Natural Environment
Page updated on: 30/07/2025
Officers in Natural Environment and Sustainability deliver a wide range of functions, working with colleagues and external partners.
Over the last 3 months work we have carried out includes the following:
Bat houses at Brynmefys are complete and being used by bats and swallows ensuring that bats have alternative roost location to replace the much needed demolition of the derelict properties. This has been a close collaboration with the Project Ecologists, Property Design and Housing.
Bat hot box being installed in new houses in Brynmefys to ensure that bats have an alternative roost location to replace those lost in the demolition of the derelict properties. This has been a close collaboration between the Project Ecologists, Property Design and Housing.
Officers: Jacqueline Bond, Rhian Lewis
The Arboricultural Officers supervised the installation of 3D Cellweb to protect tree roots during the development at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman. The construction of a new coach park is within the rooting area of mature trees and a no-dig engineering solution was required to protect tree roots. Working closely with Engineers and construction staff we were able to install the permanent ground protection without disturbing the roots.
Officers: Stephen Edwards, Jason Winter
Welsh Government Local Places for Nature funding is supporting a collaborative project to enhance stonewall features along the Millennium Coastal Path in Llanelli.
The raised bed and seating element was designed by Local Places for Nature Officer then created and installed by the Carmarthenshire County Council's Skills Hub.
A local wood sculptor will be bringing some more artistic features to the project in the coming months and we will also be filling the planters with a range of native coastal plants
Officer: Matthew Collinson
Project Ecologists oversaw works to control and aim to eradicate Himalayan Balsam from the section of the Dafen next to the Pentre Awel development were undertaken this July/early August. This is in conjunction with NRW who are undertaking works to control it further upstream. Extreme care was taken to ensure otters, water vole and Cetti's warbler were not affected by the works.
Officers: Jacqueline Bond, Rhian Lewis
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Wales Nature Week is an annual week of events and raising awareness about our natural environment across Wales. This year we arranged events around the theme of Take a Closer Look, encouraging people to explore the natural environment around them. There was an event at Llyn Llech Owain Country Park, and Outdoor Recreation arranged beach safaris and a walk around Morfa Berwig Local Nature Reserve. Council officers were invited to submit photos and over 20 were received. Jacqueline Bond’s photo of a water droplets on leaves was chosen as a particular favourite.
Wales Nature Week may be officially over but there is always something to explore. Take a look at our Biodiversity pages for lots of information and ideas.
Officer: Isabel Macho
Pentremawr Woodland - Welsh Government Woodland Improvement Grant (TWIG) project
Work has been progressing on the Pentremawr Community Woodland TWIG project in Pontyberem. Activities taking place have included ecological survey work (bryophytes, lichens, invertebrates and fungi); Invasive Non-Native Species control (Japanese Knotweed and Cherry Laurel); path improvements; and school and community events (mindful drawing; whittling; forage and make; and historical and nature walk).
A highlight has been the recording of Hazel Gloves Fungus - a nationally scarce and a priority species in the UK, primarily found in Atlantic hazelwoods on the west coast of Scotland!
Officer: Gus Hellier
