Across our counties, we are in the midst of delivering two National Lottery Heritage Fund funded projects. On Gower, the Nature Networks Fund (NNF) Healthy Resilient Grasslands project and our NNF Accessible Nature project have given us the opportunity to engage with locals. We are working with people who have never before visited our reserevs and are experiencing these spaces for the first time. These projects are taking place on our SSSI designated reserves and reserves connected to a network of protected sites.

We have facilitated numerous Wildlife Walks, encouraging a wider audience out into nature. This has been achieved by running guided walks, working with partners and bringing along experts to share knowledge. Our aim is to build confidence in participants to feel more comfortable and knowledgeable, whilst responsibly interacting with the environment, wildlife and livestock.  

We walked with the Chinese in Wales Association on the sunny, but rugged cliffs of Port Eynon Point. Whilst mostly observing the flora and taking in big views, some of the group were distracted by a basking adder. We looked for insects in the gorse, shaking shrubs and investigatings our findings. In October we held an event advertised to the general public, The Gelli-Hir Nut Hunt. Walkers learnt from dormouse ecologist Diana Clark, about dormice, other woodland mammals and how they use the habitat. We then searched for hazel nut shells on the woodland floor and analysed markings on the nuts to see what had been eating them. We have also been on a safari with Swansea Community Farm. We weren't watching wildlife but observed how cattle and ponies behave and help us manage our coastal heath habitats at Overton. The expert knowledge was shared by the animal’s keepers, Jenni and Emma (from Gower Pony Experience and Gower Meadow Beef). We observed waxcap fungi, poked around in cattle dung looking at fly larvae and dung beetles. 

There will be more NNF funded events over the coming year, keep an eye on our social media for future walks being advertised. If you organise or are part of a group in the Swansea or south Carmarthenshire area, who you think may enjoy a Walk with Wildlife then get in touch. The Nature Networks Fund is delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales on behalf of the Welsh Government and in partnership with Natural Resources Wales.   

Contact p.thornton@welshwildlife.org for more information.