engaging with coal tip sites.
In 2025, management workshops will also be rolled out to benefit groups working throughout the South Wales Coalfield.
Finally, the project will culminate with a South Wales Coalfield Conference in November to celebrate the project’s successes and explore its potential for a second phase to address how colliery spoil sites can assist positively with nature recovery, biodiversity loss and climate change while connecting communities to nature.
Paul Challinor
I was having a look at the Bay Tree out the back of the house last year and noticed some tiny light brown ‘things’ on some of the leaves. Looking closely they looked a little like scale insects it had seen only on indoor plants in the past. An even closer look seemed to confirm it. But what sort was the question. I have not real experience with scale insects, and so armed with the internet and a few ID guides I came up with Soft Brown Scale Insect - Coccus hesperidum. This seems to be the most likely, but I may be wrong. Coccus hesperidum is a polyphagous scale insect species that feeds on a wide range of host plants, including citrus, avocado, and mango. Now these food plants are obviously not native to Wales, but there are UK records occurring in greenhouses, and some scattered documented on NBN.
The life cycle of scale insects is unusual with a striking dimorphism between the genders. The first stage of the life cycle is the egg stage. The eggs of Coccus hesperidum are small, oval-shaped, and yellowish in colour. They are typically laid in groups on the leaves or stems of the host plant. The eggs hatch after a period of about 10-14 days. The second stage is the nymph stage. The nymphs of Coccus hesperidum are small, oval-shaped, and reddish-brown in colour. They have six legs and are mobile. The nymphs move around on the host plant, searching for a suitable feeding site. Once they find a suitable site, they settle down and begin feeding.
The third stage is the adult stage. The adult female of Coccus hesperidum is wingless, oval-shaped, and reddish-brown in colour. The male is smaller and has wings. The females are the ones that are typically found on the host plant. They feed by inserting their mouthparts into the plant and sucking sap. The males do not feed and are short-lived.
The scale of the female is small about 3-4 mm, and is flat, usually with an elongated oval shape. The colouration is yellowgreen or light grey with dark brown speckles or spots. As the female ages the colour of the scale darkens. The size, shape and characteristics of the female also vary with different host plants. The middle of the scale is always darker than the margins.
The fourth stage is the reproduction stage. The females of Coccus hesperidum reproduce by laying eggs. They can lay up to 500 eggs in their lifetime. The eggs are typically laid in a mass, and they are covered with a protective coating of wax.
The life cycle of male Coccus hesperidum is relatively simple compared to that of females. Males are smaller than females and have wings, which they use to search for and mate with females. The male Coccus hesperidum undergoes several developmental stages. The first stage is the egg stage, during which the male egg develops within the female's body. After hatching, the male nymph goes through two instars or stages of development, where it feeds on the same host plant as the female. I don’t have a photo of the male and I’m assuming this would be a real challenge here in the UK without sitting for days waiting, and that is not in my nature to do.
The third stage is the pupal stage, where the male Coccus hesperidum undergoes metamorphosis and develops wings. The duration of the pupal stage varies depending on environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity.
Once the male has emerged from the pupal stage, it becomes an adult and starts searching for females. The males' lifespan is short, and they do not feed, so they have a limited time to mate with females. Male Coccus hesperidum relies on their sense of smell to locate females.
Once a male locates a female, they mate, and the male dies shortly after. The female lays eggs that hatch into both males and females, and the cycle repeats. The life cycle of Coccus hesperidum is completed in about 8-10 weeks, depending on the temperature and other environmental conditions. The cycle can be repeated several times in a year, depending on the availability of food and other factors.
Coccus hesperidum is a member of the Hemiptera, a large and diverse order of insects commonly known as "true bugs." They are characterised by their mouthparts, which are modified for piercing and sucking fluids from plants or animals. Hemiptera includes a variety of familiar insects such as shieldbugs, aphids, and bed bugs, as well as lesser-known species such as pond skaters and treehoppers. They can be found in nearly every habitat on earth and play important roles in many ecosystems as herbivores, predators, and parasites.
