Rhoose Biodiversity Blitz details posted and another event in the Calendar

The Rhoose point event details have now been updated with the starting place and time

Sat

Jun

29

TBC

TBC

Rhoose Point NEW EVENT. A Biodiversity Blitz organised by the Vale of Glamorgan Council ecology team to which Cardiff Naturalists’ members are invited. We shall be trying to record as many species as possible in the company of some experts and local enthusiasts and residents. We shall meet at 10am at the Rhoose Station car park (ST 0620/6623). The event is being organised by the Vale of Glamorgan Council and will include both experts and non-experts.  Members of Cardiff Naturalists' Society are very welcome, particularly as there was feedback from last year's survey that people would like to get involved in Biodiversity Blitzes'

Vale of Glamorgan Council ecology team

Another Bioblitz this Summer that Cardiff Naturalists' members are very welcome to join and this one is at the Amelia Trust farm on Saturday 27th July. 

Timings to be confirmed but are likely to involve Vegetation and Insect surveys to start around 10am. 

A dawn chorus for the early birds might be on offer along with a Bat Walk and Moth Survey in the evening. 

The Amelia Trust farm is just off Five Mile Lane (A4226) between Bonvilston and Barry. You can read more about the farm and how to get there by looking at their website at http://www.ameliatrust.org.uk/

No special skills are necessary to help out - just an interest in wildlife

Traditional Orchards Wales

We recently received the following which may be of interest to our members

"Dear Cardiff Naturalists’ Society,

I recently contacted you to inform you about the PTES Traditional Orchard Survey project which is taking place across Wales.

We have now finished mapping the orchards in the Cardiff area using aerial photos and are ready for volunteers to go out and survey them on the ground. We need hundreds of survey volunteers across Wales to ensure the inventory is as accurate and complete as possible, so this is an appeal for help in recruiting them!

If you have a website, newsletter, social media page or noticeboard where you would be able to publicise the project please get in touch. The attached project leaflet can be circulated to other local groups or anyone you think may be interested (hard copies are available if required). I can also provide articles, posters or flyers.

The survey requires no prior experience as we provide a full survey pack with clear instructions, and volunteers can do as little or much as they feel able in their own time.

I look forward to hearing from you with any offers or suggestions"

If you want further information take a look at their website  http://www.ptes.org/index.php?cat=95

Pond Conservation

We recently received this which is something that we'd like to pass on and publicise

A Happy New Year from all at Pond Conservation

Have you seen frog or toad spawn in your garden pond? Then join in with our Big Spawn Count, so that we can find out more about the breeding success of our frogs and toads in garden ponds nationally.

The Big Pond Dip and Thaw surveys have given us a lot of new information about garden ponds. Now we are working with our colleagues at Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) and Amphibian and Reptile Groups of UK (ARGUK) to find out more about the numbers of frogs breeding in garden ponds.

We are also keen to find out more about our common toad. Although, toads are less associated with garden ponds – there is some indication that the use of gardens is becoming more frequent due to loss of traditional breeding habitat. This is something we would like to find out more about.

You can take part in our Big Spawn Count by going to your pond and counting the number of spawn clumps present. For more information about this, and to enter your results online go to our Big Spawn Count pages.

http://www.pondconservation.org.uk/bigponddip/BigSpawncount

We'll certainly try and give it a go at our house