Red Squirrel News

Red Squirrel News.

In this Autumn newsletter we get an update on the Vincent Wildlife Trust's pine marten restoration project, find out what's been popping up on our trail cameras and get an insight into Matthew Hand's theory of 'Speculative Species Dispersal'. We also learn about how to deal with 'by-catch' and get a glimpse into goings on at Pontrhydfendigaid’s community woodland, Coed Y Bont; and there's more .. read on.

In the last edition of Red Squirrel News, we gave you the sad news that funding from Environment Wales had been withdrawn. Although this is still the case, the good news is that the Welsh Government has stepped in and given all projects that were operating with the help of Environment Wales, 18 months of funding to help to soften the blow. Although this still leaves our 5 year project to help save the red squirrel in mid Wales with a £15,000 deficit, help from the Welsh Government will tie us over until March 2017, by

which time we are confident that we will have managed to find further funding to plug the gap. Thanks to those of you who donated to our Red Squirrel Appeal; your donations are much appreciated and will all go to help the project achieve its goals. We are still regret the loss of support from our Environment Wales Officer. This organisation has been supporting environmental projects to work with communities in Wales for over 20 years, and the depth of experience and invaluable support that it provided will be a sore loss to a host of environmental organisations in Wales.

Newyddion y Wiwer Goch

Yn y cylchlythyr hwn cawn yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am brosiect adfer y bele gan Ymddiriedolaeth Natur Vincent, ynghyd â hanes yr hyn a welwyd gan ein camerâu a chipolwg ar ddamcaniaeth Matthew Hand o 'Hap Wasgaru Rhywogaethau’. Rydym hefyd yn dysgu sut i ddelio ag achosion o 'sgil-ddal' ac yn cael cipolwg ar goedwig gymunedol Pontrhydfendigaid, Coed-y-Bont. Mae yna ragor o ddeunydd, hefyd; felly daliwch i ddarllen.
Yn y rhifyn diweddaraf, rhoesom y newyddion trist i chi fod y cyllido gan Amgylchedd Cymru wedi dod i ben. Er bod hyn yn dal yn wir, y newyddion da yw bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi camu i’r bwlch ac wedi helpu i leddfu’r ergyd trwy roi 18 mis o gyllid i i’r holl brosiectau a oedd yn cael eu rhedeg â chymorth Amgylchedd Cymru. Er bod ein prosiect pum-mlynedd i helpu i achub y wiwer goch yng nghanolbarth Cymru yn dal i fod â diffyg o £15,000, bydd y cymorth gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn ein cynnal tan fis Mawrth 2017. Erbyn hynny rydym yn hyderus y byddwn wedi llwyddo i ddod o hyd i gyllid pellach. Diolch i'r rheini ohonoch a gyfrannodd at ein Hapêl Gwiwerod Coch; mae eich rhoddion yn cael eu gwerthfawrogi'n fawr a bydd y cyfan yn cael ei ddefnyddio i helpu'r prosiect i gyflawni ei nodau. Rydym yn dal i resynu colli cefnogaeth gan Amgylchedd Cymru. Bu’r sefydliad hwn yn cefnogi prosiectau amgylcheddol sy’n cydweithio â chymunedau yng Nghymru am dros 20 mlynedd, a bydd colli ei brofiad a chefnogaeth yn ergyd drom i lu o sefydliadau amgylcheddol yng Nghymru.

Mae taflen newydd Prosiect Gwiwerod Coch Canolbarth Cymru ar gael o'r diwedd. Diolch i bawb a fu’n helpu gyda’r cynnwys a’r dylunio. Y canlyniad yw taflen atyniadol sy’n cynnwys cyfoeth o wybodaeth ddefnyddiol. Cafodd 10,000 o gopïau o’r daflen eu hargraffu. Os hoffech gael copïau i’w dosbarthu’n lleol, cysylltwch, os gwelwch yn dda.

The new MWRSP leaflet is finally ready! Thanks to all of you who helped with the content and design. The result is a really eye-catching leaflet, with plenty of useful information. We have had 10,000 copies of this leaflet printed. If anyone would like copies to distribute locally, please get in touch.

