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Wales Online
3 days ago
- Wales Online
The best towns, beaches, attractions and walks within an hour's drive of Cardiff
The best towns, beaches, attractions and walks within an hour's drive of Cardiff What is there to visit just outside Cardiff? Incredible beaches, historic priories and unmissable attractions, that's what You don't have to travel far from Cardiff to find some cracking spots for a day out. You don't have to travel far from Cardiff to find some cracking spots for a day out. Within an hour's drive, you've got glorious beaches, hidden caves, peaceful priory ruins and plenty of lush countryside to explore. South Wales is packed with places that are perfect for a scenic walk, a paddle in the sea or a wander round a pretty market town. We've rounded up some of the best towns, beaches and walks within roughly an hour's drive from the city centre. We've included estimated driving times and distances to help you plan your trip, but it's always a good idea to check for traffic before you set off. Get ready to explore more of what's on Cardiff's doorstep. Waterfall Country If you're after a cracking day out, Waterfall Country in the Vale of Neath is one of the best places for a scenic walk. (Image: Getty ) The Vale of Neath features nine waterfalls set in an epic vista of mountains and steep side valleys. Waterfall Country, as the area is known, has long been an inspiration to many artists including landscape painter Turner, who travelled here to paint Aberdulais Falls, a site now in the ownership of the National Trust. Article continues below And locals claim some of the idyllic woodland settings of some of William Shakespeare's romantic plays were inspired by a visit the bard made to South Wales and the Vale of Neath in particular. Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 45 minutes / 40 miles Kenfig Nature Reserve Kenfig National Nature Reserve (Image: Kenfig National Nature Reserve ) Located near Porthcawl, this protected reserve was once home to one of the sixth most significant towns in Glamorgan, but now makes up part of the most extensive active dune system in Europe and features a diverse range of plants, animals and birds, attracting bird watchers and walkers from across Wales. The land was designated a National Nature Reserve (NNR) in 1989 and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 2003. These designations help to protect rare habitats and species, such as the Fen Orchid, which is found here and at only two other sites in Wales. Today, the 1,300-acre site is home to a Reserve Centre, Hyde Out Cafe, and is a convenient hopping-on point for the Bridgend Coast Path and for reaching the remote Skeer Beach. Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 38 minutes / 31 miles Tintern Abbey Tintern Abbey, Monmouthshire (Image: Richard Jones, MLA Photography/Cadw ) One of our greatest monastic ruins, this is surely the best-preserved medieval abbey in Wales and is worth a day trip. Tintern Abbey is situated in the scenic Wye Valley, on the banks of the River Wye, and was the second Cistercian foundation built in Britain. The Wye Valley area also has some beautiful day walks to try. One of the best day hikes on the Wye Valley Walk is the section from Chepstow to Tintern Abbey. It's a scenic, five-mile walk that takes you up ancient stone steps and through ethereal forest paths. There are plenty of photo and picnic spots along the way, and you'll also find some viewing points where you can gaze at the winding River Wye. Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 45 minutes / 36 miles Margam Park Margam Country Park (Image: Victor Ochieng / Flickr / Creative Commons ) Set in 1,000 acres of glorious parklands, Margam Country Park offers natural beauty, history, wildlife, and a wide range of fun activities and facilities, making it one of the best days out in Wales for all the family. This historic 850-acre estate is set on the southern slopes of Mynydd Margam, a largely forested mountain rising to 349m. It's also home to Grade I listed gardens and landscapes, biking and hiking trails, wildlife, a Norman Abbey and Margam Castle—a grand Victorian mansion—and an impressive 18th-century orangery. Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 35 minutes / 30 miles Abergavenny The Sugar Loaf Vineyards near Abergavenny (Image: No credit ) The foodie town of Abergavenny is well worth a day trip for a brilliant bakery, restaurants, and a nearby mountain and castle. Just outside of Abergavenny lies the 'grandest castle ever built by Welshmen'—Castell Rhaglan (Raglan Castle). This grand, half-ruined castle was once home to a young Henry Tudor, who would become Henry VII, the king of England from 1485 to 1509. As a lad, he was sent to Raglan Castle to be raised by Sir William Herbert and spent eight formative years here. Those years were key in shaping the future King, helping set him on the path to the throne. Owned by the Dukes of Beaufort and under the care of Cadw, you can still walk the grounds of this medieval beauty and learn more about its royal roots and Civil War history. Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 55 minutes / 30 miles Afan Forest Park, Port Talbot Neath Port Talbot is where natural beauty and history are deeply intertwined (Image: Northcliffe Media Ltd. ) Beautiful Afan Forest Park is in the Afan Valley, one of the narrowest and most beautiful valleys in South Wales. It is about 15 miles long from its head at Bwlch yr Afan to the sea at Aberfan. It's a large forest encompassing 11,000 hectares. Nine way-marked walks and many cycle trails lead through it. The forest also has a visitor centre with a reception, cafe, bike shop, showers, and bike wash facilities. The park is located on the valley slopes and includes the Pontrhydyfen, Cymer, and Glyncorrwg communities. Its impressive 3,000-hectare forest landscape includes relics of abandoned mines, tramways, and railways. If you love Hollywood history, you can also walk the Richard Burton Birthplace Trail that's in the area. Start at the Rhyslyn car park, within easy walking distance of the village of Pontrhydyfen, where Richard Burton was born. Information panels along the trail provide interesting facts about his childhood and career. You can also recreate the famous Burton photo on the Pontrhydyfen aqueduct. Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 1 hour / 37 miles The Gower (Image: Portia Jones ) This glorious coastline is over an hour away but we think it's worth the extra journey time. In 1956, officials designated the Gower as the UK's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), covering 73 square miles. They also classified 37 square miles of its coastline as a Heritage Coast. Rhossili's three miles of golden sands and its iconic Worm's Head rock formation are particularly worth a visit, but you won't regret a day at any Gower beach. For hiking enthusiasts, the Gower Peninsula section of the Wales Coast Path offers a range of easy, moderate, and challenging walks to suit every ability. Several popular walks in this area include Oxwich to Pennard Cliffs, Rhossili to Port Eynon, Langland Bay to Caswell Bay, and Worm's Head Walk. The gorgeous scenery encompasses the unspoiled coastline, limestone cliffs, beautiful headlands, and golden beaches. Distance from Cardiff: Approx.1 hour 30 minutes / 48 miles Craig Cerrig Gleisiad Beautiful views at Craig Cerrig Gleisiad (Image: Portia Jones ) If you want a less crowded mountain hike near Cardiff Craig Cerrig Gleisiad in Bannau Brycheiniog is a brilliant alternative to Pen y Fan. This rugged route allows you to connect with nature and explore a quieter part of the National Park. The Craig Cerrig Gleisiad circular ridge and valley walk is a roughly looped walk with the option of taking a short detour to the trig point on Fan Frynych. It's a moderate walk around a craggy, glacier-carved valley with undulating cliffs and rocky outcrops. This 1,200-acre reserve also has plenty of plant life and over 80 species of birds. Discover rocky trails strewn with colourful mosses, lichen, hawthorn, and bilberry as you hike through the craggy remnants of ancient glaciation. It's a moderate, remote circular walk with no facilities. You must bring everything you need, including lunch, hiking equipment, and a reusable water bottle. Basic map-reading skills will also be useful when planning your route and will serve you well on the trail. GPS apps are great until your phone battery runs out, so it's always better to have some navigation ability when attempting a mountain walk. Ensure you also take the OS OL12 Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Map with you so you don't veer off course Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 55 minutes / 34 miles Llanthony Priory Llanthony Priory This partially ruined and secluded Augustinian priory dates back to 1100 and is a magnificent historical feature in Wales. Guidebooks often overlook 900-year-old Llanthony Priory in favour of Tintern Abbey to the south, and it is set far up into the hills of the Black Mountains, making it as remote and beautiful as it gets. Cadw manages the priory ruins, and there is also a hotel and pub on site. The Llanthony Priory Hotel's inn is part of the original 12th-century priory, which was one of the earliest houses of Augustinian canons founded in Britain. Today, you can still sup a pint of real ale in its traditional cellar bar. Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 1 hour nine minutes / 51.6 miles Brecon Mountain Railway Brecon Railway, Merthyr Travelling through the foothills of the Brecon Beacons, the Brecon Mountain Railway chugs its way alongside the Pontsticill reservoirs until it reaches Pant, just north of Merthyr Tydfil. The track meanders through glorious countryside, and once you have disembarked, you can try the reservoirs on foot thanks to guided paths. Facilities for disabled passengers are available, including ramps, toilets and a carriage designed to accommodate wheelchairs. All dogs are welcome to join you on the train for a small charge. Special events run throughout the year, including the very popular Santa Special trains, where you will travel by steam train to meet Father Christmas at his Grotto. It is located just off the Heads of the Valley Road, about three miles North of Merthyr Tydfil. Follow the Mountain Railway signs from the A470 and A465. Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 37 minutes / 27 miles Caerphilly Castle (Image: Flickr/archangel12 ) This is the largest Castle in Wales; it is famous for its 'leaning tower', which has leaned 3m out of the perpendicular since 1648. Historian Allen Brown considered the network of motes and dams to be 'the most elaborate water defences in all Britain.' Caerphilly Castle, built in the 13th century, is the biggest castle in Wales and the second largest in Britain. Each year, tens of thousands of visitors attend the structure to explore the medieval grounds Work is currently underway to revamp the historic site. The £10 million Welsh Government investment, led by Cadw, is one of the most ambitious conservation and development projects undertaken at a monument. The renovation aims to preserve the history of Caerphilly Castle and conserve the monument while enhancing its appeal as a visitor attraction. The work taking place at the castle includes refurbishing the great hall, new interpretation and improvements to the earl's chamber and a new wildflower garden. For the latest Caerphilly news, sign up to our newsletter here Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 20 minutes/8 miles Melincwrt Falls, Neath Port Talbot Reaching Melincourt Falls is refreshingly straightforward (Image: Portia Jones ) South Wales is a haven for waterfall lovers looking for a fun day out. In the Neath Port Talbot area is Melincourt Falls, an 80-foot cascade just as impressive as its better-known counterparts in Waterfall Country. This striking waterfall tumbles into a rocky basin surrounded by ancient woodland and moss-covered cliffs, giving the spot an almost otherworldly feel. Reaching Melincourt Falls is refreshingly straightforward compared to some of Wales' more elusive cascades. A short but slightly uphill trail leads you through a leafy gorge, following the course of the Melincourt Brook. I t's an easy, family-friendly walk that takes around 15 minutes from the small car park near the village of Resolven. Unlike the moderately challenging Four Waterfalls Walk near Ystradfellte, the path to Melincourt Falls is relatively straightforward and short. Check to see if the falls are open before you set off as there had previously been storm damage blocking pathways. Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 1 hour / 50 miles Dylan Thomas' boathouse and writing shed Dylan Thomas' birthplace at 5 Cwmdonkin Drive, Swansea Perched on the edge of the moody estuary, The Boathouse is perhaps the most iconic of all Dylan Thomas landmarks. Financed by kindly benefactor Margaret Taylor, Dylan Thomas and his family lived at the Boathouse for the last four years of Thomas's life. During that time, many major pieces of work were penned here - including Under Milk Wood. Tragically, it was from the cosy Boathouse that Dylan made the fateful journey to New York, where he died in 1953 at 39, an early death that turned a raw talent into a literary legend. Today, this small but beautifully situated home is a museum dedicated to his life and work. Inside, you'll find original manuscripts, memorabilia, and even recordings of Thomas reading his own poetry in his deep, resonant voice. It's a place that invites quiet reflection on his creative process and his life here with his family. Also, pop into the teahouse downstairs for coffee and homemade cakes with a blissful estuary view. Just a short stroll from The Boathouse is Dylan's writing shed, a rustic structure with a view that's anything but ordinary. Here, he penned many of his works, including sections of Under Milk Wood. Peering inside, you'll find papers strewn across the desk, books stacked haphazardly, and a coat still hanging on the back of a chair. Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 1 hour / 45 miles Barry Island The beach on Barry Island This traditional seaside resort has a lot to offer visitors, including amusements, independent cafes, fish and chip shops and coastal walks. If you are a big Gavin and Stacey fan, then you can take a walk around the Island and try and spot where your favourite scenes were filmed, including Marcos Cafe, where Stacey worked in the later series. Near the Island, you'll find the Wales Coast Path, as well as Knapp and Jackson's Bay, which is a popular spot for paddleboarding and open-water swimming. Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 26 minutes / 11 miles Monk Nash Beach Explore quiet coves and Bays in Wales (Image: Ewan LoTurco ) Secluded Monk Nash Beach on the Heritage Coast in the Vale of Glamorgan is only accessible by foot and is just down the road from the lovely Heritage Coast Campsite. Make sure to take an evening stroll down to Monk Nash beach, just up from the campsite, to snap some glorious sunset photos on the striking bedrock beach. Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 45 minutes / 25 miles Blorenge, Abergavenny Blorenge is also on stage 3 of the Cambrian Way long-distance trail. (Image: Portia Jones ) This is a lovely spot for a scenic walk that's not too far from Cardiff. The Blorenge walk is a gentle two-hour hike from the car park to the mountaintop. It is easily traversed by older children who are used to long walks. Stroll through swathes of heather moorland carpeting the rolling Black Mountains, looking for signs of the area's industrial heritage. Coal mining has left its lasting marks on the landscape, and walkers can see the evidence of the former limestone and ironstone quarries. Blorenge is also on stage 3 of the Cambrian Way long-distance trail. Walkers can start in Pontypool, trek through peaceful, open moorland to Blorenge Mountain, and then take a steep descent to Abergavenny. Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 90 minutes / 45 miles Caerphilly mountain The Caerphilly Mountain walk is an easy hike for those who fancy stretching their legs for an hour or so. There are numerous mapped walks and trails where you can walk with family and friends or take the dog out for a big walk. One of the best features of the walk is the massive bacon baps at the Caerphilly Mountain Snack Bar, handily located in the free Caerphilly Mountain car park. Set yourself up for your mountain walk with a lush bacon roll with lashings of sauce and a hot cup of coffee. Perfection! Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 25 minutes / 8.5 miles Dyffryn Gardens The north front of Dyffryn House, Vale of Glamorgan. The house was built 1893-4 by architect EA Lansdowne of Newport. The Grade II listed house and its Grade I listed garden were created by Welsh coal baron John Cory and his family after he bought the site in the late 19th century. With the help of Thomas Mawson, regarded by many as the leading architect of the Edwardian era, the Cory family developed a spectacular garden stretching over 55 acres, including formal lawns, an arboretum, and a collection of themed 'garden rooms', such as a Mediterranean garden and rose garden. The entire estate passed into the hands of the Vale of Glamorgan council in 1996 and has undergone extensive restoration, with the assistance of over £6 million in funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 20 minutes / 11 miles Craig Y Nos Country Park and Castle Craig y Nos Castle (Image: Matthew Horwood ) You can enjoy the historic grounds of Craig Y Nos Castle, which the River Tawe meanders through, boasting lush meadows, woodland plantations, a fishpond, lakes and woodland walks. And with its elegant fluted columns and stonework bearing the names of Verdi, Rossini and Mozart, Craig Y Nos Castle is a slice of continental Europe hidden away in the Welsh mountains. You can stay in the 40-bedroomed Craig-y-Nos Castle once belonged to one of the world's greatest opera stars Adelina Patti. The opera house at the heart of the massive neo-Gothic complex in Pen-y-Cae, in the Swansea Valley, remains a resplendent testimony to the 19th-century singer's vision. Patti, who performed with many of the 19th century's leading stars, lived at the castle before building her now grade I listed opera house. Where: Brecon Beacons National Park Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 1 hour six minutes / 45 miles Llandegfedd Reservoir Swimmers at Llandegfedd Lake (Image: Portia Jones ) Beautiful Llandegfedd Lake (on the border of Monmouth and Torfaen) offers safe, open-water swimming sessions with lifeguard-trained staff in attendance. There are several public sessions per week in a designated area, offering organised, controlled, and safe open water swimming, following accreditation from the Swim Wales SAFE Cymru Accreditation Scheme. If swimming doesn't take your fancy, the watersports centre also offers a range of activity sessions, including canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, raft building, and sailing. You'll also find a modern café and visitor centre on-site. Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 35 minutes / 23 miles Lido Ponty Lido Ponty has three fantastic pools to choose from: the main pool, the activity pool and the splash pool, offering brilliant swimming options for all ages and abilities. For just a few quid, you can book a swim session and have a go on the fun inflatables, Aqua Scooterz, Aqua Peddlerz and Water Walker. It's a great day out, whether you're looking to relax or burn off some energy. The lido first opened in 1927, just four years after Ynysangharad War Memorial Park was unveiled in 1923, and it quickly became one of the town's most loved attractions. Unfortunately, it had to close in 1991 as the site needed major restoration work. After more than a decade of waiting, Lido Ponty finally made a big comeback. In 2015, the National Lido of Wales officially reopened, with His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall there to mark the occasion. Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 45 minutes / 17.5 miles Caerwent Roman Town When you think about Romans in Wales, most people's minds will head straight to Caerleon. It's only natural - the historic area has its own baths, amphitheatre and barracks. However, it's not the only example of well-preserved Roman remains; the walled town is steeped in history, with even the wall dating back to the fourth century. It was once the tribal capital of the Iron Age tribe Silures and became known as Venta Silurum when the Romans arrived. Here, you'll find several excavated houses, a forum basilica, and even a Roman-British temple. Distance from Cardiff: 35 minutes/26 miles Big Pit The Big Pit in Blaenavon is now a heritage attraction but thousands of mines around the world are in action and the UK still depends on coal power Big Pit is located inside a former working coal mine that was operational until 1980. Take one of the world-famous tours 300ft underground with a real miner and see what life was like for the thousands of men who worked at the coal face. Above ground, there are multi-media tours and exhibitions. Free entry. Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 46 minutes / 30 miles Dan yr Ogof caves Dan-yr-Ogof is a 15km long cave system, one of the most extensive in Western Europe. The caves were uncovered almost a century ago by two brothers and feature underground lakes, rivers, and two spectacular 40-foot waterfalls. There are also rock formations, including stalagmites and stalactites, that date back thousands, and in some cases, millions of years. There is also a dinosaur park with more than 200 life-sized dinosaur models. Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 1 hour/45 miles Tredegar House Tredegar House and Park (Image: Visit Wales Image Centre ) Situated within 90 acres of gardens and parkland, the stately red brick manor house is one of the most significant late 17th-century houses in the UK. For more than 500 years House was home to the Morgan family, who by the end of the 18th century owned more than 40,000 acres in South East Wales. Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 25 minutes / 10.5 miles St Mary's Priory The late 15th century Jesse at St Mary's Priory Church in Abergavenny It is known as Wales' very own Westminster Abbey, containing some of the most important medieval treasures in Britain. Among them are more than 10 alabaster chest tombs and the 15th-century wooden sculpture known as the Tree of Jesse, described by the Tate as 'one of the finest medieval sculptures in the world'. There is no charge, but voluntary contributions are gratefully received. Distance from Cardiff: Approx. 45 minutes / 40 miles Article continues below
Glasgow Times
12-06-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
Rare hazel dormice released to create Leicestershire's only known population
The tiny mammals were reintroduced this week to an undisclosed area of the Bradgate Park Trust estate by wildlife charity People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and its partners. A hazel dormouse is reintroduced in Leicestershire (PTES/PA) It comes as part of national efforts to help the endangered species come back from the brink of extinction. The native dormouse, immortalised as the sleepy guest at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party in Alice in Wonderland, has suffered declines of 70% nationally since 2000 and has vanished from 20 English counties. Annual dormouse reintroductions began in 1993 and have been managed by PTES since 2000, with 1,142 being released into 26 different woodlands in 13 counties, including six English counties where they had previously been lost. The reintroduction in Leicestershire follows the successful reintroduction of 38 dormice to the National Forest from the National Trust's Calke Abbey in Derbyshire. The conservationists say this secondary reintroduction is a vital step forward for dormouse recovery nationally and regionally. The hope is that these two populations of dormice will one day form part of a wider population spanning the whole forest. A soft release cage filled with foliage, food and water (PTES/PA) Bradgate Park Trust, which is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) and part of a national nature reserve, was chosen with the help of local wildlife groups to ensure the woodland is suitable for dormice now and in the future. Ian White, PTES dormouse and training officer, said: 'Despite once being a common part of Britain's woodlands and hedgerows, hazel dormice have experienced a historic and catastrophic decline due to habitat loss, degradation and poor management of woodlands and hedgerows, compounded by a changing climate. 'PTES's reintroductions, alongside habitat management, landscape projects and monitoring, are paramount to their long-term survival.' James Dymond, director of Bradgate Park Trust, said: 'As a small charity, we are proud to be entrusted with the care of these rare and charming creatures. 'This reintroduction is a testament to the past woodland management efforts on the estate, and we are committed to ensuring this special habitat continues to thrive—not only for the dormice, but for a wide range of other rare species that call it home too.' Health checks are carried out on Hazel dormice by the Disease Risk Analysis and Health Service team, inside the Vets hospital at ZSL London Zoo, as part of the reintroduction programme (David Levene/PA) Ben Devine, head of nature recovery at the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, added: 'This release is an exciting first step in helping dormice not only locally, but nationally too. 'Ensuring the right landscape and habitat is in place is key to ensuring continued nature recovery, and we will continue to monitor the dormice to ensure that Leicestershire's only known population thrives and one day expands beyond Bradgate Park estate.' The dormice are bred in captivity and undergo an eight-week quarantine with regular health checks before their release, to ensure only healthy animals are put into the wild. They have been released into their woodland habitat, which has been selected to make sure it meets their needs, in large wire mesh cages with food and water. Local volunteers from Bradgate Park Trust and the Leicestershire and Rutland Mammal Group will regularly check the cages and top up their food and water before the doors are opened after 10 days to allow them to start to explore their new home.
