Wildlife Trusts launch Green Connections Powys

Wildlife Trust staff and members of the community met at King George V playing fields, Talgarth to launch a new wildlife project called Green Connections Powys.
The event, which involved displays, activities and a guided walk was well attended by councillors, community groups and landowners who want to encourage more wildlife into green spaces.

Wildlife Trust staff and members of the community met at King George V playing fields, Talgarth to launch a new wildlife project called Green Connections Powys. The event, which involved displays, activities and a guided walk was well attended by councillors, community groups and landowners who want to encourage more wildlife into green spaces.

Green Connections Powys is a collaborative Wildlife Trusts project across Powys that is helping community groups, small businesses, landowners and councils take action to address climate change and biodiversity loss and create a nature recovery network across the county. The project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.

Bug expert Phil Ward led a pollinator walk around sites managed by On the Verge Talgarth community group. Staff from the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales provided a popular demonstration of scything to cut a wildflower meadow. They also explained the use of green hay and seeds collected from donor wildflower meadows to spread seed into new grassy areas. Montgomery Wildlife staff kept the children entertained making bird feeder discs.

Darylle Hardy, project manager at Radnorshire Wildlife Trust said, “It was inspiring to see and hear how the local community has been creating mini meadows on road verges and managing green spaces around Talgarth to help wildlife. Over the next year staff will be on hand across Powys to offer advice and support to other community groups or landowners that want to help nature’s recovery. Please do get in touch”.

Councillor William Powell said, ‘’It was a great privilege to be present at the launch of ‘Green Connections Powys’ today, especially as it was hosted at our own King George V Playing fields (Talgarth). It is really positive to see all three Wildlife Trusts within Powys collaborating in this way, for the betterment of our natural environment, at this time of Climate Emergency.

‘’As a longstanding Wildlife Trust supporter, I was also pleased to see the level of collaboration with local groups, such as On the Verge, Talgarth Community Woodland Group, Tools for SelfReliance and indeed, Talgarth Town Football Club, for providing an excellent venue. It was a very rich and worthwhile event – and a credit to all staff and volunteers involved. ‘’

The project is part of the Welsh Government’s funding scheme ENRaW (Enabling Natural Resources and Wellbeing). The press release has been approved by Rural Network. The project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.