Y Diweddaraf am y Bele

Yn ddiweddar, cyhoeddodd Ymddiriedolaeth Natur Vincent y byddai'r bele yn dychwelyd i goetiroedd Cymru yn ystod yr hydref. Mae’n dda gennym ddweud y cafodd deg bele eu symud yn llwyddiannus o'r Alban i goetir ger Pontarfynach. Bydd deg arall yn dod i Gymru yn ystod yr wythnosau nesaf, ac ugain ychwanegol yr haf nesaf.
Mae tystiolaeth yn Iwerddon fod beleod yn cael effaith negyddol ar y gwiwerod llwyd, ac mae gobaith y bydd y prosiect hwn o fudd i boblogaethau'r wiwer goch yn yr ardal. Fodd bynnag, mae tystiolaeth

o'r fath yn brin ac, o ganlyniad, mae Ymddiriedolaeth Natur Vincent yn cymryd y cyfle hwn i ymchwilio. Mae myfyriwr PhD, Cat McNicol, o Brifysgol Caerwysg (Exeter), yn gweithio gyda'r Ymddiriedolaeth ac Ymchwil Coedwigaeth i ganfod pa fath o ryngweithio sy’n bodoli rhwng gwiwerod llwyd a beleod. Gan ystyried diet, ymddygiad a thiriogaeth, bydd Cat yn edrych i weld sut mae presenoldeb y beleod yn effeithio ar wiwerod llwyd. Bydd Cat yn gosod coleri ar wiwerod llwyd ger y mannau hynny lle cafodd beleod eu rhyddhau, i weld beth yw ymateb y gwiwerod i anifail brodorol a gafodd ei ailgyflwyno. Bydd techneg gymharol newydd, sef Dadansoddiad Isotop Sefydlog, yn cael ei ddefnyddio i edrych ar ddiet y beleod a gafodd eu symud i leoliad newydd. Trwy gymryd samplau o flew’r bele, mae modd darganfod diet yr anifail a chanfod a yw wedi newid dros gyfnod o amser. Bydd tail yn cael ei gasglu, hefyd, a’r gobaith yw y bydd modd canfod a yw gwiwerod yn cael eu lladd a’u bwyta.
Dywedodd Cat: “Mae'n bosib fod beleod yn bwyta gwiwerod llwyd, ond gall y bydd eu presenoldeb yn unig fod yn ddigon i atal gwiwerod llwyd rhag bridio, a hyd yn oed eu hannog i adael yr ardal.” Gallai canfyddiadau'r ymchwil hwn arwain at ffordd newydd o fynd i'r afael â rheoli gwiwerod llwyd, ond, fel yr ychwanegodd Cat, "Rhaid gwneud mwy i ddeall y sefyllfa oherwydd mae’n gymhleth.”
Mae ymchwil Cat yn cael ei ariannu am y tair blynedd nesaf ac mae'n gobeithio rhoi gwybod i ni am yr hyn sy’n digwydd wrth iddi gydweithio ag Ymddiriedolaeth Natur Vincent ac Ymchwil Coedwigaeth
I gael rhagor o wybodaeth: ymwelwch â gwefan Ymddiriedolaeth Natur Vincent, neu ebostiwch Cat McNicol cmm226@exeter.ac.uk

Pine Marten Update

The Vincent Wildlife Trust (VWT) recently announced that the elusive pine marten would be making a return to the Welsh woodlands this autumn. We are happy to report that ten martens have been

successfully translocated from Scotland to woodland near Devil’s Bridge, with another ten to follow in the coming weeks, plus another 20 planned to be released next summer.
With evidence in Ireland that pine marten presence has negative impacts on grey squirrel populations, there is hope that this project will benefit red squirrel populations in the area. However, such evidence is sparse and, as a result, The Vincent Wildlife Trust are taking this opportunity to investigate. PhD student Cat McNicol, from the University of Exeter, is working with the VWT and Forest Research to explore the interactions between grey squirrels and pine martens. Using a combination of dietary, behavioural and spatial ecology, Cat will be looking at how the presence of martens affects grey squirrels. By collaring grey squirrels near pine marten release sites, Cat hopes to look at how squirrels are responding to the reintroduction of a native mammal. A relatively new technique called Stable Isotope Analysis will be used to look at pine marten diet after translocation. By taking whisker samples from pine martens it is possible to establish their diet and if it has changed over a period of time. In combination with scat collection, it is hoped that any evidence of squirrel predation will be detected.
Cat commented: “It is possible that martens will eat grey squirrels, but their presence alone may be enough to deter grey squirrels from breeding and even encourage them to leave the area.” The findings of this research could lead to a new way of addressing grey squirrel control, but, as Cat added, “ more has to be done to understand these complex interactions.”
Cat's research is funded for the next three years and she hopes to keep us updated on the progress of her work with the VWT and with Forest Research.
For further information: visit the VWT’s website, or email Cat McNicol cmm226@exeter.ac.uk

