VIP Wednesday, 12th February 2020

Many followers will know that Wednesday has become our traditional volunteering day, so today I was joined by one of our VIP's, (volunteer in parks) another Paul.

The volunteers have a project to refurbish the entrance to Pembrey Country Park complimenting the soon to be installed new entrance sign, and in doing so improve the ground flora to benefit pollinators.

The area either side of the barrier has looked neglected for sometime so it was with some determination that the two of us set about tackling the "easy" right hand side.

The idea is to open up the approaching vista, get more light to the ground under the mature trees and generally just make the entrance more welcoming. 

Armed with our new tools funded by Welsh Government via the Local Nature Partnership we set about making light work of the task !!!!

Before

VIP Paul in action

We soon discovered that the majority of the saplings were already dead, with the remainder suffering from natural dieback. In around three hours we had cleared all the saplings achieving part one of the plan. We are left with three piles of timber which will either be chipped or used as a  "dead hedge" elsewhere in the park; a dead hedge is exactly what it says a hedge made up of dead timber through which other vegetation can grow forming a useful barrier.

Part two of the plan will see the area in front of the low wall covered with topsoil and chipped bark ready for planting with pollinator plants- which brings me to another point, as this is a volunteer project would any readers like to volunteer some plants to be used in this area? if you are feeling generous then get in touch....

After!

The slate sign will be repainted and the slate oiled

Compare the first photograph and see that

Stage 1 is completed, next landscaping then plants

If anyone fancies some banter and physical exercise or perhaps is good with an artists paint brush get in touch, always room for one or two more.

The left hand side of the entrance will be seeing the same work with the addition of the removal of the wooden fence, but that's for another day!

Storm Ciara update Tuesday 11th February

Memorable for all the wrong reasons storm Ciara slammed into the UK over the weekend, with coastal communities along the West coast being battered with high winds and rain.

Image from Met Eireann

At Pembrey the storm has left an interesting trail of damage, with the RAF Pembrey Sands weather station recording sustained wind speeds of 45mph and gusts of around 62mph. Combined with the tide at the peak of the monthly cycle with high tides of 9.0m there were bound to be consequences.

The line of dunes from Tywyn Point at the Western edge of Cefn Sidan  to The Nose at the Eastern edge has borne the brunt of both wind and tide with tonnes of sand being eroded from the dunes leaving high flat dune faces, which has resulted in advice not to access the beach from either CE54 or CE 55. With plenty of winter weather still to go it is likely that there will be further erosion of the dunes.

The benches at the main beach entrance! (photo L Walters)

Dramatic dunes and seascape (L Walters)

Remembering that all of this is the natural cycle of the coast is sometimes hard to appreciate, nonetheless it is natural, albeit now happening on a more regular basis. The sand will not have gone far and we will in all probability see accretion (that's the technical term for the sand being deposited) further along the coast and/or just offshore forming higher sandbanks.

The effect of the wind on objects on the beach can be seen in these "shell sculptures"

As devastating as this erosion appears nature has a remarkable way of repairing or compensating for such events, it may take years to see the outcomes of these events. Driftwood in all it's guises helps in the protection of the dunes, not least by providing a structure against which sand can build up, a good reason not to remove or burn driftwood on the beach. 

Considerable quantities of marine litter have been washed ashore as well as much marine life in the form of seaweeds such as Kelps, Thongweed, an assortment of Wracks, along with a great array of the remains of crabs, and a myriad of empty shells and cases such as this near perfect Sea Potato, a Sea Urchin which lives buried in the sand

Anyone with any interest in beachcombing could do a lot worse than investing in a personal favourite of mine  "The Essential guide to Beachcombing and the Strandline" by Steve Trewhella and Julie Hatcher.

The woodland areas of the park did not escape unscathed with trees toppled in  a number of places, a salutory reminder that when the "keep out of the woodlands" signs go up they go up to protect visitors!

With another named storm "Dennis" due this weekend winter is not yet done.....

Breeding Birds & Heronries Survey Carmarthenshire; Tuesday 4th February 2020

Wearing a different hat, as the regional representative for the BTO, I am putting out a plea for volunteers to carry out Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS) and/or Heronry surveys.

Having contacted registered BTO members across the county I have had a very positive response to the email I sent, with possibly two new heronries identified already.

Just to whet peoples appetite here is a list of the known heronries in Carmarthenshire, if anyone wants to express interest in visiting and confirming breeding this year please get in touch, also see links to the BTO Heronries and BBS pages.

https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/heronries-census

https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/bbs

HERONRIES, (some duplicates)

