The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Cymru has acquired a 96-hectare landscape in Carmarthenshire, Wales, known as Gallt-y-bere, to reconnect habitats and bolster conservation efforts. The acquisition is intended to create a more resilient future for Welsh wildlife by protecting internationally important areas.
Habitat Restoration and Wildlife Support
The newly protected land is considered large enough to support the breeding of hen harriers, a bird listed on the UK's red list for conservation concern. While the bird has been observed in the area, it has not recently attempted to breed there. The RSPB has a long-standing presence in the Gallt-y-bere area, having supported the Kite Committee in red kite protection efforts and acquired land for vulnerable wildlife and habitats for over a century.
Future management of the Gallt-y-bere land will be informed by surveys conducted over the summer, funded by Natural Resources Wales. These surveys aim to identify the full range of habitats and species present on the newly acquired land. The RSPB plans to expand and enhance existing wildlife-rich grasslands, which will benefit important plant species, including whorled caraway and wood bitter-vetch, and increase their resilience.
Community and Farming Partnerships
RSPB Cymru also intends to collaborate with local farming tenants to demonstrate how nature recovery and sustainable farming practices can coexist and thrive within the wider landscape. In the future, the organization plans to work with local communities and partners to restore and protect the connected landscape, ensuring its viability for wildlife for generations to come.