Western Telegraph
11-06-2025
- General
- Western Telegraph
Rare hazel dormice released to create Leicestershire's only known population
The tiny mammals were reintroduced this week to an undisclosed area of the Bradgate Park Trust estate by wildlife charity People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and its partners. A hazel dormouse is reintroduced in Leicestershire (PTES/PA) It comes as part of national efforts to help the endangered species come back from the brink of extinction. The native dormouse, immortalised as the sleepy guest at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party in Alice in Wonderland, has suffered declines of 70% nationally since 2000 and has vanished from 20 English counties. Annual dormouse reintroductions began in 1993 and have been managed by PTES since 2000, with 1,142 being released into 26 different woodlands in 13 counties, including six English counties where they had previously been lost. The reintroduction in Leicestershire follows the successful reintroduction of 38 dormice to the National Forest from the National Trust's Calke Abbey in Derbyshire. The conservationists say this secondary reintroduction is a vital step forward for dormouse recovery nationally and regionally. The hope is that these two populations of dormice will one day form part of a wider population spanning the whole forest. A soft release cage filled with foliage, food and water (PTES/PA) Bradgate Park Trust, which is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) and part of a national nature reserve, was chosen with the help of local wildlife groups to ensure the woodland is suitable for dormice now and in the future. Ian White, PTES dormouse and training officer, said: 'Despite once being a common part of Britain's woodlands and hedgerows, hazel dormice have experienced a historic and catastrophic decline due to habitat loss, degradation and poor management of woodlands and hedgerows, compounded by a changing climate. 'PTES's reintroductions, alongside habitat management, landscape projects and monitoring, are paramount to their long-term survival.' James Dymond, director of Bradgate Park Trust, said: 'As a small charity, we are proud to be entrusted with the care of these rare and charming creatures. 'This reintroduction is a testament to the past woodland management efforts on the estate, and we are committed to ensuring this special habitat continues to thrive—not only for the dormice, but for a wide range of other rare species that call it home too.' Health checks are carried out on Hazel dormice by the Disease Risk Analysis and Health Service team, inside the Vets hospital at ZSL London Zoo, as part of the reintroduction programme (David Levene/PA) Ben Devine, head of nature recovery at the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, added: 'This release is an exciting first step in helping dormice not only locally, but nationally too. 'Ensuring the right landscape and habitat is in place is key to ensuring continued nature recovery, and we will continue to monitor the dormice to ensure that Leicestershire's only known population thrives and one day expands beyond Bradgate Park estate.' The dormice are bred in captivity and undergo an eight-week quarantine with regular health checks before their release, to ensure only healthy animals are put into the wild. They have been released into their woodland habitat, which has been selected to make sure it meets their needs, in large wire mesh cages with food and water. Local volunteers from Bradgate Park Trust and the Leicestershire and Rutland Mammal Group will regularly check the cages and top up their food and water before the doors are opened after 10 days to allow them to start to explore their new home.
Western Telegraph
05-06-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Hayscastle Cross housing approved after five-year wait
In an application recommended for approval at the June meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council's planning committee, Mr and Mrs Down sought permission for a hybrid application for the erection of one dwelling, along with outline permission for two more on land east of Ty Gwyn (Y Bwthyn), Hayscastle Cross, near Haverfordwest. The scheme had been brought to committee as it was recommended for approval despite being contrary to the authority's development plan, a sticking point being a small part being outside the settlement boundary. The scheme includes a commuted sum contribution to affordable housing, in the case of Hayscastle Cross set at 10 per cent, of the development value, amounting to £15,262.50. Affordable housing contributions in the county vary from as low as five per cent in Fishguard and Pembroke Dock to as high as 25 per cent in towns like Narberth. Five letters of objection raised concerns including drainage, traffic generation, housing need, flooding and it being a linear development. An officer report concluded: 'The proposal would result in residential development over a small area of the countryside location in conflict with the requirements [of policies]. However, the minimal area of land involved and the ability it provides to facilitate development of the site are material considerations which outweigh the identified policy conflicts.' Speaking at the meeting, agent Andrew Vaughan-Harries of Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd said he was 'shocked at the time' that had passed since the application was first lodged some five years ago. He said the scheme had faced 'a lot of hurdles' since it was submitted, including the Covid-19 pandemic, delays over addressing phosphate concerns and there being a nearby SSSI. He said the scheme, with its £15,000 affordable housing contribution, would 'enhance this little bit of Haycastle Cross'. The application was moved by Cllr Brian Hall, with new committee chair Cllr Mark Carter, whose own ward is nearby, saying: 'This to me, is just a natural progression of the village which has expanded over the years; it's just joining the rest of the row.' The application was unanimously approved by committee members.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ten jewels of English nature at risk from development and Labour's planning bill