As Coccus hesperidum isn’t a native species to the UK there is very little in the literature identifying parasites that are relevant to us. However, there are several natural enemies, including predators, parasitoids, and pathogens recorded in other countries. So I thought I’d include these here even though they may not be relevant to he UK. Encarsia lahorensis (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae): This parasitoid has been reported to parasitise the eggs and nymphs of Coccus hesperidum in Pakistan. Aphytis sp. (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) has been reported to parasitise the adult female and nymphs of Coccus hesperidum in Iran. And Anicetus beneficus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) has been found feeding off the nymphs and adults of Coccus hesperidum in China.
Before I had started reading up on Coccus hesperidum I have to admit to knowing very little about them, other than they existed and occasionally appeared on some of my plants. It never ceases to amaze me how complicated life cycles can be with the species we share space with. This little exercise has widened my eyes and given me a greater appreciation of what I can find in the garden.
Bibliography
Ahmad, S., Ahmad, R., Ashfaq, M., & Rizwana, A. (2011). Parasitization potential of Encarsia lahorensis (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) on Coccus hesperidum (Hemiptera: Coccidae) in Pakistan. Journal of Agricultural Research, 49(2), 207-215.
Beardsley, J. W., & Gonzalez, R. H. (1975). Life cycle and seasonal history of Coccus hesperidum (Homoptera: Coccidae) in southern California. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 68(2), 275-277.
Liu, Z. Y., Li, W., & Liu, T. X. (2021). Life table and parasitism of Anicetus beneficus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) parasitizing the citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri and the brown soft scale, Coccus hesperidum (Hemiptera: Coccidae). Journal of Economic Entomology, 114(2), 611-618.
Muniappan, R., Meyerdirk, D. E., Sengebau, F. M., Berringer, D. D., & Reddy, G. V. P. (2009). Coccus hesperidum L. (Homoptera: Coccidae): a new invasive pest in Micronesia. Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society, 41, 69-77. Mollaei, M., Seraj, A. A., & Rafiee-Dastjerdi, H. (2015). Parasitism rate of Aphytis sp. (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) on Citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri and citrus scale, Coccus hesperidum in northern Iran. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 3(1), 41-44.
Katherine Slade and Sophie Hocking
Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales owns 8 sites across Wales and so it’s not just the national collections we safeguard, we also take care of biodiversity on these sites.
Considering many sites are linked to the industrial and cultural heritage of Wales, it is not unsurprising that we have a good representation of habitats, from the upland slate landscape at the National Slate Museum, to the coal fields at Big Pit, to lowlands and more urban areas in and around Swansea and Cardiff.
In the late 2000s, we carried out habitat and species surveys for groups such as insects, molluscs, vascular plants and bryophytes as part of our formal Biodiversity Duty as a public body that owns land in Wales. These data fed into site management to encourage biodiversity.
Now we want to update the biodiversity data for our sites. Our botany curators are planning a programme of habitat surveys to enhance the survey work and recording we as a Natural Sciences department have carried out.
This is where you can help! We would like to put out a call for any records of wildlife that you can contribute for our sites. Please enter records the usual way, into the LERC Wales app, or SEWBReCORD
5 of our sites are in the SEWBReC area and publicly accessible:
National Museum Cardiff
https://museum.wales/cardiff/
St. Fagans National Museum of History
https://museum.wales/stfagans/
National Roman Legion Museum
https://museum.wales/roman/
Big Pit National Coal Museum
https://museum.wales/bigpit/
National Waterfront Museum
https://museum.wales/swansea/
Outside of the SEWBReC area, the National Wool Museum (https://museum.wales/wool) in Drefach, Carmarthenshire is in the WWBIC (West Wales Biodiversity Information Centre), and the National Slate Museum is in the Cofnod area but is currently closed for refurbishment until 2026.
Across Amgueddfa Cymru sites we have a wide range of habitats:
Big Pit: National Coal Museum
Habitats found here include coal tip, semi-natural grassland, heathland, a small area of woodland and freshwater habitat, supporting a diverse and interesting flora. The heathland areas have lower grazing than the surrounding hills; dry acid is dominated by Heather and patches of Bilberry and wet heathland above Coity Tip has Purple Moor-grass, Heather and small amounts of Cross-leaved Heath.
