What's been happening: Autumn

When the St Madoc Centre started to offer activities and catering to schools in 2009 our school season consisted of one full week. This year’s school season was somewhat longer, with 26 schools and classes enjoying our food, accommodation and activities. That’s over a thousand pupils, from infants to college age - not forgetting their hard-working teachers! To think we’ve had an impact in that many children’s lives is absolutely amazing, and all of the staff at the St Madoc Centre are looking forward to 2014, which already promises to be busier still!

This year we were especially pleased to have been donated some money by Warburton’s and the Four Winds Trust which meant we were able to keep offering massively reduced prices to children requiring free school meals. This means we were able to continue giving a fantastic experience to children who may otherwise never have had an opportunity to have a holiday and enjoy themselves like they do with us.

‘For many of our children it will be their first 'holiday' and time away from their home. In fact very few of our children have ever experienced a sleep over!’ ... ‘That is the impact of your work, it can change a life, change an attitude, develop a dream, inspire a community.’

Primary School Headmaster

This year we’ve also spent a lot of time working on a science programme, aimed at year 4 and 5 pupils. This programme contains a lot of different activities, like pond-dipping, rock-pooling and strand-line surveys. These activities were tested out by a very helpful local primary school over a four day stay and despite a few Autumn showers their stay went very well, with everyone enjoying themselves immensely.

Sadly, this Autumn saw the departure of two of our longest serving members of staff, Rob and Chris. Both worked incredibly hard during their time at the St Madoc Centre to make us what we are today. They both were a major part of the success of our school’s work, as well as maintaining our facilities and keeping them at the high standard they are in now.

Thanks for all your hard work, guys!

This Summer and Autumn we have held various different events. In August we held a Bat Discovery Evening, for the second time. Once again it was well attended, and using various electronic bat detectors we found a variety of different bats. Our second annual Apple Day was held in October, a celebration of all things appley, with pies, cakes and games. Hayley Watts’s delicious apple pie took home the first place prize in the Pie Competition, and over twenty people attempted the William Tell Archery Challenge, with two people actually managing to hit the apple! The Volunteer Day in October went well, with plenty of work getting done; the pig pen is being prepared for new pigs, and our ever-growing orchard was prepared for the winter. Many thanks to all our volunteers!

Autumn has also been an interesting time of year for wildlife discoveries, with two species new to the St Madoc Centre being discovered. The Four-spotted Chaser Dragonfly is common across the UK, but was seen flying above our wildlife pond for the first time. The second, slightly more exciting, sight was a flock of six Choughs seen feeding on Craneflies near the headland. Choughs are rare across Britain, so to see six on our land was brilliant. We also held our second reptile and amphibian conservation course, which was again very well attended, firmly putting the St Madoc Centre ‘on the map as a good site for reptiles’, according to our Conservation Ranger, Sarah.

Events at the St Madoc Centre

ECO-TRIBE

Every second and fourth Sunday

3-5pm Call Mark on 07455677711 for details

Outdoor environmental activities for children & parents/carers.

SATURDAY 23RD NOVEMBER
AN EVENING OF SONGS, TUNES & TALL TALES

8pm at Llanrhidian Church, Gower

Mike O'Connor & Barbara Griggs are great fun. They make music of breathtaking beauty on fiddle, concertina, viol and harp. They have a unique repertoire, both original and from historic Cornish manuscripts.

Call 01792 386291 or email sarah@stmadoc.co.uk for tickets in advance, tickets also available at the door.

Tickets cost £8, or £4 for under 16s, with glass of wine or juice.

Raising funds for St Madoc Centre

SUNDAY 1ST DECEMBER

SONGS FOR ADVENT

Doors open 6:30pm, singing starts at 7pm

With the Cantorion Llanmadog presenting an evening of light music.

Tickets cost £12, including a meal, bar available. Get in contact with us to book your ticket.

SATURDAY 7TH DECEMBER

CAROLS AND CRAFTS

10am-3pm

Our annual Carols and Crafts event. Live music, hot food and free mince pies. Free entry.

Volunteer at the St Madoc Centre:

We are always very happy to work with volunteers, no matter their age, skill or ability levels. If you are interested in volunteering at the St Madoc Centre, or would like more information about any of the events listed in this newsletter please contact us using the details found below.