More than 5,000 of the rarest and most precious natural habitats in England are at risk of being destroyed under Labour's new planning bill, according to legal analysis of the legislation. Here are just 10 irreplaceable wild places currently or recently imperilled by development that are likely to face renewed threats if the current wildlife protections are torn up by the government's bill. The best site in Britain for the endangered nightingale, Lodge Hill was made a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) in 2013. But the following year it was earmarked for 5,000 new homes – the biggest attempt to build on an SSSI in England since the wildlife laws of 1981 came into force. After widespread protests from ecologists and nature charities, Homes England withdrew its plans and said it would develop just 500 houses on the former MoD land, outside the SSSI. The scrubby, song-filled paradise of dense woodland and grassland is renowned for its bat roosts, exceptional reptile population, rare butterflies, flowers and three species of owl. But in an area under huge housing pressure, the site that was once used for bomb disposal training and is classified as 'brownfield' is likely to be targeted for development once more. The mudflats and coastal meadows of Tipner West are an internationally important place for waders such as black-tailed godwit and dunlin, as well as a wealth of intertidal marine life. As part of Portsmouth harbour and the wider Solent, it is home to 30% of Britain's overwintering population of brent geese. The area is protected not only as a SSSI but also a special protection area (SPA) and Ramsar site – the highest tier of protection. However, in 2019, Portsmouth city council proposed a 'super peninsula' on the site – a large-scale land reclamation project for housing that would have destroyed vast swathes of habitat. After 24,000 people objected, the council withdrew that plan but has continued to push for land reclamation and housebuilding that jeopardises vital intertidal habitats. Under current laws, SPAs and Ramsar sites can be built on only if there are 'imperative reasons of overriding public interest' and no feasible alternatives. If building went ahead, the council would also have to create new mudflats and coastal meadows on a significantly greater scale than the area damaged. Such a high bar has never been hurdled by mere housing, and this spring the government rejected the council's request. The council is now exploring how it can continue its development plans. Sources say housing minister Matthew Pennycook is interested in Tipner West being one of the first developments to happen if the planning bill goes through, when the council will be able to pay into a nature restoration fund and no longer obliged to provide alternative habitats nearby. The Humber estuary has almost every conservation protection going – SPA, SAC, SSSI – while also being a major shipping channel. Remarkably, it's also responsible for 20% of all surface drainage in the UK. The habitats regulations have helped protect its natural functioning for decades, ensuring that docks expansions and sea defence projects don't destroy vital mudflats, sand flats and salt marsh for overwintering birds and declining breeding species such as little terns. Spurn Point, Yorkshire's own Land's End, is a hugely popular national nature reserve whose visitors contribute to the local economy. Planning reforms could disrupt the partnership between port, business and housing interests that has enabled economic development alongside wildlife protection. Further south, the similarly important Wash estuary is threatened by a tidal barrage proposal which says it has funding to pursue a development consent order. Thetford, a rapidly growing town of 25,000 with a 5,000-home urban extension under way, is surrounded by SSSIs, special areas of conservation (SACs) and the Brecks SPA. This unique region of sandy heaths and dry grassland is home to 72 species found nowhere else in Britain. It is of European-wide importance for rare plants, invertebrates and birds including curlew, nightjar, woodlark and stone curlew. Rare and declining species here include turtle dove, goshawk, long-eared owl and lesser spotted woodpecker. Birds such as nightjar and woodlark occur at lower densities in areas surrounded by housing, while heaths close to urban areas suffer from increased fire risk, trampling, disturbance by dog walkers, water pollution from dog fouling, and air pollution from road traffic. At the moment, there are protection zones for the stone curlews with no development permitted within 1,500m of a nesting site. Thanks partly to this protection, populations have increased. Under the new planning bill, however, developers can disregard such protections if they pay into a new nature restoration fund. An ecological assessment of Thetford's local plan said 'the proximity of the Breckland European site's boundary to the edge of the town in most directions remains a fundamental issue to overcome' before further homes can be built. A vulnerable wetland SSSI, the Wolborough Fen nature reserve is home to emperor dragonfly, sphagnum moss and 30 species of bird. It sits beside a major development of 1,200 new homes on the edge of Newton Abbot, which is earmarked to take a huge chunk of new homes planned for the region. Devon Wildlife Trust has warned a new road could jeopardise the wetland. A tranche of the development, for 150 homes, was rejected by planners in December because of concerns about damage to the wetland. Police were called in April when residents accused developer Vistry Homes of breaching the restrictions on its planning approvals. Local people blocked the bulldozers digging close to the nature reserve and the council issued a stop notice to halt the work. Kate Van Dike of Wolborough Residents Association and campaign group Newton Says No said: 'There was no feeling of trespass, just a united sense of [people] having the courage of their convictions. 