Powys projects covering wildlife from butterflies to ospreys have been given a £1.2 million boost from the Welsh Government today.

The Nature Networks Fund was confirmed in March this year with the Welsh Government promising to invest in the "condition and connectivity" of the protected site network, supported by the "active involvement of local communities".

Now the Welsh Government has confirmed that six projects in Powys are to receive backing, with a total of £1.26 million being put forward for the county's wildlife.

A total of £7 million of Welsh Government support will be confirmed for these projects in the Senedd later today, Tuesday.

The sites supported provide a vital sanctuary and high level of protection to nearly 70 species, and more than 50 types of habitats which face threats worldwide.

They also contribute significantly to the Welsh economy through tourism recreation, farming, fishing and forestrym as well as providing services such as purifying drinking water, and storing carbon.

In Powys, the projects benefiting from a share of the funding are:

  • Working together for nature in the Elan Valley, Welsh Water Elan Valley Trust - £87,500

This project will implement priority actions on Elan’s designated sites identified by NRW and informed by the Elan Links HLF scheme.

 

  • Llanymynech Golf Club Restoration for Butterflies, Llanymynech Golf Club - £91,400

Part of Llanymynech Hill SSSI, has rare bryophytes and is one of the best sites for butterflies in Wales, with the very rare pearl bordered fritillary recorded there recently. The project will clear scrub and reintroduce some grazing using both sheep and cattle and also to restore and then manage areas of bracken that are infested with Bramble.

 

  • Nature Reserves Grassland Restoration, Radnorshire Wildlife Trust - £66,800

This project will focus on important areas of unimproved grassland and wetland on Radnorshire Wildlife Trust's SSSI nature reserves: Burfa Bog, Llanbwchllyn Lake and Gilfach. The focus is on improving infrastructure, purchasing equipment and working with graziers to ensure better grazing management of these sites and make them more resilient.

 

  • Dyfi Biodiversity and Habitat Improvements, Osprey Protection Measures and Community Access, Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust - £161,900

Include number of programmes including habitat management, increase surveillance around the Dyfi osprey nest, resetting unmanageable areas of the peat bog back to ecological succession zero and wheelchair accessible boardwalk.

 

  • Lake Vyrnwy, RSPB Cymru - £499,500

Project aims to improve the condition and resilience of the RSPB's landholdings around the Lake Vyrnwy Estate, benefitting from a wider programme of work. This funding would support key conservation actions including blanket bog restoration on former conifer plantation, predator control, landscape scale approaches, including farmer-led support, and enhanced conservation grazing.

  • Luronium Futures - Montgomery Canal, Canal & River Trust - £357,800

Site of SSSI due to aquatic, emergent and marginal plant communities of exceptional interest. The towpath affords easy access for local people and visitors. This project aims to improve the canal channel conditions for rare plants and to enhance to conservation status of the SAC.

National Heritage Memorial Fund has taken responsibility for administering the Nature Networks Fund, Andrew White, director of The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales said: “From restoring wetlands, to creating rich habitat for wildlife to flourish, it is vital that we preserve and rebuild our natural heritage.

“The Nature Networks scheme, in partnership with the Welsh Government, will allow projects to carry out direct conservation which is essential in protecting our biodiversity, and will also increase public awareness of how and why we need to protect our future.”

Project SIARC (Sharks Inspiring Action and Research with Communities), operating in Carmarthen Bay and Tremadog Bay is another of the projects to benefit from this announcement, as is a project to help donkeys in Snowdonia.

The collaborative project led by ZSL (Zoological Society of London) and Natural Resources Wales received £390,000, alongside funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund and On the EDGE Conservation, to carry out vital conservation research on Wales’ marine environment with a strong focus on sharks, skates and rays.