Saving the small things that run the planet
Natur am Byth! is Wales’ flagship conservation project.
Made up of a partnership of nine environmental charities and Natural Resources Wales the programme will take action for endangered species and build connections with Welsh communities and their natural heritage.
Update June 2023: We are delighted to announce that following the success of the Development Phase (October 2021 – February 2023) funding has now been secured for the full Delivery Phase; find out more: National Lottery pledges towards an ambitious £8m nature partnership
Quick Facts:
Natur am Byth! (Nature Forever!) is a Wales-wide, species recovery, partnership project which will see Buglife working alongside Plantlife, Amphibian & Reptile Trust, Bat Conservation Trust, Marine Conservation Society, Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Butterfly Conservation, RSPB, Vincent Wildlife Trust and Natural Resources Wales for the benefit of species and habitats across Wales.
Natur am Byth! will focus on 67 of Wales’ most threatened species including invertebrates, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and lower plants, and will provide benefits for many more.
Within Natur am Byth! there are 11 sub-projects; five focussed on specific areas or communities and seven on specific species.
Buglife will be leading on two projects.
In partnership with ARC we will be undertaking conservation action for 13 species including the Fen Raft Spider (Dolomedes plantarius), Strandline Beetle (Eurynebria complanata), Narrow-mouthed Whorl Snail (Vertigo angustior), Southern Damselfly (Coenagrion mercuriale), Six-spotted Cranefly (Idiocera sexguttata), Silky Wave (Idaea dilutaria), Sand Lizard (Lacerta agilis), the lichen Cladonia peziziformis, Fen Orchid (Liparis loeselii), Burnt Tip Orchid (Orchis ustulate), Three-lobed Crowfoot (Ranunculus tripartitus), Broad-fruited Cornsalad (Valerianella rimosa) and Goldilocks Aster (Galatella linosyris).
Surveys will be undertaken to learn more about the ecological requirements of these species, alongside a range of conservation interventions such as grazing, scrub clearance and invasive non-native species removal. Follow up monitoring will assess how our target species respond to management interventions and will inform future conservation efforts.
The “Swansea Bay – Coasts, Commons & Communities” project will be delivered through collaborative working with local communities and the wider public, environmental NGOs, graziers, NRW and local authorities within the project area.
This project will increase our understanding of the ecology, population status and distribution of this critically endangered species, through species and habitat surveys at its known locations on the river Dee in Wrexham County Borough, and captive rearing trials. Information obtained will be used to identify habitat management interventions that will benefit existing populations. Local communities will get involved at all levels, from well-being walks along the Dee, to species identification training and recording through to arts projects, introducing people to the Scarce Yellow Sally in new and innovative ways.
In addition to this the Buglife team will provide expertise and support to project partners across the wider Natur an Byth! programme.
For more information on how to get involved in our “Natur am Byth!” projects please contact Clare Dinham, Head of Buglife Cymru on [email protected]
An Introduction to the Strandline Beetle
“Natur am Byth!” is funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund, Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Government and a number of charitable trusts, foundations and corporate donors including Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the Banister Charitable Trust, and significant support from Welsh Government’s Landfill Disposals Tax Communities Scheme administered by Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA).
