Woodland Creation in The Vale of Glamorgan

The UK’s ancient forests are irreplaceable and much of what remains is in vulnerable fragments. Many of the species that inhabit ancient woodland are relatively immobile and are disappearing at an alarming rate.

Restore Our Planet has helped support the linking and buffering of some very special ancient woodland sites: In The Casehill Wood extension, a few miles to the west of Penarth in the Vale of Glamorgan Restore Our Planet helped fund the purchase of 21 hectares of pasture in order to plant 50,000 trees (all of native stock) to link and buffer two separate areas of semi-natural ancient woodland – already owned by the Woodland Trust: Pen-y-Turnpike and Cwm Gorge woods.

This is providing exceptional nature conservation value with the site now under the Trust’s management plan, which is significantly increasing and enhancing local biodiversity value by creating and maintaining the area as a continuous woodland complex of over 8 hectares.

The Million Ponds Project

Freshwater Habitats Trust is the national charity dedicated to protecting freshwater life for everyone to enjoy. They carry out research, promote practical action, give advice and lobby policy makers to ensure that freshwater wildlife and habitats have a secure future.

The Million Ponds Project initiative aims to reverse a century of loss and decline in Britain`s ponds, so that once again we have a million ponds in the British countryside. The project will bring clean water back to many landscapes and create vital new wildlife habitats. The first 4 years of the project ran from 2008-2012 and within this time funded new ponds and pond complexes for threatened freshwater plants and animals, provided technical and on the ground support, engaged with and trained a range of stakeholders and raised the profile of ponds and their value in the media and with policy makers across England and Wales.

Restore Our Planet provided support for the creation of ponds for BAP species by providing match funding for 53 ponds at 13 sites in Wales. The ponds were specifically designed for species including Water Vole, Otter, Common Toad, Great Crested Newt, protected bats and rare plants like Pillwort and Three-lobed Crowfoot.