Phone: 01792 386 291 Email: info@stmadoc.co.uk Website: stmadoc.co.uk

What’s come in with the tide?

June began with an investigation of the sandy shore beside St Madoc Centre.  Marine biologist, Bob Sluka led a party of volunteers and SMC staff to look at ways of including the marine environment in their work with schools.  Rock-pools were explored including the remains of an extensive prehistoric forest, exposed at low tide.  Tracks across the sand were dug up revealing burrowing worms, crabs and shrimps.  A large number of shells, crab exoskeletons, cuttlefish bones, and much more were identified along the strand-line and a handling collection was started for staff to use with schools.  From the data collected, new sessions will be designed for use with primary schools.  Nathan Holland, Education Ranger said “It’s amazing how much there is to see.  The children will gain a better knowledge of the marine environment and have fun at the same time.”

Sarah will be working with Bob to look at how St Madoc Centre can contribute to marine research.  This could involve local students undertaking their own projects.  If you are interested please get in touch with Sarah:  sarah@stmadoc.co.uk

Wildlife at the St Madoc Centre 2012

Welcome to our first annual wildlife report – an annual digest of a year’s work encouraging local volunteers to monitor and encourage wildlife.

Our equipment was kindly funded this year by Environment Wales as part of our Wildlife at St Madoc Centre project. St Madoc Centre also liaises closely with A Rocha on environmental matters as a Partner in Action.

BUTTERFLIES & MOTHS

Weekly butterfly surveys were made between 1st April and the last week of September. The same route (transect) was walked each week noting the species and quantities (frequency) of each butterfly seen.

The summer was one of the wettest on record and combined with the cool temperatures, the year was very poor for butterflies and many other insects. Low numbers of individuals as well as only a handful of species were recorded. The exception was the Meadow Brown being the most numerous butterfly all summer. This may be because they require grasses to lay their eggs on, the adults feeding on a wide variety of different flowers. Common Blues rallied, but in the UK numbers were down 50 per cent. Day-flying moths were also recorded being the Cinnabar and 6-spot Burnet (requires confirmation).

We had a new species for St Madoc Centre, the glamorous Dark Green Fritillary (see right). Only one individual was seen on the transect and probably flew in from Cwm Ivy Tor where they can be seen feeding on its sunny slope between June and August.

Using the new Robinson moth trap, moth species were added to the list for the site including two nationally scarce species- Shore Wainscot and Four-Spotted Footman. The latter species may have been an immigrant blown in from overseas. We also had a locally scarce species called Rosy Footman. A Hummingbird Hawkmoth was found at rest (not in flight) in the small polytunnel. The trap attracted an adult Privet Hawkmoth and a larva of the same species was also found in grass near the chapel.
All results were sent to Butterfly Conservation.

OTHER INSECTS

An important discovery was made during the very hot spell at the end of March when we found a colony of Colletes cunicularia. This is a rare mining bee which feeds on Creeping Willow in the dunes. Presumably the unseasonal weather brought them out of their nesting holes in the sand dunes as they usually start to fly from early April. The record was sent to BWARS (Bees, Wasps & Ants Recording Society).

The pond continued to develop well with a lot of dragonfly and damselfly activity on sunny days. An Emperor Dragonfly was seen resting, waiting for its wings to pump up after its recent emergence from the water. Southern Hawker (dragonfly) and Large Red Damselfly made first appearances.
A Great Green Bush Cricket was seen in the fixed dunes – a first for the site. Glow Worms were seen in small numbers in July, glowing in grassland beside grassy paths on the headland and, for the first time, in long grass beside the volleyball pitch. An individual was also found under a rock by the large polytunnel.

PLANTS, LICHENS & FUNGI

No new plants were recorded, but the wet weather produced many Shaggy Inkcaps in the archery area. A good number of Dark Purple Earth Tongues (right) emerged in the short turf around the volleyball court. This is on the NERCA Section 42 list for Wales as are many other species found at St Madoc Centre. The headland was noticeably short on fungi this year as the grass is too thick and requires either an annual heavy winter graze or an annual late summer hay cut by machine.

REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS

Reptile surveys were carried out weekly or as often as possible between April 1st and the end of July, but time was a constraint during the busiest period of the year. All 70 refugia, made of roofing felt or carpet, were surveyed each time.

