Penllergare Valley Woods sits at the heart of an important ecological corridor, linking the Gower Peninsula with the Mawr Uplands, bordered by three Sites of Special Scientific Interest. It is home to many species including bats and otters, but their habitats are under pressure.
Working with partners in the Gower Gateway Resilient Ecological Network (GGREN), this project is restoring and improving woodland, grassland and wetland habitats. They will target invasive non-native species (INNS) and improve conditions so that species can recover. Other activities include:
- recruiting a conservation officer and three paid graduate conservation internships to lead monitoring, surveying and data collection
- involving the local community in citizen science to gather and track wildlife data
- running community events and school outreach to build awareness and a connection with nature
The work we do here will lay the foundations for long-term protection and management of this ecological corridor
Chris Jones, Conservation Officer at The Penllegare Trust
The graduate internships are a particularly exciting part of the project, offering a first step into a career in conservation.
Chris Jones, Conservation Officer at The Penllegare Trust, said: "This project gives us the opportunity to understand and care for the natural heritage of Penllergare. The work we do here will lay the foundations for long-term protection and management of this ecological corridor, improving conditions to support nature recovery on a landscape-scale."
This project was awarded funding through the Nature Networks Fund, distributed by the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Welsh Government and in partnership with Natural Resources Wales.
