Walking the Lleyn Coast Path

Spring Squill on the cliff edge

May and June are great months to walk along the Lleyn coast. In May, slopes and streamsides the sheep can’t reach are carpeted with primroses, thrift and spring squill. Scrubby patches and gorse along the cliff edges are good for breeding whitethroats and stonechats, while the short well-grazed turf attracts migrant wheatears and feeding choughs. Other migrant birds along the coast include whimbrel on their way to Iceland or NW Russia (we saw 115 between Porth Ysgaden and Porth Dinllaen on May 8^th) and noisy Sandwich terns fishing close in. And when the sun comes out so do the butterflies – wall browns, small heaths and common blues.

Ynys Enlli from the tip of Lleyn

Our longest stretch so far this year was 10 miles from Porth Oer (Whistling Sands) to Aberdaron, right round the headland facing Ynys Enlli (Bardsey). We sat and ate lunch looking across to Bardsey, a sort of funny reverse experience for us!

Llyn Coastal Bus

One problem facing the coastal walker is how to get back to where you started – unless you are carrying a tent, of course. Walking the Lleyn Coastal Path in stages is much easier this year because of a special Minibus service for walkers. On four days each week until the end of October, a minibus runs every two hours from Abersoch to Aberdaron and  on to Nefyn, with a second vehicle doing the opposite. The fare is £1, and the driver will pick up or drop off passengers at any point on the coast the minibus can reach.

So if you enjoy walking on the coast of Wales, make sure you get to Lleyn this year, as who knows if the minibuses will continue in 2017. And as you walk along the path, remember to thank the National Trust and the Welsh Government for making the coast so accessible.

Good news all round! Natur Cymru Issue 59 Summer 2016

TWO great things have happened this week

First, our Fundraising appeal has been successful thanks to the great generosity of our supporters who have given either their money or their time or both. These include:

Iolo Williams, who has supported Natur Cymru right from the beginning

National Trust, Bodnant Gardens

National Trust, Llanerchaeron Gardens

Ty Newydd Writers Centre

North Wales Wildlife Trust

Dyfi Osprey Project

Denmark Farm Conservation Centre

Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales

Please try to support them in return, wherever you can.

This week also sees the publication of the Summer issue packed full of wonderful articles

 

The Welsh Rothschilds - places for nature ● Jonathan Mullard

It is 100 years since Charles Rothschild selected his proposed nature reserves in Wales

 

The end of the line for the Strandline Beetle? ● Mike Howe

Many environmental factors are working together to drive this rare beetle to extinction

 

Earthstar fungus Geastrum britannicum: coming soon to a churchyard near you ● Andrew Shaw

A new species, which only occurs in Britain, has been found in a number of Welsh churchyards 

 

Trelogan - a small Welsh village with a worldwide reputation ● Paul Day and Phil Putwain

How lead mining has led both to the study of evolution in action

 

A photographer’s journey - from landscapes to birds in their habitat  ● Jeremy Moore

A personal account of how bird photography grew out of a love of landscapes

 

Eryri - may na mynyddoedd - Ffair Bioamrywiaeth Eryri ● Gethin Davies

Taith Bioamrywiaeth Flynyddol o amgylch ysgolion Eryri

 

Do bats visit the Pembrokeshire Islands? ●  Rachel Taylor

New technology is revealing a great deal about hitherto unknown movements of bats

 

“I had seen nothing in nature so spectacular”  The Grassholm Saga ● David Saunders

The long and colourful history of this Pembrokeshire island is brought together for the first time.

 

Freshwater pearl mussels - Pearls in Peril ● Elain Gwilym and Jackie Webley

A four year project is now nearing completion with hope for the future of this iconic species

 

NODWEDDION ARFEROL / REGULAR FEATURES

Green Bookshelf ● James Robertson, Mike Howe

Marine Matters ● Ivor Rees

‘Seared Scallops’ - the implications of proposed scallop dredging in the Cardigan Bay SAC

Buglife ● Ryan Clark

There is life in dead wood!

From the Garden ● Bruce Langridge

Dancing to the rhythm of fungi – ballerina waxcaps

Discoveries in science ● Harriet Wood

Safeguarding the gems of a scientific collection

Plantlife ● Colin Cheesman

Great Orme - its botanical riches and management challenges

Woods and forests ● Nick Atkinson

The Long Forest - hedgerows and their management

Publication date: 15^th June 2016

Cover price £4.50, or quarterly by subscription £18 pa (individual) or £32 (group/organisation)

Enquiries: info@naturcymru.org.uk 0300 065 4867