Welsh Wildlife Centre: Enhancing Accessibility and Sustainability
A grant of just over £500,000 is assisting towards the transformation of the Welsh Wildlife Centre in Cilgerran, addressing urgent infrastructure needs and making the site more welcoming for visitors and sustainable.
Key improvements include:
• Accessibility Upgrades: Repairs to the entrance route, which doubles as a Sustrans cycling path, and the addition of a new flight of steps, and an expanded car park.
• Family-Friendly Features: Installation of a new meadow playground near the café, along with picnic tables and benches designed for wheelchair users and individuals with reduced mobility.
• Comfort for Staff and Visitors: Solar film on windows of the visitor centre has mitigated temperature extremes, while repairs to upper windows allow for better ventilation. Upgraded café furniture further enhances accessibility.
• Sustainability Efforts: A new solar array and battery storage system, upgraded electricity supply, and EV charging points contribute to the Trust’s net-zero ambitions. Secure bike racks encourage green travel to the site.
Sarah Kessell, Chief Executive Officer at WTSWW said, “This substantial grant has resolved urgent issues and enabled significant progress toward accessibility and sustainability goals. We thank the UK Government and Pembrokeshire County Council for their invaluable support.”
Skomer and Skokholm Islands
A grant exceeding £250,000 has delivered essential upgrades to the Trusts Skomer and Skokholm Islands, ensuring they remain pivotal conservation sites and unforgettable visitor destinations.
Key developments include:
• Sustainability Enhancements: Installation of a solar array at Skokholm’s Bird Observatory, electric brush-cutters, and improved water storage systems.
• Visitor Facilities: Complete overhaul of the shared kitchen and bathroom facilities in Skomer’s visitor hostel accommodation, enhancing comfort and enjoyment for overnight guests.
• Staff Accommodation: Replacement of 30 deteriorated windows and the rotten balcony in North Haven’s WTSWW staff and researcher quarters. Improved natural light, warmth, and privacy have significantly boosted living conditions.
• Building Resilience: A comprehensive building survey on Skomer to guide future conservation efforts for its historic stone structures.
Lisa Morgan, Head of Islands and Marine at WTSWW said, “This was one of our most challenging undertakings, but the benefits for staff, volunteers, and visitors are already clear. We’re excited for guests to experience these improvements in 2025.”
Leighton Newman Skomer Warden for WTSWW also added, “Replacing windows at North Haven has transformed the building’s resilience and comfort. Staff now have warmer, drier accommodations, freeing us to focus on vital conservation work.”
These transformative projects, funded through the Shared Prosperity Fund, represent a major leap forward for the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. By prioritising accessibility, sustainability, and conservation, the Trust continues to safeguard the region’s precious natural heritage for future generations.
The UKSPF is one of the UK Government funds replacing European funding streams that are no longer available after Brexit. It is also part of the UK Government's levelling-up agenda.
