Welsh Journals

The Nature Conservation Trusts in Wales in 1985 William S. Lacey During the years 1961 to 1964 six Naturalists' Trusts were established, covering the whole of Wales. From the outset three were single-county Trusts (Glamorgan, Monmouth and Brecknock); two were multi-county Trusts (West Wales, covering Carmarthen, Pembroke, Cardigan and Merioneth; and North Wales, covering Anglesey, Caernarfon, Denbigh, Flint and Montgomery); and Radnor formed part of a two-county Trust with Hereford. National Nature Week (1966) and European Conservation Year (1970) did much to increase public awareness of the need for wildlife conservation and the young Welsh Trusts grew apace, so that, when the book 'Welsh Wildlife in Trust' was published in the summer of 1970, the six Trusts had a combined membership of 4250 and managed about as many acres of land in some sixty-three nature reserves. For the most part the original subdivision of responsibility for nature conservation by the Trusts in Wales has been maintained, but the years have seen some changes of area and of name. In 1972 the Merioneth Branch of the West Wales Trust transferred voluntarily to the North Wales Trust. As a result of Local Government reorganization and county realignment in 1973, the Monmouth Trust subsequently changed its name to the Gwent Trust for Nature Conservation. In 1982 the Montgomery Branch of the North Wales Trust took the brave step, with the encouragement and help of the parent body, of establishing an independent Montgomery Trust for Nature Conservation. Most recently, the two pioneer Trusts in Wales, Glamorgan and West Wales, have also adopted the style 'Trust for Nature Conservation'. By 1985 all six of the original Trusts have reached their 21st anniversary and two of them approach their quarter century of work for wildlife conservation in Wales. It seems an appropriate time to review what has been achieved, to see how the seventh and youngest Trust has fared in its first three years of independence, and to look at the future of the voluntary nature conservation movement in Wales. Notes The Trusts in 1985 The following accounts of the position in each of the seven Trusts have been compiled from information supplied by the Trust officers. They are presented in the order of the establishment of the individual Trusts. At the time of writing subscription rates range from £ 4 to £ 10. However, since they are liable to change, reference should be made to the appropriate Trust Officer for up-to-date information. Glamorgan Trust for Nature Conservation. Established early in 1961. HQ premises, which it owns, at the Glamorgan Nature Centre, Fountain Road. Tondu, Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, CF32 OEH. Tel. Aberkenfig (0656) 724100. The Trust employs a Development Officer, financed partly by NCC grant and partly from general Trust funds. The Trust has 1200 members, four Branches, and manages forty nature reserves (of which thirteen are Sites of Special Scientific Interest), totalling 920 acres. Special features of the Trust are: (i) the Glamorgan Nature Centre (developed from former National Coal Board offices) which provides an interpretative centre, sales outlet, meeting room, administrative office, stores, and living accommodation for the Development Officer; (ii) its specialization in the education of young people and recruitment to Watch, the organization for young nature conservationists, in which it has 500 members. West Wales Trust for Nature Conservation. Established in 1961, but its origins traceable to the Pembrokeshire Bird Protection Society established in 1938. HQ premises and shop, which it owns, at 7 Market Street, Haverfordwest, Dyfed, SA61 INF. Tel. Haverfordwest (0437) 5462. The Trust employs an Administrative Officer and a Conservation Officer, financed from general Trust funds. The Trust has 2105 members, eight Branches, and manages fifty-two nature reserves (of which twenty- two are SSSIs and one, Skomer Island, is a National Nature Reserve), totalling 2726 acres. Special features of the Trust from its inception are: (i) concentration on the acquisition and management of