For projects you can get involved with, see the links on our local and national surveys page.
Vacancies have recently arisen for TWO organised, professional and enthusiastic people to join the SEWBReC team as BIODIVERSITY INFORMATION ASSISTANTS.
The successful candidates will be responsible for the ongoing computerisation of biological records from a range of sources (including the Countryside Council for Wales and local recording groups) and will assist with the output of biodiversity information products and services in response to enquiries from SEWBReC users.
For further information, please see our Jobs page.
This year SEWBReC is attending the Royal Welsh Show! All the Welsh LRCs will be represented at a joint stall in the Countryside Care Area from the 21st to the 24th of July. A member of staff from SEWBReC will be there on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday to answer your queries or just to chat about the work that we do. Come and see us at the Wales Environmental Compact marquee (CCA839), near the Main Ring (see map).
This year's event, organised by the Blaenau Gwent Biodiversity Partnership as part of Wales Biodiversity Week, was held at Parc Bryn Bach LNR (Tredegar) on Saturday 14th June 2008.
SEWBReC held a competition for youngsters to name a selection of plants and animals from photos on a map. Two winners have been drawn from a hat and will be sent wildlife identification books.
Other activities on offer, hosted by a variety of conservation groups and other organisations included meeting wild owls, otters, minibeasts, newts, frogs & toads, building homes for bats and birds, and a biodiversity "boot camp"!
In 2009 the event is due to be held by Caerphilly County Borough Council at Pontllanfraith.
The National Dragonfly Atlas Project will be launched in April 2008. The aim of this project is to update the known distribution of British dragonfly and damselfly species over the next five years, culminating in the publication of a new national atlas in 2013.
The breeding season fieldwork started on 1st April. There are two ways you can help:
See the BTO Atlas website for more details.
SEWBReC reached the million records mark on 8th January 2008. The species in question was a bryophyte recorded by Sam Bosanquet: Sanionia uncinata (Sickle-leaved Hook-moss). It was spotted on waste ground in Abersychan.
Sam notes that "Sanionia uncinata is usually found in species-rich limestone grassland, on montane crags, or in willow carr, so its presence on an area of disturbed roadside turf was remarkable. There are a reasonable number of records of it from north-west Gwent, but all from natural habitats."
Dan Forman is in need of carcasses of weasel, stoat, mink and polecat for his research.
Please keep an eye out for those mustelids, especially when traveling on the road: any donations will be gratefully received!
Dr Dan Forman CBiol.MIBiol.EurProBiol.Behavioural, Physiological & Molecular Ecology GroupInstitute of Environmental SustainabilitySwansea UniversitySingleton ParkSwansea, SA2 8PPTel: (+44) 01792 295445
In the event of finding an otter carcass, please telephone 0800 807060 (Environment Agency) or 0845 1306229 (Countryside Council for Wales) with details of the location.
Otter carcasses will be forwarded to the Cardiff University Otter Project.
The Glamorgan Recorders' Forum was held at the Best Western Heronston Hotel, Ewenny Road, Bridgend, on Saturday, 26 January 2008.
The Gwent Recorders' Forum was held at the Boardroom, Caerleon Campus, University of Wales College Newport, on Saturday, 16 February 2008.
Both were a great success and Biodiversity Blitz days are planned to follow during the summer months. Anyone with an interest in biological recording is welcome to attend future events. Please see the Recorders' Days page and our events calendar for further details and minutes of previous events.
Click on the links below to download PDF versions of this newsletter which has been produced by SEWBReC since 2005.
Gwent Recorders' Newsletter No. 11 [October 2007]Gwent Recorders' Newsletter No. 10 [October 2006]Gwent Recorders' Newsletter No. 09 [November 2005]
Click on the link below to download a PDF version of SEWBReC's previous newsletter:
SEWBReC Update [June 2005]