Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Let your grass grow and help wild flowers set seeds across Carmarthenshire. That’s the plea from the Carmarthenshire Biodiversity Partnership which is urging people to set aside a small area for wildlife. Biodiversity Officer Isabel Macho said: “Well-managed lawns and grassy areas are a familiar sight and great for relaxing, playing games and picnics. “However, regularly mown grass is not great for wildlife as plants do not get a chance to flower and set seed.” Insects such as bees, butterflies, moths and hoverflies help lots of plants set seed by helping with pollination. Along with pollinating food crops, they help maintain the variety of plant species, habitats and wildlife in Wales. For that help they get a share of the nectar the flower produces, however many of these pollinators are now under threat. Loss of habitat and plants to feed on are two of the main problems facing pollinators. To help wildlife people don’t have to lose their lawns. Simple steps, such as providing areas...

Meadow owners in Carmarthenshire got together at a recent event to discuss forming a group. More than 60 people attended the event held at the National Botanic Garden of Wales, which was organised by members of the Carmarthenshire Biodiversity Partnership . The aim was to inspire the creation of a county-wide community of landowners which would support each other to improve the diversity of plants, fungi and animals on meadows, large or small, across Carmarthenshire. Like much of the UK, where 98% of flower-rich meadows have been lost in the past century, Carmarthenshire’s traditional wildflower-rich meadows have been much reduced in the county and are now a rarity. Through the formation of a meadows group, which could provide opportunities for landowners to come together and share experience, knowledge and enthusiasm, it is hoped that many more important areas of meadow in Carmarthenshire can be managed to enhance their wildlife. Help will be provided initially through opportunities...

Residents are being asked to join in the hunt to find parrots, ballerinas, corals and earth tongues! As part of a grassland fungi survey, Carmarthenshire Biodiversity Partnership is looking for volunteers to help identify the brightly coloured mushrooms and record their findings. The wild species appear in different shapes, sizes and colours and can be found in cemeteries, well established lawns or old unfertilised grasslands. The survey is supported by Carmarthenshire Environment Partnership and anyone can take part. A photograph, record of its location and a date is needed once identified. Carmarthenshire’s Biodiversity officer, Isabel Macho said: “I would encourage people to go out and have a look for these amazing fungi – you may be surprised at the range of shapes and colours you can find. Wales has some of the best sites in Europe for grassland fungi.” The green Parrot, pink Ballerina, red Splendid, orange Honey and white Snowy waxcaps; yellow, white and violet coral fungi, oli...

People are needed to help the Carmarthenshire Biodiversity Partnership with a nutty autumn survey. The partnership wants to find out as much as possible about the rare and secretive dormouse. They need lots of people to help in the annual search for signs of one of Carmarthenshire’s most special mammals. Like the dormouse immortalised in Alice in Wonderland, dormice spend a lot of time asleep - over three-quarters of their lifetime - and are rarely seen. To track down where they are found it is best to look for signs of their favourite food – hazelnuts. Dormice leave very distinctive gnaw marks on the shells, different from other mice or voles, there is aleaflet available to help identify dormouse nuts. People need to look for the nibbled nuts in a hazel-rich wood or hedgerow and let the Partnership know what they find. They are especially keen to find out if dormice live in the Ammanford area. There is also the opportunity to join the Great Nut Hunt team of ‘Nutters’ at the Llyn ...

People in Carmarthenshire are being asked to watch out for hedgehogs before they light their bonfires on November 5. The county’s Biodiversity Partnership is making the appeal to avoid the creatures being accidentally killed. Hedgehogs prepare for hibernation at this time of year and may use unlit bonfires assuming they are cosy locations for the winter. Hedgehog numbers are in decline due to various reasons, and have now joined the UK Biodiversity Action Plan list of species in need of conservation and greater protection. Carmarthenshire County Council’s Biodiversity Officer Isabel Macho said: “Hedgehogs are great friends to gardeners and natural slug control. However, they are declining in number and we need to help them whenever we can. Just by taking special care on bonfire night we can help them survive to breed next spring." Top tips to keep hedgehogs from harm: • Build the bonfire as close to the night as possible to reduce the chance of a hedgehog moving in. • Pile materia...

People in Carmarthenshire are being asked to become urban bat detectives. Residents of Llanelli, Burry Port, Pembrey and Carmarthen are needed to help with a survey which will provide information about bats in urban areas. The Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) and the Carmarthenshire Biodiversity Partnership are working together on the initiative which aims to give them more understanding of how bats use urban areas, which will help conserve them in the future. Volunteers are needed to spare an hour or so for three nights in the summer, which will involve a survey walk in their area. The survey is straightforward and training and equipment will be provided. Carmarthenshire County Council’s Biodiversity Officer Isabel Macho said: “We all associate bats with rural settings – woods, rivers and old barns and churches – but they also live in our towns. “BCT have already been working with volunteers in Clwyd, Cardiff, Neath and Swansea who, after training in the basic use of bat detectors, have b...