Green Shoots North Wales
Green Shoots In North Wales
Green Shoots in North Wales has now been running since May 2006. Working with our members and partners we’ve already achieved some significant results including the planting of thousands of new trees, helping to promote water vole re-colonisation, and the gathering of 9,000 biological records.
Click one of the links below to download a copy of the annual report in English or Welsh or click the image above to watch our short film about Green Shoots in North Wales.
Following the success of Green Shoots in Cheshire and Somerset, Green Shoots in North Wales began in 2005. A survey of BASC members in north Wales resulted in over 9,000 new biological records of species and habitat returned from approximately one fifth of the land in North Wales.
The project uses this database to develop conservation projects with partners, which include the LBAP officers across North Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales, FWAG Cymru and the Environment Agency. BASC then contact members and seek to engage them on these projects to help wildlife and shooting in North Wales.
The work has evolved since the project began in 2006 and the focus for 2011 and 2012 is on three main areas:
Mink/Water Vole
The mink trapping project will concentrate on the Llyn Pensinsula in order to isolate and protect the remaining water vole populations in Anglesey. Rafts will be placed on key watercourses to monitor and then trap mink.
Workshops will be run for interested angling clubs, shoots and conservation organisations. Please get in touch if you are interested in helping.
Other species work
Work will concentrate around Clocaenog Forest in partnership with Forestry Commission Wales to control grey squirrels and protect the red population in the Forest.
Work on dormouse, pine marten and bats will revolve around monitoring known and surveying for suspected populations. We will continue with partners to acheive these aims. Work to increase the number of farmland birds will continue with RSPB to deliver habitat management advice and training through open days and farm walks.
Ancient Woodland connectivity
Over 80 of the sites in the North Wales project contain two or more unconnected Ancient Woodland sites which can be connected together through new woodland and hedgerow planting. This will enable species to move between them and contribute towards lessening the impact of climate change. This is particularly important for species that have quite specific habitat requirements and poor dispersal such as dormice and plants.
Around 20 of these sites are owned or leased by BASC members and work will concentrate on these initially to encourage new planting and the fencing of stream and brook edges to link woodlands together.
SSSI condition
We will work with CCW towards helping achieve their target of bringing SSSI sites into favourable condition and to overcome some of the barriers to this. Issues include grazing, drainage and invasive species. A common issue is scrub and tree control and this is an example where BASC members can help easily. Many shoots hold work parties to manage habitats to benefit the shoot so, by encouraging them to cut scrub and fell trees under agreement with the CCW and the landowner, we can help deliver the targets for over 60 sites. In addition, members can help with species management directly, such as pest management.
If you’d like to join Green Shoots North Wales, or have moved/expanded shooting grounds, please contact Audrey Watson so she can send out survey booklets and maps and update our information. Please also contact Audrey if you would like any more information about the projects and ways you can get involved.
Contact: 01244 573024
Email
Audrey Watson -North Wales Biodiversity Project Officer
After completing a BSc (Hons) degree in Ecology (Forestry) at Edinburgh University and a Masters degree in Forest Recreation at Pennsylvania State University, Audrey has over 20 years experience in countryside management in local and national government, working for local authorities, the Sports Council and the National Forest, and in the charitable sector, working as an Area Manager for the RSPB and as Led Walks Officer for the Ramblers. In her spare time, she is a keen deer stalker, swims competitively at Masters level and breeds rare breed Hebridean sheep. Contact: 01244 573 024 |
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