'The residents will continue to highlight unlawful acts by developers and call out any abdication of responsibility from the local planning authority who have a fundamental duty to protect an ancient and precious woodland, a hidden gem that is rare in the UK, with some species that can be found in only a few other sites in Europe.' Just 2.5% of Britain's ancient woodland – land continuously wooded since 1600 – survives. It represents an irreplaceable combination of veteran trees, undisturbed soils, fungal networks and rare flora. Two separate applications by Quinn Estates for 8,400 new homes, a hotel, rubbish tip, relief road and primary and secondary schools are subject to a planning hearing after Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, 'called in' proposals hours before they were set to be rejected by Swale borough council last November. According to Kent Wildlife Trust and the Woodland Trust, the plans entail the direct loss of ancient woodland, local wildlife sites and priority habitats including species-rich hedgerows and traditional Kentish orchards. The developments will also place indirect pressure – from pollution and people – on nearby Cromers Wood and Tonge Mill country park. Vulnerable species that would be directly affected include water vole, otter, yellowhammer, corn bunting, grey partridge and the critically endangered turtle dove. More than 700 local people have objected to the plans, which could sail through under the new legislation. Vast swathes of nature-rich heathland have been lost to housing over recent decades, because it is relatively cheap land and easy to build on. The surviving fragments of the Surrey Heaths – including Colony Bog and Bagshot Heath, Ash to Brookwood Heaths and Chobham Common – have historically been protected as SSSIs. They are part of the Thames Basin SPA, protected by the habitats regulations, which seeks to maintain internationally important bird populations of nightjar, woodlark and Dartford warbler. All of these species nest on or close to the ground and so are highly vulnerable to people-pressure, especially from dog – walkers. Under current planning laws, new homes close to vulnerable wildlife sites must provide suitable natural green space nearby so new residents don't disturb those sites. Under the new bill, developers will be able to pay to create such green spaces further away – potentially in other counties. Even if wildlife sites are not built on, this risks creating more disturbance leading to local extinctions of vulnerable species. Becky Pullinger, head of land use planning at the Wildlife Trusts, said: 'Places like the New Forest and the Surrey Heaths could be threatened by development that no longer has to avoid harm to those specific sites. On the Surrey Heaths, the clear impact the development can have is more people walking their dogs which can impact on birds in the area. Plans to hugely expand Southampton's container port and reclaim land on the New Forest side of Southampton Water were first rejected back in 2004. Doubling the capacity of the port would destroy grazing marshes and mudflats that provide nesting for lapwing and winter homes for 50,000 birds such as wigeon and pintail. The area is an SPA and contains several SSSIs, with Dibden Bay designated for its nationally important collection of invertebrates including 21 nationally rare species. The plans for a 1.85km-long deep quay would have destroyed 76 hectares (188 acres) of tidal foreshore designated as of international importance for birds. Associated roads would also threaten the New Forest national park. After being called in by the government, the then transport minister, Tony McNulty, accepted the planning inspector's recommendation to reject the proposals after a 13-month inquiry. In 2023, owners Associated British Ports refused to rule out another attempt to develop the 500-acre site but said any new planning application was 'many years away'. Under the new bill, mitigating for irreparable damage to protected sites caused by major infrastructure would become much simpler, making schemes such as Dibden Bay much more viable. A mosaic of woodlands that is home to a super-colony of rare barbastelle bats, the Wensum Woodlands has long been threatened by a 3.8-mile dual carriageway that would complete a third ring-road around Norwich. A series of connected colonies, including one of more than 105 barbastelles, live either on the route or close to the proposed road. The area is being considered for designation as a SSSI by Natural England, which has previously designated sites with just 20 or 30 colonies. In 2023, the government committed to paying for 80% of the road scheme, but cash-strapped Norfolk county council announced this year that Natural England's advice on the wildlife impacts meant it could not proceed with the £274m road, and withdrew its application. Landowners and developers have strongly pushed for the road, which they say will 'unlock' land for businesses and housing. The planning and infrastructure bill is likely to revive many such 'zombie' road projects. Earlier this year, Keir Starmer claimed that plans for 15,000 new homes in Ebbsfleet had been stymied by the discovery of the rare distinguished jumping spider, and blocked by Natural England. 'It's nonsense, and we'll stop it,' said the prime minister. In fact, the prime minister was talking nonsense: the vast majority of the 15,000 homes are being built, but 1,300 homes planned for Swanscombe Peninsula have been blocked. The peninsula – a portion of land on the fringe of the Ebbsfleet garden city project – was designated a SSSI by Natural England in 2021 because of its globally important collection of rare invertebrates. Nearly 2,000 species have been found at Swanscombe, making it one of the most biodiverse places in Britain. The existing planning regime has enabled a compromise, with thousands of new homes being built and the relatively modest SSSI protected. Under the planning bill, even SSSIs could be built upon in exchange for developers paying into the nature restoration fund, administered by Natural England which is both the executor and beneficiary of such schemes.