Good numbers of Adder (see left. Picture credit: A Rocha), Grass Snake and Slow Worm were found. They all tend to use the same areas each time. This year it was clear that the most frequented areas were adjacent to rocky outcrops and stone walls.

The refugia were used as part of education sessions with Eco-tribe and primary schools, providing a lot of excitement and interest.

About 30 Palmate Newts were extracted from the woodland pond during an Eco-tribe session. Parklands Primary School also took part in pond-dipping activities as did children attending Trailblazers, an environmental playscheme organised by Swansea Council.

BIRDS

A bird survey using a set route was completed once during most weeks in 2012. 44 bird surveys were completed, recording 67 species. Many new species not previously recorded before were added to our list. New species were: a male Pied Flycatcher (middle woods), Cuckoo, Coal Tit and Woodcock. The stars of 2012 were a pair of Black Redstarts. These were easily observed on the football field and are on the RSPB’s Amber List. There are fewer than 100 breeding pairs in the UK so this was an important record.

Other interesting sightings: a Red Kite carrying a Rabbit over the headland. A pair of Tawny Owls bred in old trees near the stone steps and one special sighting of a fluffy chick was seen sitting on a branch. A pair of Buzzard also bred in our tallest Ash trees.

Data were sent to the British Trust for Ornithology via BirdTrack (online facility) and Barry Stewart, the county bird recorder.

BATS

Three Greater Horseshoe bats were found in torpid state (hibernating) hanging from the (woodland) Bone Cave walls in March as part of a winter roost inspection by Rob Colley (W Glamorgan Bat Group). Small numbers of Common and Soprano Pipistrelles were detected during the very successful bat walk of 11 August. About 15 local people attended.

GENERAL HABITAT MANAGEMENT

Bracken control was the focus of our efforts over the summer. A large area of Bracken was cut for the first time using a BCS Tracmaster powerscythe funded by Environment Wales. This is part of an ongoing plan to cut as much Bracken as possible in suitable areas, repeating the cut in the same places each year. The fixed dunes have been targeted owing to their being dominated by Bracken with causing a large decrease in flora diversity. In time it is hoped that cutting will weaken the rhizome and that Bracken density will decrease. In time it is hoped that Bracken rolling may also be used in areas which can be reached by tractor or quad bike. Cutting will continue in areas which are inaccessible to vehicles.

CONCLUDING COMMENTS

Although the weather was disastrous for many species overall, 2012 was a good year for building up records at St Madoc Centre. Reptile survey methods require refinement. Small mammal data using traps and Odonata (dragonfly and damselfly) data should be collected in 2013.

Our volunteers are very important to us. If you have a group or are an individual wanting to get involved at St Madoc Centre, please do get in touch.

Thanks to all our volunteers & experts who helped with observations & practical conservation work in 2012:

Geoff White, Andrew Cole, Peter Sturgess, Jacob Sturgess, Barry Stewart, Veronica Shenston, Sarah Leedham, Rob Colley, Len Moran, Cameron Morgan-Beattie, Jared Cutliffe, Colin Conroy, Nathan Holland, Rob Hooker, Laura Miller, Heather Coats, Alan Kearsley-Evans, Nick Edwards, Bishopston Comprehensive School, Gower Conservation Volunteers, Coleg Sir Gar, Criminal Justice Intervention Wales, Eco

The Lesser-Spotted Blog (Blogimus Rareideae)

Hail and greetings!

Here be a blog! - Just in case it's been so long that everyone has forgotten what one looks like.

We had snow! It was practically blizzard worthy! In fact, it was definitely blizzard worthy. There was no snow at 6 am, but by 8 am we had 6 inches worth... and the snow didn't stop falling until about 5 pm.


This greatly pleased the school group we had on site, since they got to pelt their teachers with snow balls. It did, however put a bit of a dampener on the activities we had planned, since fire lighting is quite hard in the snow.

Instead our activities we attempted to sledge down the sand dunes, since the beach was completely covered in thick snow too. Apparently sand/snow sledging is a bit trickier than just snow sledging, either that or certain members of our staff are rubbish at sledging. It may have been a little of both.


We wandered over to a semi-frozen Blue Pool, through scenery which looked more like the Alps than Broughton Bay, but good fun was had by all, and the hot chocolate with squirty cream and marshmallows was well worth the slightly chilly toes.