Wales has more
nature reserves per capita than any other country in the UK or on mainland
Europe. This says a lot, not only about the outstanding landscape, scenic
beauty and wildlife diversity of Wales, but also about how its people value being
close to nature and want to protect their natural heritage.
Each year millions
of visitors enjoy nature reserves in Wales; many more would do so if only these
special places were easier to find. Once off the beaten track exploring the
countryside can be confusing, even for local people - much more so for holidaymakers,
for many of whom nature reserves are high on the list of reasons for coming to
Wales. Few reserves are signed from main roads. Many are down confusing
networks of lanes where it is all too easy to get lost, wasting precious
leisure time.
This spring a
comprehensive guide to every National Nature Reserve (NNR) in Wales - plus
dozens of our finest RSPB, Wildlife Trust and other nature sites - is being
launched. www.waleswildlife.com is online now, with maps, directions, photographs of
difficult junctions or hard-to-spot landmarks on the way to each reserve, plus
details of facilities onsite and nearby as well as pictures of landscape
features, habitats and species to look out for. It helps people to decide where
to go and when, whether they are birders, wildflower lovers, fungi fanciers or
fossil fans – or whether the priority is for somewhere safe for the kids, or suitable
for Auntie Jenny who now can’t manage stiles and rough ground.
The author, Sue
Parker, is a keen naturalist with a lifelong interest in wildflowers, and wild
orchids in particular. Sue says, ‘It has
been almost a full-time job for the past three years, visiting hundreds of reserves,
some several times to record the changing seasons. This online resource would fill
a thousand pages in book form, but it’s a labour of love, and I am continually
updating and adding new information.’
A Wildlife Trust
volunteer herself, Sue has dedicated the website to … ‘the hundreds of volunteers who work for the wildlife of Wales. Every
wildlife conservation organisation in Wales is dependent on an army of people
who turn out in all winds and weathers to work on our nature reserves for the
benefit of plants, fungi, animals, birds and insects - and us. They also staff
the offices, man the telephones, support special events for the public, and
carry out a multitude of other tasks including the all-important one of
fundraising. Thank you!’
With more than 70
National Nature Reserves and as many Local Nature Reserves funded by and
managed on behalf of the people of Wales, it is hardly surprising that these
special sites receive several million visits a year by locals and visitors.
Added to this the Wildlife Trusts, Woodland Trust, Plantlife, RSPB, Wildfowl
and Wetlands Trust and other charitable and voluntary bodies also maintain a
wealth of wonderful wildlife sanctuaries where people can get close to nature.
Sue Parker’s family
came from Cardiff, but she was born in Tenby and has lived in many parts of
Wales including Bridgend, Anglesey, Carmarthenshire and now Ceredigion. She is
the author of several books about wildflowers, including Wild Orchids in Wales, and she co-authored the series Wonderful Wildflowers of Wales. As well
as occasionally contributing to Radio and TV programmes on nature topics in
Wales, Sue Parker is often called upon to give talks on wildflowers. Sue can be
contacted via sue@waleswildlife.com
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