As part of National Volunteering Week which ran from 1-7 June the project launched new volunteering opportunities.

We are looking for volunteers to help monitor and collect information about wildlife such as reptiles and dormice, as well as plants and water levels.

Jack Simpson, NRW’s LIFE for Welsh Raised Bogs Project and Monitoring Officer, said: “The data gathered will help us look after the peat bogs and the wildlife that lives there and better understand their importance in fighting climate change.”

We are looking for people over the age of 16 who can offer anything from an hour a week to a few days a month, all you need is an interest in the environment, conservation and some enthusiasm. No specialist skills are required though a desire to work outside in all weathers is essential

To find out more about please visit the Unpaid Placement webpage

One of the UK’s rarest moths once thought to be extinct appears to be making a remarkable recovery at Cors Fochno, part of the Dyfi National Nature Reserve (NNR) near Aberystwyth.

This year’s annual caterpillar survey by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) recorded the second highest count of the rosy marsh moth caterpillar (see image left) since monitoring began in 1988.

The count recorded 123 caterpillars, the record was 155 in 2009. But the annual survey only covers a very small part of the site which means there is potential for more to be found.

Jack Simpson, LIFE Welsh Raised Bogs Project and Monitoring Officer, said: “For the second year running, this is a great result which proves the value of the way we’re managing the habitat at Cors Fochno.

“As a lowland raised bog, Cors Fochno is a stronghold for this species because of its abundant supply of food and its waterlogged peaty soil. The main food plant for the caterpillars on Cors Fochno is bog myrtle, of which there is an abundant supply, they also feed on crowberry, and occasionally bog rosemary.”

“Considering the annual survey averages 45 caterpillars, this year’s results are exceptionally high, compared with previous years like 2017 where only 19 caterpillars were observed.”

Work undertaken by the New LIFE for Welsh Raised Bogs project will help make Cors Fochno a better habitat for the moth.

It will reduce the numbers of small trees and a certain grass (molinia), helping to promote and support bog myrtle and other special bog plants which the rosy marsh moth depends upon.

To read the press release in full please visit the website.

This summer saw the start of our event season and the first season for me in my new(-ish) role as Communications and Engagement Officer.

After starting the role in November 2018, one of my priorities was to attend various local community events in and around our seven project sites in Wales.

So, in May, off I went to Ffair Garon in Tregaron (see image left) with the wetland harvester in tow as my main attraction!

The event was well attended by around 70 locals and held on the square in the small market town. Stands ranged from local businesses showcasing their local produce to children’s entertainer, BBQ, and the local family centre offering face painting and various other activities.

Having the wetland harvester by my side was a great conversation starter, and we managed to speak with several Tregaron locals both young and old about the project and our plans for restoring Cors Caron raised bog.

The next event on the schedule was our reception on the Natural Resources Wales stand at the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells in July. We invited landowners and farmers close to several of our sites to drop by to speak with us and find out more about the project. Fingers crossed we’ll have the wetland harvester machine on the same stand at next year’s show.

The last major event of the summer was Talybont Show at the end of August (see below image). With sweltering weather of 26 degrees on the day, and the machine again acting as the main attraction, we had a very positive day at the show.

Over 3000 people walked through the show gates on the day, and thanks to the machine, several famers and land owners came up to talk to us about our project and the work we were planning to do with the machine on Cors Fochno near Borth, which is not far from Talybont.

The project held its first ever International Bog Day in August to celebrate the beauty of bogs.

The event was held on Cors Caron National Nature Reserve (NNR) near Tregaron - one of the largest actively growing raised bogs in the lowlands of Britain with peat up to 10 metres deep in places.

Several organisations supported the event and provided stands on the day, from the Red Kite Museum in Tregaron, Strata Florida Trust, Cambrian Mountains, and The Wildlife Trusts of South and West Wales. Light refreshments of tea, coffee and cake were provided by the local Woman’s Institute, with money raised donated direct to them.

Two interactive guided walks were organised on the day (see above image), with visitors given an insight into the reserve and its environmental importance. Information was also shared about the project and its ambitious restoration work, and its importance in the fight against climate change.

Rhoswen Leonard, LIFE Welsh Raised Bogs project officer, explains: “This was the first event of its kind that we organised and was a great chance to showcase Cors Caron to so many locals and visitors and show how special it is."

To keep up to date with news and events about the project please follow us on Facebook by searching CyforgorsyddCymruWelshraisedbogs and on Twitter search @Welshraisedbog

Scarce orchids and other important plants have been revealed on Cors Caron National Nature Reserve (NNR) after mowing work done earlier in the year by the wetland harvester machine.

More orchids  and peat moss (sphagnum) have been uncovered on the reserve as the invasive grass has been removed (see image above, showing before and after photos at the site).

The wetland harvester machine (aka monster mower) was bought by the project in March to cut back invasive grasses like purple moor grass (Molina) to restore the habitat’s important mosses, plants and flowers.

Rhoswen Leonard, LIFE for Welsh Raised Bogs Project and Monitoring Officer, said: “After only three weeks of mowing back in March the results are impressive. The presence of sphagnum and orchids in this specific part of the bog shows that removing the grass provides the habitat with much-needed light and space where these important flowers and plants can flourish.”

Mowing work started again last month (September), as work had to be put on hold due to the bird breeding season which runs from April to August.

To find out more about the work please go to the website.