National Museum Cardiff
Here we have a mixture of trees and introduced shrubs, as well as the urban meadow we are working hard to manage for biodiversity. Ginkgoes in the car park harbour specific Bartheletia paradoxa fungi recorded by Mark Steer and several ectomycorrhizal fungi also occur on the site.
National Waterfront Museum, Swansea
The habitats are primarily amenity grassland, flower beds and shrubberies, and paved areas.
Flower beds and lawn may provide opportunities for some interesting records.
A diverse range of habitats can be found here, including deciduous woodland and ponds which are both important for nature conservation, scrub, parkland, and grassland. The grounds of St Fagans are also known to support 9 species of bats, breeding birds and small mammals.
Situated in the WWBIC area in the Teifi valley, the National Wool Museum is small but with a range of habitats including scrub, grassland, freshwater and broad-leaved semi-natural riparian woodland along Nant Barcoed. In 2009, 39 mollusc species were recorded here, higher than expected for the size, perhaps reflecting the undisturbed nature of the site.
Situated in North Wales in the Cofnod area, this site supports scrub and heath characteristic of upland habitats as well as scattered trees. The site is known to support bats and a rare lichen, and part of the site is included in Coed Dinorwig SSSI. With Llyn Padarn nearby, there’s plenty of opportunity for some interesting records. 23 arachnids were recorded in 2009, including Dysdera erythrina an extremely localised species in Wales and Pardosa saltans restricted to ancient woodland sites.
Please take care when recording on museum sites and only go into areas accessible to the public.
Colin Titcombe
The Common Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), one of our two native British Hawthorns, is a very important species ecologically, as well as in its history and usefulness to mankind.
Ecologically it provides food for many forms of animal life with its leaves, its flowers and with its fruit. Some 25 species of moth are said to feed solely on Hawthorn2, while many more include it in a wider diet.
During the summer of 2024 a sapling of this species which appeared in our garden had its leaves shredded by some unknown species.
My interest in “hawthorns” was sparked during the early part of 2024 when, on the 17th January, I found a sapling of the genus Crataegus, the like of which I had never seen before. At this time the infant tree still held all of its leaves but as February approached these green leaves began to turn yellow, and then fall to the ground.
My initial thought was that this thorn was a rather unusual hawthorn variant, and this view was shared by staff of the Woodland Trust to whom I sent these same photocopied leaves.
fell from the sapling early in February 2024. New leaves began to grow on this young tree in midMarch.
The New Flora of the British Isles (Clive Stace)1 provides information on five species of “hawthorn”, the two natives he names as Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and the Midland Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata) and three other species variously described as neophytes.
In addition to hybridization, hawthorns are subject to the development of sub-species and variants. The famous “Glastonbury Thorn” or “Holy Thorn” is described as var. “bilfara” (but previously var. praecox amongst other variables).
It is also the case that hawthorns used for planting hedges these days come very largely from the continent, adding to the variability of thorns encountered.
In 2024, as the year progressed I set about noting the development of “hawthorns” generally, and found some of them to leaf quite early (late February – early March). These first leaves were known in my childhood as “bread and cheese” because they could be eaten directly from the plant (see below).
Flower buds were first seen on the 10th March at Llandogo, and the first flowers opened on the 1st April. As the spring progressed more “hawthorns” came into flower but May remains the month associated with widespread blossoming.
In the meantime, another “hawthorn” came into rather spectacular leaf at the edge of Llandogo Churchyard (shown on page 13). This Thorn, like the “Tintern Thorn”, did not produce flowers in 2024, so their precise identity is, as I write, unknown.
The differences between individual “hawthorns” are, as demonstrated before, many and varied, and it is not just the leaves. Some have many thorns, others seem to have no thorns at all. In the case of the “Tintern Thorn” small thorns accompany most of the emerging leaves but it also has large thorns from which leaf clusters grow. I have also noted the latter in other “hawthorns” (see image above).
In contrast to the “Tintern Thorn”, the “Llandogo Thorn” appears to have no thorns at all.
During the first half of December 2024, both the “Llandogo Thorn” and the “Tintern Thorn” began to lose their leaves. In the case of the “Tintern Thorn” these leaves were only half as big as those shed during late January and early February 2024 (see comparison photos below right) another example of great “hawthorn” variability.
