Welsh Government Local Places for Nature

Local Places for Nature

Via the Council, the Carmarthenshire Nature Partnership receives Welsh Government Local Places for Nature (LPfN) grant funding to create and enhance green spaces on publicly owned land. Funding is also distributed via Keep Wales Tidy and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

We have a Local Places for Nature officer dedicated to delivering LPfN funded projects and working with communities. LPfN focuses primarily on urban and peri-urban areas, or those with little to no access to nature, with the aim to restore nature where people live, work and access public services.

In Carmarthenshire, past and current projects include (but are not restricted to) those that:

• Encourage wildflowers and improve biodiversity by changing mowing practices.
• Tree/woodland/orchard planting.
• Community food growing initiatives, e.g. provision of allotments, polytunnels etc.
• Green infrastructure enhancement/creation - turning 'grey to green'.
• Nature friendly sensory gardens.

Our project officer also works with community groups to share expertise and knowledge on creating/enhancing their local place for nature.

For further information, please contact Matthew Collinson via e-mail.

Projects Completed in 2023 - 2024

Tree Planting

Tree/orchard/hedge planting took place at sites to enhance local green space through improving the local biodiversity and creating spaces that local residents/school children can enjoy.

Outputs:

• 2000 hedgerow plants planted
• 55 fruit trees planted
• 55 ‘standard’ trees
• 13 different sites planted across the county

Bench Planters

Bench planters were installed at sites across the county. They integrate native pollinator plants with seating, and will also provide, via a QR code a link to the new online engagement platform, which includes a survey questionnaire.

Benches are located at existing projects and potential future sites and as well as providing aromatic seating will hopefully help gather public views on their Local Place for Nature!

Outputs:

• 13 bench planters

Manor Road Day Care Centre

Working with staff and clients of the day care centre a mixed tree orchard and native hedgerow has been planted, along with three bench planters with wildflower/herb plantings and rubber grass mats for wheelchair access. Whilst the site is fenced (for safe Day Centre management), the site is also intended to be accessible to the public as a community space.

Outputs:

• Mixed tree orchard and hedgerow
• Accessible sensory garden area

Breeding site for coastal birds - Llanelli

At Sandy Water Park and Ffynon Helig in the Millennium Coastal Park, Llanelli coastal birds such as terns were helped out by the provision of nesting platforms at these two sites. In addition a gravel island was created to provide safe a nesting area.

At Ffynon Helig screens for the public to view the nesting birds using were provides along with information panels at both sites to explain the wildlife that might be seen there.

Outputs:

• 2 nesting platforms
• 1 gravel island
• 1 otter holt
• 2 wildlife viewing screens
• 3 information panels

Garnant Nature Garden

The Initiative for Nature Conservation Cymru and their volunteers in the Aman Valley welcome funding for a gazebo at their Nature Garden in Garnant. It had bat roost features built into it! The group also received House Martin nest cups that suitable sites will be identified in 2024 where they can be installed and monitored.

Outputs:

• 1 gazebo for a wildlife garden
• 130 house martin nest cups to be installed and monitored

Pond creation - Carmel

Wildlife ponds were created at Carmel Nature Reserve They transformed a species-poor rush-dominated corner of a field into a mini wetland. The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales worked with contractors to create four ponds of different depths and surface areas which will increase the range of wildlife attracted them.

Outputs:

• 4 wildlife ponds

Controlling aquatic invasive plant – Parrot’s Feather

The aquatic invasive plant, Parrot's Feather, has become an increasing problem at sites in/near Llanelli. Local Places for Nature helped to start the process of managing it at two sites - at Dafen Pond and Pembrey Canal, Llanelli.

Small areas were removed at both sites – especial care had to be taken at Pembrey Canal because the protected Water Vole live there.

The learning from starting to eradicate this invasive species at both these sites will help to continue the process over future years.

• 2 sites where Parrot’s Feather has started to be removed

Projects Completed in 2022 - 2023

Lliedi Haven Pollinator Project

The aim of the project was to improve an area already managed by Outdoor Recreation to enhance the grassland and increase public engagement (including from those using the adjacent Millennium Coastal Path) by restoring/replacing existing, run-down horticultural beds with appropriate pollinator-friendly planting.

