Welsh Curlews need your help!

The Curlew is one of Britain’s most iconic bird species. Its distinct and evocative song is a familiar sound; a harbinger of spring that is deeply ingrained within our culture.

Sadly, the Curlew is under severe threat, facing an uncertain future throughout Wales and is fast becoming rare.

Evidence suggests that since the 1990’s, Wales has lost over 80% of its breeding Curlew population. Today, there may be as few as 400 breeding pairs left in Wales and is now considered to be the most pressing bird conservation priority in the UK. It is ‘Red Listed’ on both the Welsh and UK Birds of Conservation Concern (BoCC).

With the current rate of decline it is thought that, without intervention, breeding Curlews could be lost from the Welsh landscape within fifteen years. We need to act now to stop them edging towards extinction.

How can you help?

It is vital to determine where Curlews are present. We need as many records as possible to tell us where curlews are during the breeding season (between April and June). If you encounter any curlews – or have seen or heard any over the last few months whilst out and about, please let us know.

If you are keen to know more, please email Vicky Knight from the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB at vicky.knight@denbighshire.gov.uk or call 01824 712729.

An Outstanding Week in September!

September has always been an outstanding month in our countryside, with harvests being brought safely home, trees and meadows taking on their autumnal colours, skies offering a full palette of hues, musky bonfires lingering in the evening air and a welcoming calmness for visitors. September this year, however, promises to be even more outstanding! 

The AONB Family has worked together to organise a week (and a bit) long programme of events to help people enjoy and be inspired by Britain’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). Starting on Saturday 15th September and continuing through to Sunday 23rd September, the events can be found on http://www.landscapesforlifeevents.org.uk/.

Celebrating Outstanding Week the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB are leading three walks that will cover the entirety of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct & canal World Heritage Site. The whole 11 miles of its length will be covered over three days.  All walks will go out and return along the canal footpath which is flat and accessible to all.  If you complete all three walks you will travel approx. 22 miles! Alternatively some of the walks are accessible, to at least a part return by public transport.  The walks will be led by the AONB Officer and supported by the Friends of the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley (http://www.friends.cymru/)

Click on the link below to download your copy of Out & About http://www.clwydianrangeanddeevalleyaonb.org.uk/events/

Walk 1	Monday 17th September	Meet: 10 am	Llantysilio Green Car Park (pay & display) GR 198 433 - (approx 8 miles)
Walk 2	Wednesday 19th September	Meet: 10 am	outside the Aqueduct Information Centre (approx. 6 miles)
Walk 3	Friday 21st September	Meet: 10 am	outside the Aqueduct Information Centre 271 422 (approx. 8 miles)

 

Fill your year with friendly family fun!

Out and About in the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB and Denbighshire’s Countryside is out!

Our 2018 programme offers a range of ways to enjoy the stunning landscape and heritage of the county’s fabulous countryside, from guided walks to after-school clubs, there is something for everyone. 

Did you know the skies of parts of the Clwydian Range are amongst some of the darkest in the UK? If you want to find out more about Dark Skies why not attend one of our many events in the programme, from Bat Walks to Meterorites and Night. 

Why not challenge yourself and take part on the Moor to Shore Challenge? Denbighshire Countryside Service have put together a series of walk which started with an introduction at Llyn Brenig, next we will be exploring various points along the River Clwyd as it flows along a 35 mile course, dropping 1,200 feet to the famous beach at Rhyl. 

Butterfly monitoring

The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty have been on a mission to monitor our butterflies, and we now need your help.

Surveying butterflies is important because the data collected can be used to show the relative success of local habitat management. Butterflies have a very rapid lifecycle and high sensitivity to environmental conditions.  Their dependence on particular plant species and habitats gives a good indication of where to direct conservation effort and assess how effective current conservation work is. 

A good example of a butterfly species that dependant on its habitat and other species within it, is the common blue butterfly.

Common blue butterflies lay their eggs on their caterpillar’s food plant which is usually the Common Bird’s-foot trefoil. After around 8 days these eggs hatch and the caterpillars will feed on this plant.

While the caterpillar is feeding, it will secrete a honeydew substance which attracts ants. In return for the constant supply of honeydew, ants will protect the caterpillar from predators.  After around 6 weeks the caterpillar will form into a chrysalis on the ground or at the base of its food plant.  Ants that find the chrysalis often bury it which again will protect it from predators.

After two weeks the butterfly will then emerge from the chrysalis as an adult butterfly. They will then find a mate and the cycle will start again.  This particular species will usually only live for 3 weeks.

Without the bird’s-foot trefoil and the ants, this species of butterfly would not be able to survive.

Butterfly surveys have been set up at both Loggerheads country Park and Prestatyn Hillside.

The Loggerheads Country Park transect was set up in February 2017 and was surveyed throughout the season. 22 different species were recorded, with 3 being Species of Principal Importance. 

The Prestatyn hillside transect was set up at the end of 2017. Training of local people has taken place and the transect is now being monitored by volunteers.  The data collected on the transect will be analysed at the end of the 2018 season. 

It is hoped more transects will be started within the AONB by trained volunteers. Getting volunteers involved has made surveying more sustainable and has also educated a new audience about the importance of our beautiful butterflies.

If anyone is interested in surveying butterflies in their area, please get in touch with Vicky Knight via e-mail Vicky.knight@denbighshire.gov.uk.

Dry Stone Wall Training

 

Are you interested in learning how to dry stone wall?

This year we will be running a series of free training courses in dry stone walling and other rural skills, thanks to funding from Cadwyn Clwyd.

Most of the courses will be run in the Corwen area, but will also be on Moel Famau and in Rhuddlan. They will offer opportunities for complete beginners or more experienced wallers to come and hone their skills. Courses will be led by qualified dry stone walling instructors and will usually run for 3 days at a time – you are welcome to stay for as long or short as you wish. Please bring your own lunch and drinks and ensure you have suitable clothing (including waterproofs / hats). Steel toe capped shoes should be worn if possible.

If you would like more information, please contact Ros Stockdale on 01824 712794, or via e-mail at ros.stockdale@denbighshire.gov.uk

This LEADER project is part of the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020, which is financed by the Welsh Government and European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

  

Out and About 2018

The Clwydian Range Range and Dee Valley AONB activities booklet and Countryside Services are available in print and online here ... www.clwydianrangeanddeevalleyaonb.org.uk/directs/

If you need copies, contact Loggerheads Country Park on 01824 712738 or email ceri.lloyd@denbighshire.gov.uk