36 landowners have had site visits and advice from our team. Many of those have had more support such as habitat works by contractors, hedge and tree planting or surveying for different taxon.  For example Cilrheol, near the Brecon Beacons, was the site for our first recording day with County Recorders, specialist interest groups and the Biodiversity Information Center and over 300 species were recorded.  Following that they had one pond cleared of dense weed and over 200m of habitat hedge and an area planted to extend their woodland with the aid of volunteers from the Brecon Local Group.  Another pond was restored by a contractor.

42 communities groups had advice and support towards their projects.  This ranged from advice to diversify habitats by changing mowing regimes and sowing wildflower seeds sourced locally.  These were bolstered with a wildflower plugs and fruit trees. Dolwen Field, Llanwrtyd Wells had been struggling to get their wildflower area established so Green Connections was able to advise on how best to manage the site and provided more wildflower seed.  A family bioblitz day engaged with over 50 people of all ages and added over 200 species to the records database.  Residents were host to moth traps, the contents of which were identified with attendees in the morning.  Prior to this event, there were only 2 records for this town.  The children enjoyed craft activities, building a giant bug hotel and going on a bug hunt with Phil Ward aka ‘The Bug Man’.

12 businesses also engaged with Green Connections.  Swift boxes were installed on fire stations, water towers, industrial units, school buildings and an ice cream parlour.  Two golf courses have created wildflower areas and received interpretation signs about Great Crested Newts, woodland management and wildflower meadows to highlight the special habitats they have to their members and visiting players.  Cradoc Golf course had a big issue with invasive non-native cherry laurel invading parts of their woodland.  Through Green Connections, contractors have removed much of this and the area replanted with native broadleaf trees.  This will allow the ground flora to recover and provide better cover for the Great Crested Newts.  60 were recorded in one of the ponds on the course.  An area not in play also had soil sampled for the eDNA of waxcaps and other grassland fungi.  This site had a number of species listed as vulnerable.  This makes it an important site for these declining species.

Additional statistics

• Over 1000 people of all ages engaged with through various events, including
  • 5 training courses in First Aid, Tree safety, use of scythes and pruning apple trees by external organisations
  • 2625 trees planted including 25 fruit trees
  • 16 kg of wildflower seed spread plus as well as 1000 wildflower plugs and bulbs planted
  • 4 ponds created or restored
  • 28 swift boxes and 20 tree sparrow boxes donated
  • 2 large planters installed
• 4 groups created and/supported – Brecon Local Group of WTSWW, Brecon Swift Group, Builth Swift Group and North Brecknock Landowner group.