Sources used
1. New Flora of the British Isles, Fourth Edition, 2019, Clive Stace, C&M Floristics
2. A Natural History of the Hedgerow, John Wright, Profile Books, 2016
Other books which provide useful information on “hawthorns”
The Golden Bough, Wordsworth Reference, Sir James Fraser, 1922
The Green Mantle, Michael Jordan, Cassel & Co, 2021
Trees in the Wild, Gerald Wilkinson, Book Club Associates, London, 1975
The Blandford Guide to Trees of the British Countryside, Alan Fairhurst & Eric Soothill, Blandford Press, 1981
Trees of the British Isles in History and Legend, J. H. Wilks, Frederick Muller, 1972
Andy Karran, Gwent Wildlife Trust
For the last few years and up until 2030, Gwent Wildlife Trust are focusing on 10 priority species, with the aim of making a real measurable difference in their fortunes.
At Gwent Wildlife Trust, we care about all of Gwent’s wildlife of course and strive to ensure a biodiverse, healthy, functioning environment for us all to enjoy. We value each species intrinsically. We however also recognise the need to target our efforts, and to be able to measure the success of this.
To this end, we have chosen 10 priority species that we will focus on between now and 2030, with the intention of making a real, measurable difference to their fortunes in Gwent. It wasn’t easy shortlisting these 10, for a long time we had 11, we were then ruthless and only had 9! However, we settled on the following 10 species:
1) Grayling butterfly (Hipparchia semele)
2) Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
3) Dipper (Cinclus cinclus)
4) Pine Marten (Martes martes)
5) Pink Waxcap (Porpolomopsis calyptriformis)
6) Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus)
7) Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)
8) Adder (Vipera berus)
9) Shrill Carder Bee (Bombus sylvarum)
10) Water Vole (Arvicola amphibius)
Why these?
Firstly, each of our selected species occur in Gwent, are threatened and as such feature as 1 of the 100 species reported in "The Greater Gwent State of Nature Report” (2021). Moreover, targeted work for each species will benefit countless other species in varied habitats across Gwent. Dippers, for example, rely on healthy rivers; Shrill Carder Bees on flowery grasslands; Grayling butterfly on post-industrial colliery sites; and Hedgehogs in more urban areas. If Dippers are to be thriving on our rivers it means the watercourses must be unpolluted, with plenty of insect life for them to eat, this will also mean more fish, and in turn more Otters.
We also hope our 10 species are readily identifiable and will capture people’s imagination, and so inspiring wildlife enthusiasts and those newer to nature alike. This is where hopefully you can all help.
For Hedgehogs your help can be very direct, making your gardens more wildlife friendly. For the other species it may be less obvious how we can all get involved, however we will be sharing opportunities to take part in citizen science and campaigns.
For those of you who are fortunate enough to have some land, you can help by telling us if these species are (or used to be) on your land, and if you’re interested in taking measures to enhance your land for them. If so, please contact Andy Karran via info@gwentwildlife.org.
We want everyone to get involved. If you happen to see any of these 10 species please report your sightings to the South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre (SEWBReC) . If we know where they are, then we can take measures to protect them and enhance adjacent habitats so they can spread and colonise other areas.
With this information we can then focus positive action for these species, we have already, in collaboration with others:
• Undertaken many talks and articles promoting the 10 species and recording.
• Undertaking cotoneaster removal in a quarry for the benefit of Grayling and countless other species.
• Been involved with the PTES’s pioneering National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme.
• Coordinated Nightjar Census
• Surveyed 65 Churchyards for Grassland fungi, finding Waxcaps in 45 of these, including 10 new sites for Pink Waxcap.
• Identified sites for, and facilitated the installation of Dipper and Barn Owl boxes across Gwent.
• Identified and enhanced a new site for Shrill Carder Bees.