Outputs:

• One area of grassland was enhanced with over 1,000 native wildflower plugs planted.
• Over 30 species of native wildflowers and shrubs and a selection of horticultural shrubs were planted in new raised beds.
• A new annual cut and collect mowing regime, introduced in 2023, and paths cut through grassland.
• Ten low-level information points were installed to create an easy trail for the public to follow.
• Bug hotels integrated into the restored structures.

Old Tregib School Sports Ground

The Old Tragic School sports field covers around 5.5 hectares of amenity grassland, including several areas not used for sports-related activities which were maintained regularly. There was significant potential to improve the biodiversity of some of these through the planting of woodland and parkland trees while simultaneously reducing maintenance costs.

An adjacent area of Council farmland was being grazed by horses and, although areas had potential to become species-rich grassland, they were in very poor condition. The potential for woodland creation on other areas of this field had also been recognised and a Glastir Woodland Creation grant obtained. The LPfN complimented this woodland planting and supported its implementation.

Outputs:

• Stock/deer fencing and cattle management pens and gates.
• Scrape for grazing animals in new meadow.
• 16 parkland trees and 300 shelterbelt and small woodland trees planted.
• Mulch mats to remove pesticide use.
• Access provision through site and bridge to link to Woodland Trust's Tregib wood site.

University of Wales, Trinity Saint David

Outputs:

• The hard to maintain grass area outside the Halliwell Centre has been replaced with pollinating herbaceous perennials. This is a busy area frequented by students, staff and visitors.
• 1,000 spring bulbs (including crocus and snowdrop) have been planted under the mature trees in the woodland area.
• Outside Y Llwyfan building, a beech hedge has been planted.
• 37 fruit and nut trees have been planted across campus.
• A chipper and cut-and-collect mower were purchased to improve sustainable management of the whole campus.
• Three wildlife cameras, along with bat and bird boxes, were purchased and are to be monitored by an intern at the university as part of a sustainability project.
• A polytunnel and raised beds were purchased to expand the allotment site which is used by local school groups.

Kidwelly Quay

A large wildlife pond had become silted since 1999 leaving no open water. Willow scrub had invaded and it had become a swamp habitat. This reduced its value for wildlife and as a place for walkers to the view the species that use it e.g. wildfowl, dragonflies etc. and grassland areas were being lost to bramble scrub. Local residents had commented on its decline.

Restoration of the pond would increase the diversity of plant species and fencing would allow conservation grazing. A previously tenanted field for grazing had been abandoned. The least diverse area was planted with trees under a Glastir Woodland Creation grant, the remainder cut and collected to allow conservation grazing.

Outputs:

• 1 pond partially restored with the retention of species-rich fen/swamp habitat.
• 1 otter holt installed with advice from a local otter ecologist.
• 2 fields cut and collected and fenced off for conservation grazing.
• 1 scrape created to allow grazing and area fenced off for tree planting.
• 1 community tree planting day. Trees were planted under a Glastir Woodland Creation grant.

Garnant Nature Garden

With support from Cwmaman Town Council in 2002, The Initiative for Nature Conservation Cymru created a community wildlife garden in Garnant in order to engage with local residents and bring about a wider understanding of wildlife and nature conservation.

To support this valuable work a local contractor was commissioned to design and install a pond and all-access path on the community garden site. A south-facing bank was created with the spoil. A container for tools was also purchased.

The works have enhanced a local community space for wildlife and for people to learn about, and enjoy, local wildlife. The all-access path now means that more people of different ages and abilities are now able to enjoy seeing the wildlife and contribute towards local nature conservation initiatives.

Outputs:

• 1 wildlife pond.
• 1 all-access path.
• 1 container for tools.

National Botanic Garden of Wales

Delivery Project Outputs:

• Workshop on green space management.
• Workshop on tree/orchard planting.
• Site visits to six sites to give advice on biodiversity improvements.
• Webpage created with resources for improving biodiversity.
• Six downloadable, bilingual summary leaflets on ideas for action for businesses, communities, individuals, schools and tourism providers.

In 2021-22, using this funding, mowing machines were purchased which allowed us to begin to make changes to the management of our grass across the Council estate.