Peter Parrot
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- Mar 1, 2009
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I thought as my first post that I would show you all one of the recent projects that our ARG is undertaking. :happy:
We have been busy preparing to create and improve habitat for native herpetofauna. Gaining permission from landowners to do so, sourcing funding to do so, motivating and training a volunteer work force all takes a considerable amount of time, not to mention all the red tape involved i.e; risk assessments and project reports etc.
However, we are now in a postion to crack on with the work, and hopefully we will have some ponds installed in time for the approaching amphibian breeding season. I am pleased to say that work started at one of the sites just a few days before christmas, and there are now five ponds of varying size and depth installed at the site.
Here is a bit of a run down on how it all transpired;
Set in 1000 acres of glorious parklands, Margam Country Park, (just outside Port Talbot) features a picturesque Tudor-Gothic style Victorian Mansion House, a magnificent 18th century Orangery, a 12th Century Chapter House, ornamental gardens and probably the best deer herd in Wales. Also on site is a narrow gauge railway, children's adventure playground, and farm trail, together with a mixed coarse fishery at Furzemill Pond and numerous trails and walks. Until recently, there was also a pet’s corner at the Park and a large woodland paddock which housed a group of Wild Boar. Approximately a year ago the new Park manager came into post. I have been working very closely with the manager and it is plainly obvious that he would like to do his utmost to improve conditions for the biodiversity of the Park. All four widespread species of reptile can be found in the Park as well as common frog, toad and palmate newt. In addition, great crested newts are found at a site not too far away.
There are several fresh water bodies already in existence in the Park, but the majority of them are stocked with fish. The common toad breeds successfully in at least two of the Park`s ponds, and palmate newts also breed in one of the formal lily ponds which happens to be fish free. Frogs do not appear to be faring so well, and were only seen to metamorphose from one spot in the Park this year and not in any substantial numbers. The addition of a series of fish free ponds of varying size and depth would seem to be the way forward. A meeting with the Park manager at the end of the summer presented an opportunity to suggest exactly that. It was agreed that if the Wild Boar were removed from the Park that multiple objectives would be achieved;
1. A significant health & safety risk would be removed.
2. The Park would no longer require a zoo license
3. The vacated Wild Boar paddock would present an ideal opportunity for West Glamorgan ARG and BTCV Cymru to work together and create a habitat that would benefit biodiversity greatly and herpetofauna and Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies) in particular.
The images show some of the former residents, some standing water and a pig sty before we started work.
We have been busy preparing to create and improve habitat for native herpetofauna. Gaining permission from landowners to do so, sourcing funding to do so, motivating and training a volunteer work force all takes a considerable amount of time, not to mention all the red tape involved i.e; risk assessments and project reports etc.
However, we are now in a postion to crack on with the work, and hopefully we will have some ponds installed in time for the approaching amphibian breeding season. I am pleased to say that work started at one of the sites just a few days before christmas, and there are now five ponds of varying size and depth installed at the site.
Here is a bit of a run down on how it all transpired;
Set in 1000 acres of glorious parklands, Margam Country Park, (just outside Port Talbot) features a picturesque Tudor-Gothic style Victorian Mansion House, a magnificent 18th century Orangery, a 12th Century Chapter House, ornamental gardens and probably the best deer herd in Wales. Also on site is a narrow gauge railway, children's adventure playground, and farm trail, together with a mixed coarse fishery at Furzemill Pond and numerous trails and walks. Until recently, there was also a pet’s corner at the Park and a large woodland paddock which housed a group of Wild Boar. Approximately a year ago the new Park manager came into post. I have been working very closely with the manager and it is plainly obvious that he would like to do his utmost to improve conditions for the biodiversity of the Park. All four widespread species of reptile can be found in the Park as well as common frog, toad and palmate newt. In addition, great crested newts are found at a site not too far away.
There are several fresh water bodies already in existence in the Park, but the majority of them are stocked with fish. The common toad breeds successfully in at least two of the Park`s ponds, and palmate newts also breed in one of the formal lily ponds which happens to be fish free. Frogs do not appear to be faring so well, and were only seen to metamorphose from one spot in the Park this year and not in any substantial numbers. The addition of a series of fish free ponds of varying size and depth would seem to be the way forward. A meeting with the Park manager at the end of the summer presented an opportunity to suggest exactly that. It was agreed that if the Wild Boar were removed from the Park that multiple objectives would be achieved;
1. A significant health & safety risk would be removed.
2. The Park would no longer require a zoo license
3. The vacated Wild Boar paddock would present an ideal opportunity for West Glamorgan ARG and BTCV Cymru to work together and create a habitat that would benefit biodiversity greatly and herpetofauna and Odonata (Dragonflies & Damselflies) in particular.
The images show some of the former residents, some standing water and a pig sty before we started work.