• Monitored spread of Pine Marten and installed Den Boxes
• Secured funding for a new Wentlooge Water Vole Reintroduction Feasibility Project, which runs until December 2025
Text taken from the Monmouthshire Meadows Group Newsletter Spring 2025 (available on their website: https://monmouthshiremeadows.org.uk)
Congratulations to Elsa Wood and Jon Dunkelman for their terrific new edition of Grassland Fungi: a field guide. A work of love and crawling on hands and knees! Elsa and Jon have been documenting the fungi in grassland in the Lower Wye Valley since 2015. As the only book specialising in identifying this particular area of the fungus world, it is an important work and has proved very popular. This third edition includes some rare Waxcaps (one only recently discovered), some new Pinkgills, and an enlarged section on the enigmatic Earthtongues. It also includes 16 new species, with many more photographs and sections covering conservation issues and the many recent species name changes. Fungi are easily destroyed by modern agricultural practices – ploughing or fertilising a field will remove the underground mycelium and it can take decades to re-establish. Even today little is understood about the relationship between fungi and environment in which they grow. We know, for example, that some flowers require certain fungi to be present before they will germinate. The more people that learn about grassland fungi, the more chance there is that their habitats will be recognised and protected.
The authors, photographers and editorial team (Marilyn Dunkelman) have undertaken this entirely as volunteers, so the proceeds go towards Monmouthshire Meadows Group and their work in helping to conserve and protect the speciesrich grasslands in which these fungi thrive.
Buy online direct from NHBS (www.nhbs.com/grassland-fungi-book) or order through your local bookshop.
Retail price £24.99 ISBN 978-0-9576424-3-0
SEWBReC has books and equipment which are available for Recorders to use at our offices in Talbot Green, or to borrow for limited periods of time. We generally loan out items for a month at a time (2 weeks for Moth Lures), but will adjust this to circumstances.
Items available include:
Guidebooks and keys on numerous British species groups
Mains powered Heath Moth Traps
Battery powered Bucket Moth Traps
Clearwing Moth Lures (*new in 2024*)
Dissection Microscopes
Field equipment such as beating trays, nets and collection pots
Chemicals and lab equipment for dissection and preservation
You can download a full list of our resources on our website.
If you are interested in making use of any of these books or equipment, please contact us to arrange a suitable date for collection via email info@sewbrec.org.uk
If you are an experienced recorder, or want to use equipment / books for a local wildlife group, you may like to apply for a Recording Grant to purchase your own items.
During 2024/25 we paid out £3,750 from the SEWBReC Recording Grant Scheme, with moth traps, as usual, being the most popular request. We also had the opportunity to assist local bat groups in purchasing various specialist pieces of equipment to help target recording of rarer bat species.
Grants were given to five wildlife groups and nine individual recorders, with a breakdown of the purchases shown in the table below.
Enjoying a moth trap purchased with SEWBReC Grant © The Penllergare Trust
Small grants up to a maximum of £500 are available for items such as:
• Field/lab equipment
• Travel expenses
• Identification guides
• Software
• Attending courses
• Running courses and workshops
• Promotional material
• Atlas and checklist publication
The 2025/26 grant is now open for new applications
The SEWBReC Recording Grant is primarily aimed at funding opportunities for existing recorders to enhance their recording efforts; or for group projects with the potential to reach a number of new recorders.
A Books Grant Scheme for up to £75 for field guides, taxonomic keys and other relevant publications is also available.
Download the application forms for both grant schemes from SEWBReC’s website (www.sewbrec.org.uk/grant)
SEWBReC membership is open to anyone with whom a working relationship exists (including individual recorders, local groups and partner organisations). If you would like to become a member of SEWBReC, please complete and return an application form.
The SEWBReC board of Directors is drawn from our membership and steers the development of the company, providing advice and support to the CEO and staff.
Current SEWBReC board of Directors: Steve Bolchover (Chair), Alison Jones (Vice Chair), Stuart Bain (Treasurer), Kate Stinchcombe, Andy Karran, Alex Wilson, David Lee, Kirsty Lloyd.
Observers: Karen Wilkinson.
Company Secretary: Rebecca Wright-Davies.
South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre (SEWBReC)
15 Talbot Street, Talbot Green, Pontyclun, CF72 8AD
Telephone: 01443 808 896
E-mail: info@sewbrec.org.uk
Web: www.sewbrec.org.uk
Follow us on social media: www.facebook.com/sewbrec
https://bsky.app/profile/sewbrec.org.uk
www.instagram.com/sewbrec
