The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW) () is a Wildlife Trust in south and west

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

, one of 46 such Trusts in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

History

Forerunner of the WTSWW, the former West Wales Naturalists' Trust traces its origin to a meeting held in

Haverfordwest Haverfordwest ( , ; ) is the county town of Pembrokeshire, Wales, and the most populous urban area in Pembrokeshire with a population of 14,596 in 2011. It is also a Community (Wales), community consisting of 12,042 people, making it the secon ...

in February 1938. It was convened by L. D. Whitehead, the Welsh industrialist and owner of Ramsey, and the naturalist and author R. M. Lockley, then living on

Skokholm Skokholm () or Skokholm Island is an island off the coast of Pembrokeshire, Wales, south of the neighbouring island of Skomer. The surrounding waters are a marine reserve and all are part of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Both island ...

. Seventy-eight people were present at that inaugural meeting and on the motion of Mr. Hugh Lloyd-Philipps, of Dale Castle, the Pembrokeshire Bird Protection Society was formed. In 1943, the society was urged to promote the establishment of nature reserves in readiness for post-war conditions. A meeting in 1945 decided to widen its area, so as to cover the counties of Pembroke,

Carmarthen Carmarthen (, ; , 'Merlin's fort' or possibly 'Sea-town fort') is the county town of Carmarthenshire and a community (Wales), community in Wales, lying on the River Towy north of its estuary in Carmarthen Bay. At the 2021 United Kingdom cen ...

, Cardigan, and Merioneth, in compliance with requests from those counties, and considered a selection of alternative names so as to indicate the extension of the Society's area and activities. The meeting favoured West Wales Field Society. The society purchased Dale Fort which it leased to the Council for the Promotion of Field Studies in August 1946. An arrangement was made in 1947 for the CPFS to operate the Bird Observatory on Skokholm. Dale Fort was sold to the Field Studies Council in 1959. In January, 1961, the Executive Council formerly resolved to recommend that the Society should be dissolved and reconstituted as the West Wales Naturalists Trust Ltd. In April 2018 it merged with the Brecknock Wildlife Trust to become the WTSWW. The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales is a membership organisation with charitable status. The trust is works with volunteers and communities to protect habitats and species. Their work includes reviewing planning applications, managing over 80 reserves, and providing advice to a wide variety of groups.

Coverage

WTSWW work in the Vice-counties of

Glamorgan Glamorgan (), or sometimes Glamorganshire ( or ), was Historic counties of Wales, one of the thirteen counties of Wales that existed from 1536 until their abolishment in 1974. It is located in the South Wales, south of Wales. Originally an ea ...

Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire (; or informally ') is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South West Wales, south-west of Wales. The three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford. Carmarthen is the county town and administrative centre. ...

Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire ( ; ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South West Wales, south-west of Wales. It is bordered by Carmarthenshire to the east, Ceredigion to the northeast, and otherwise by the sea. Haverfordwest is the largest town and ...

Cardiganshire Ceredigion (), historically Cardiganshire (, ), is a county in the west of Wales. It borders Gwynedd across the Dyfi estuary to the north, Powys to the east, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire to the south, and the Irish Sea to the west. Ab ...

and

Brecknockshire Brecknockshire ( or ), also known as the County of Brecknock, Breconshire, or the County of Brecon, was Historic counties of Wales, one of the thirteen counties of Wales that existed from 1536 until their abolishment in 1974. It was created in 1 ...

. The suite of reserves includes the ''Melincwrt'' waterfalls (near

Neath Neath (; ) is a market town and Community (Wales), community situated in the Neath Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot County Borough, Wales. The town had a population of 50,658 in 2011. The community of the parish of Neath had a population of 19,2 ...

), '' Coed y Bwl'' (daffodil woods near Cardiff), ''Teifi Marshes'' (near Cardigan, including the Welsh Wildlife Centre, which has a cafe and shop, and is on the Cardigan-Cilgerran Offshoot trail of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path), ''Castle Woods'' in

Llandeilo Llandeilo () is a town and Community (Wales), community in Carmarthenshire, Wales, situated where the River Towy is crossed by the A483 road, A483 on a 19th-century stone bridge. At the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 census the community had ...

(with castle), and the islands of ''

Skomer Skomer () or Skomer Island is an island off the coast of Pembrokeshire, in the community of Marloes and St Brides in west Wales. It is well known for its wildlife: around half the world's population of Manx shearwaters nest on the island, the A ...

'' and ''

''.

Attacks

In September 2019 arsonists burnt down a Kingfisher Hide at the Welsh Wildlife Centre, damage which came at a cost of £20,000 to the Trust. On New Year's Day 2020, the site was again attacked by vandals, who damaged a badger sculpture.

References

External links

The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales Website
{{The Wildlife Trusts South and West Wales