Welshpool Fairway to Haven

Our programme of surveys and events have continued over the summer; we have explored the value of the site for moths, bees & wasps, dragonflies & damselflies, bats and other mammals, and fungi, as well as providing training in the identification of these. Our ‘Friends of PBFs’ volunteers have continued to support the project and benefitted from learning new skills along the way. The volunteers were also given the opportunity to work alongside Carnog Working Horses on a nearby Pearl-bordered Fritillary site, where they helped to clear bracken previously raked by the horses in August.

With the new data gathered as part of the surveys, as well as the detailed aerial imagery gathered by our drone contractor – Dragon UAV - we were able to update the Phase 1 habitat map. This was also an important part of writing a five-year management plan for the whole site, from which we have planned and started the delivery of this winter’s habitat management work.

During the final phase of the project, which finishes in March 2025, we will be carrying out the bulk of the winter habitat management, finalising and installing the interpretation, completing the photography and project filming, running a project celebration event, continuing to promote the event, and assessing the value to our ‘Friends of PBFs’ volunteer group.

Over the spring and summer the project team have been focussing on increasing our knowledge of the wildlife value of the site, and sharing it with others. Surveys have been carried out for butterflies, moths, bees, birds and plants, and a range of public events held. Some headlines from our surveys so far:

• Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterfly confirmed in areas of the site where they have not previously been recorded
• There are at least five pairs of Yellowhammer thought to be nesting; a Red-listed bird of conservation concern, the site is locally important, possibly nationally important, for this species.
• Nearly 200 species of plant have been recorded. Of particular note is one small peaty wetland in which grows hundreds of Heath Spotted Orchid, as well as Marsh St. John's-wort, Sneezewort, Lesser Skullcap and Bog Asphodel.
• 29 species of moth were found in just one night

We continue to carry out surveys and training, then as we head into autumn, our attention will turn once more to habitat management. Get in touch with our project team if you would like to get involved.

Since our official project launch event on February 4th, the team have been very busy! The staff at Welshpool Golf Club worked very hard during February to make good use of the new machinery, managing several different areas of habitat, before we hit the bird nesting season. The ‘Friends of PBFs’ volunteer group have also been out four times, first pruning and pollarding young trees, then raking some of the cut areas of bracken, then helping with the habitat survey at Y Golfa. Despite the late start, and all the challenges behind the scenes, the project has completed over 4 hectares of habitat management, which is a tremendous achievement.

Five people attended First Aid Training, and local drone contractor – Dragon UAV – have been out gathering baseline aerial imagery of the site. Behind the scenes, the team have been very busy purchasing all the equipment we need, and we are fortunate to have the support of Hannah Zervas, a local photographer and videographer, who has already captured some great imagery of the project delivery. There is now a wildlife sightings notebook in the clubhouse, and a range of wildlife field guides there too. 

The busy survey season is now well underway, with the first Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterflies due to emerge any day now! We will be carrying out surveys for birds and plants too. If you would like to get involved, please get in touch.