On lockdown… but on Safari!
Recently, even though we were locked down at home, we went on safari. Not to Africa, of course, just in our garden, doing an audit known as a bioblitz of the creatures living in it.
Why not…
Search
Chwilio
Long-tailed tit
Living up to its name, the long-tailed tit can be easily recognised by its long tail. It is a small, pretty, pink, black and white bird that can be seen in woodlands, gardens and parks.
Alder fly
The alder fly is a blackish invertebrate, with delicately veined wings that it folds over its body like a tent. It can be found near ponds and slow-flowing rivers; the larvae living in the silt at…
Robin's pincushion
Living up to its name, the Robin's pincushion is a red, round, hairy growth that can be seen on wild roses. It is caused by the larvae of a tiny gall wasp that feeds on the host plant, but…
Bugs Matter survey finds that flying insects in Gwent have declined by 40% in less than 20 years
A citizen-science survey, led by Kent Wildlife Trust and Buglife, has found that the abundance of flying insects in Gwent has plummeted by 40% over the last 17 years; highlighting a worrying trend…
Oak apple gall wasp
Living up to its name, the oak apple gall wasp produces growths, or 'galls', on oak twigs that look like little apples. Inside the gall, the larvae of the wasp feed on the host tissues,…
Bridewell Common
Wildlife-rich reens and ditches lined by ancient willow pollards and criss-cross expansive fields, supporting a fabulous range of plant, insect and bird life as well as the Gwent Levels'…
Angle shades
The angle shades can be well-hidden among the leaf litter - its pinky-brown markings and scalloped wings giving it the perfect camouflage. It is on the wing in gardens, woods and hedgerows from…
Coastal
Coastal habitats are found wherever the land meets the sea. With some 17,800km, the UK has one of the longest national coastlines in Europe. The coast is home to many habitats, with cliffs, rocky…
Magor Marsh
Discover the last remaining piece of fenland on the Gwent Levels. Its patchwork of habitats supports a rich diversity of wildlife throughout the year.
Rogiet Poorland
On the edge of the Gwent Levels, you can enjoy the rich variety of trees in the leafy woodland and the fascinating wildflowers and insects of the limestone grassland.
With COP29 having been dragged over the line, were there any wins for climate and nature?
Kathryn Brown, director of climate change and evidence for The Wildlife Trusts, reviews the ups and downs of this year’s climate COP.