CARM	SN794126	Ystradgynlais, Giedd Forest	SN7912
CARM	SN778112	Upper Cwm-twrch (Palleg) (Brynhenllys)	SN7711
CARM	SN753309	Allt Cwar Mawr, Llandovery (or Allt Trefenty, Llwyn y wermwd Park) (GR=SN773322?)	SN7530
CARM	SN25.08.	Llanmilo, Pendine	SN2508
CARM	SN573212	Wern Wood, Allt y Gaer, Dryslwyn (ex Dynevor Park SN6122 & Golden Grove, Aberglasney 580216)	SN5721
CARM	SN750413	Neuadd-Fawr, Cilycwm, Llandovery	SN7541
CARM	SN267205	Castell Gorfod, Meidrim	SN2620
CARM	SN76.34.	Ystrad, Llandovery	SN7634
CARM	SN656384	Allt Pen-y-coed/Ynysau, Crugybar (Glan yr Annell)	SN6538
CARM	SN48.21.	Cwm Farm, Nantgaredig (GR uncertain)	SN4821
CARM	SN512425	Gwargraig, Llanybydder	SN5142
CARM	SN322100	Craig Ddu, Laques-fawr, Llansteffan	SN3210
CARM	SN33.14.	Cwm, Llangynog (GR approx)	SN3314
CARM	SN336209	Berthlwyd, Llanllwch (Banc y felin)	SN3320
CARM	SN441117	Gwempa Wood, Pontantwn, near Kidwelly	SN4411
CARM	SN397136	Pentrecwm (Coed Farm, Ferryside)	SN3913
CARM	SN768287	Near Cefn-gwrych, Myddfai, Llandovery	SN7628
CARM	SN562322	Bryn Cothi, Abergorlech, near Glan Rhyd-y-Gwial, Brechfa Forest	SN5632
CARM	SN492012	Coed y Strade, Llanelli (Stradey Castle Woods) (prev at 489014)	SN4901
CARM	SN621124	Tirydail, Ammanford	SN6212
CARM	SN383255	Carmarthen Reservoir, Cwm Tawel, Cynwyl Elfed (Rock & Fountain Inn)	SN3825
CARM	SN588461	Cwm Talfoel, Tanlan, Cwmann, Lampeter (?= 044030)	SN5846
CARM	SN523453	Maes-isaf, Pencarreg, Lampeter	SN5245
CARM	SN383045	Pembrey Forest, Llanelli	SN3804
CARM	SN229245	Cwmfelin Mynach, Llanboidy, Whitland	SN2224
CARM	SN498148	White Hall, Cwmisfael, Porthyrhyd (from 044014?)	SN4914
CARM	SN530317	Lletty'r Deryn, Gwernogle, Brechfa Forest, Llandeilo	SN5331
CARM	SN679258	Crwel, Bethlehem, Llandeilo (= 044035?) (Coed Mawr, Manordeilo)	SN6725
CARM	SN300228	Castell Bron-niwl, Meidrim	SN3022
CARM	SN656384	Allt Pen-y-coed/Ynysau, Crugybar (use 044008)	SN6538
CARM	SN578466	Allt Tanlan, Cwmann, Lampeter (?= 044021)	SN5746
CARM	SN42.06.	Morfa Cydweli (GR uncertain)	SN4206
CARM	SN679429	Trebeddau, Cwrt-y-cadno, Llanwrda	SN6742
CARM	SN464399	Allt Pantyfen, Llanfihangel-ar-arth, Llandyssul (VC46) (= 460403)	SN4639
CARM	SN578078	Ystlys y Coed Uchaf, Pont Abraham, Fforest, Pontardulais	SN5707
CARM	SN675256	Coed Mawr, Maenor Deilo (= 044027?)	SN6725
CARM	SN43.37.	Banc Scythlyn, Pencader	SN4337
CARM	SN651298	Goitre, Taliaris	SN6529
CARM	SN764413	Penfedw Fawr, Cilycwm	SN7641
CARM	SN567017	Morfa Llangennech	SN5601
CARM	SN515135	Gors, Mynydd-cerrig	SN5113
CARM	SN406267	Crychdu, Llanpumsaint (GR wrong?)	SN4026
CARM	SN199289	Aber Elwyn, Glandwr	SN1928
CARM	SN412252	Allt Troed-y-rhiw-Fawr, Cwmdwyfran	SN4125
CARM	SN518309	Felin Marlais, Brechfa	SN5130
CARM	SN455294	Alltyllan, Llanllawddog	SN4529
CARM	SN166237	Fronhaul, Login	SN1623
CARM	SN694293	Allt y Fron, Llangadog	SN6929
CARM	SN757408	Cae'r Beili, Cilycwm (moved from 044038)	SN7540
CARM	SN670263	Glanbrydan, Manordeilo (moved from 044035?)	SN6726
CARM	SN795376	Tan-y-pal, Cynghordy	SN7937
CARM	SN766336	Alltdingat, Llandovery (?= 044007)	SN7633
CARM	SN453213	Allt Bryn-Myrddin, White Mill	SN4521
CARM	SN726311	Cwmcowddu, opposite Llanwrda	SN7231
CARM	SN44.36.	New Inn, Pencader (appeared mid 1990s)	SN4436
CARD	SN508432	Moor Wood, Highmead, Rhuddlan	SN5043
CARM	SN567499	Falcondale, near Lampeter	SN5649
CARM	SN420384	Allt Pen-pistyl, near Talgoed, Llandysul	SN4238