Conservation in Cardiff Conservation in Cardiff By Ian Giblett.

Conservation in CardiffConservation in Cardiff

By Ian GiblettBy Ian Giblett

Who are CCV?Who are CCV?

Started in 1978Started in 1978 Operate every SundayOperate every Sunday Also run conservation weekendsAlso run conservation weekends

We are a diverse range of volunteersWe are a diverse range of volunteers

We love Tea and Biscuits!We love Tea and Biscuits!

Brief List of what we doBrief List of what we do

Manage WoodlandsManage Woodlands Dry-Stone WallingDry-Stone Walling FencingFencing

Make and Maintain FootpathsMake and Maintain Footpaths

Dig and Clear PondsDig and Clear Ponds Lay dead and living hedgesLay dead and living hedges

Coppicing and Scrub Coppicing and Scrub RemovalRemoval

CoppicingCoppicing

Chopping a tree down can be good for its Chopping a tree down can be good for its health!!health!!

Traditionally coppicing was done for a Traditionally coppicing was done for a theoretically infinite supply of fueltheoretically infinite supply of fuel

With this technique a tree could live for a With this technique a tree could live for a very long time!very long time!

Many reasons why conservations clear Many reasons why conservations clear treestrees

Reasons for CoppicingReasons for Coppicing

Encourages GrowthEncourages Growth Provides a different type of HabitatProvides a different type of Habitat Trees will grow in long straight polesTrees will grow in long straight poles

Flowers Common in Flowers Common in Coppiced WoodlandCoppiced WoodlandWhen more When more

light is let into light is let into a wood….a wood….

……lots of lots of flowers begin flowers begin to grow…..to grow…..

…….which .which attracts attracts

butterflies…..butterflies…..

…….Insects and .Insects and Birds!Birds!

This Butterfly is This Butterfly is called the called the Duke of Duke of

BurgundyBurgundy

Birds in a Coppiced woodBirds in a Coppiced wood

This is a Chiff Chaff. This is a Chiff Chaff. He prefers He prefers

recently coppiced recently coppiced woodlandwoodland

This is a Willow This is a Willow Warbler. He Warbler. He

looks for older looks for older coppiced coppiced woodlandwoodland

Scrub ClearanceScrub Clearance

Butterflies Love ScrubButterflies Love Scrub

Some prefer young growth, other species Some prefer young growth, other species like old scrub and the rest like something like old scrub and the rest like something in the middle.in the middle.

Scrub is a collective Scrub is a collective term for Brambles term for Brambles and small trees.and small trees.

Clearance on Sand DunesClearance on Sand Dunes Sand Dunes are fairly rare ecosystems in the UKSand Dunes are fairly rare ecosystems in the UK

Easily Choked with Grass, Sea Buckthorn and other invasive speciesEasily Choked with Grass, Sea Buckthorn and other invasive species

This sand dune has This sand dune has become clogged become clogged

with grass….with grass….

……without attention it without attention it would turn to would turn to

woodland.woodland.

Rabbits don’t like Rabbits don’t like long grass….long grass….

……so after we cut so after we cut the grass, they the grass, they

will keep it short.will keep it short.

The biggest living organism on the planet is a fungus!The biggest living organism on the planet is a fungus!

Mushrooms have been and still are a source of mystery to humansMushrooms have been and still are a source of mystery to humans

Fungus thrive on dead wood and plantsFungus thrive on dead wood and plants

Deadwood for Deadwood for MushroomsMushroomsThis is a Puff BallThis is a Puff Ball

This is a shaggy ink This is a shaggy ink cap. It used to be cap. It used to be

boiled down to boiled down to make ink.make ink.

This is Velvet This is Velvet Shank. Easy to Shank. Easy to spot because it spot because it comes out at comes out at

WinterWinter

This is yellow Brain This is yellow Brain Fungus!Fungus!

Habitat PilesHabitat Piles

Are big piles of woodAre big piles of wood Make a wonderful home to many plants Make a wonderful home to many plants

and animalsand animals

Walls, Fences and Walls, Fences and HedgesHedges

Dry Stone WallingDry Stone Walling

Outlasts any other type of boundaryOutlasts any other type of boundary Offers Shelter to live stockOffers Shelter to live stock Houses lichens, plants and small animalsHouses lichens, plants and small animals Aesthetically pleasingAesthetically pleasing Prevents land erosionPrevents land erosion

FencingFencing

Keeps Things InKeeps Things In Keeps Things OutKeeps Things Out Cheaper and quicker to make than a wallCheaper and quicker to make than a wall

Hedge LayingHedge Laying

Can only be done before SpringCan only be done before Spring Involves laying trees down to create a Involves laying trees down to create a

thick hedgethick hedge A hedge has many benefitsA hedge has many benefits

First you get a line First you get a line of trees…of trees…

……then you split the then you split the trunk….trunk….

……and you weave and you weave them in to the them in to the

next part of the next part of the hedge!hedge!

The finished The finished product!product!

Why Lay a Hedge?Why Lay a Hedge?

Offers protection to vast amounts of Offers protection to vast amounts of wildlife: Dormice, Rabbits, insects etc.wildlife: Dormice, Rabbits, insects etc.

Immune to vandalismImmune to vandalism Provide shelter for livestock and cropsProvide shelter for livestock and crops

DormiceDormice

Can build nests up to 5 meters off the Can build nests up to 5 meters off the floorfloor

Will hibernate for up to 6 months of the Will hibernate for up to 6 months of the yearyear

Are extinct in many counties around Are extinct in many counties around Britain and are a protected speciesBritain and are a protected species

Footpaths and StepsFootpaths and Steps

Foot PathsFoot Paths

Allows safe passageAllows safe passage

Minimises ErosionMinimises Erosion

Ponds and Aquatic LifePonds and Aquatic Life

After a while the water will choke up with dead After a while the water will choke up with dead matter and the water will go somewhere else.matter and the water will go somewhere else.

PondsPonds

Provide habitats for many plants and animalsProvide habitats for many plants and animals Natural ponds are not stationary!Natural ponds are not stationary!

As it’s not practical for ponds to go some where else we clean them out by hand.As it’s not practical for ponds to go some where else we clean them out by hand.

Areas on Conservation Areas on Conservation around Cardiff Worth seeingaround Cardiff Worth seeing

Where can you see all this Where can you see all this around Cardiff?around Cardiff?

GrangemoorPark

Coed YrFelin Wood

Cefn mably

Lavernock Point

The GarthCwm Nofydd

HowardianNature Reserve

Cath CobbWoodCoryton

Roundabout!

Forest Farm

SummarySummary The main aims of Conservation are:The main aims of Conservation are:

a) To Encourage Biodiversity.a) To Encourage Biodiversity.

b) Preserve what habitats we already have.b) Preserve what habitats we already have.

c) Minimise the impact of humans in areas c) Minimise the impact of humans in areas of natural beauty.of natural beauty.

d) To work with nature, not against it.d) To work with nature, not against it.

Any Questions?Any Questions?

Thanks for Listening!Thanks for Listening!