Cafodd Rhandir-mwyn ymwelydd brenhinol yn ystod yr haf pan ddaeth Camilla, Duges Cernyw, am dro i’r pentref. Fel rhan o'r ymweliad, cyfarfu'r Dduges â phobl leol yn nhafarn y Royal Oak. Yno, cafodd wybod am amryw o fentrau lleol, gan gynnwys y Prosiect Gwiwerod Coch. Yn y llun uchod, gwelir y Cydgysylltydd Lleol, Matthew Hand (chwith) yn aros ei dro i gael gair â Camilla. Ymateb cyntaf Camilla i'r prosiect oedd: "Gwiwerod llwyd! Mae fy ngŵr yn eu casáu!" Pan fu Matthew yn siarad â’r Dduges am y prosiect, roedd hi'n gefnogol iawn i'r ymgyrch i achub y wiwer goch yng nghanolbarth Cymru. Gobeithio y bydd gwiwerod coch i'w gweld un diwrnod ar lawnt cartref y teulu brenhinol ym Myddfai.

Rhandirmwyn received a Royal guest this summer when the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, paid a visit to the village to find out about community life. As part of the visit, the Duchess met local people at the Royal Oak pub and found out about the variety of local initiatives that are active in Rhandirmwyn - the Red Squirrel Project, amongst other things! Pictured above is Local Coordinator, Matthew Hand (left) waiting for a chat with Camilla. Camilla's initial reaction to the project was: "Oh grey squirrels, my husband hates them!" Matthew spoke with the Duchess about the project, she was very supportive of the drive to save the red squirrel in mid Wales. We hope that one day, red squirrels might grace the lawn at their estate near Llandovery.

Reds on Camera in Llanddewi Brefi

We reported in the last edition of Red Squirrel News, that a camera trap had been installed in woodland near Llanddewi Brefi. As many of you that follow the Mid Wales Red Squirrel Facebook page will know, the good news is that, after a couple of months of just getting jays and mice on camera, red squirrels have been recorded on camera visiting the feeding station regularly since late June.

Unfortunately, on a couple of occasions, greys have also paid a visit to the feeder, This gives Merryll, the volunteer monitoring the feeding station a real headache! If reds and greys are both using the same feeder, there is a chance that the Squirrelpox virus, which is fatal to reds, could be transmitted to the red squirrels. This means that Merryll has to empty the feeder and clean it out with a special

disinfectant, before trapping and dispatching the grey squirrels. Once the greys have been dealt with, the feeder can be re-stocked. Merryll keeps a close eye on the video footage to ensure that greys are not going undetected. Merryll commented: “I hate having to dispatch the grey squirrels, but seeing the reds here on camera has given me the drive to do what I can to help them.” Keep up the good work Merryll!
We have a second camera trap in place near Llanfair Clydogau very near to where there have been red squirrel sightings recently. There is no sign of reds on this camera so far, but we are hoping to re-locate the camera soon to a more promising site in nearby NRW woodland. There will be an update in the winter issue of this newsletter, or keep an eye on the Facebook page.

Dal Cochion ar Gamera yn Llanddewibrefi

Yn rhifyn diwethaf y cylchlythyr hwn, dywedwyd bod trap camera wedi ei osod mewn coetir ger Llanddewibrefi. Fel y gŵyr llawer ohonoch sy’n dilyn tudalen Facebook Gwiwerod Coch Canolbarth Cymru, mae gennym newyddion da ar ôl misoedd o gael dim ond llygod ac adar yn y lluniau. Er diwedd Mehefin, cafwyd lluniau o wiwerod coch yn ymweld â’r safle fwydo yn gyson.
Yn anffodus, ar un neu ddau achlysur, bu gwiwerod llwyd hefyd yn ymweld a’r bwydwr, ac mae hyn yn gur pen i Merryll, y gwirfoddolwr sy’n monitro’r safle. Os yw gwiwerod coch a llwyd yn defnyddio’r un bwydwr, mae yna berygl y gallai firws brech y gwiwerod, sy’n farwol i’r cochion, gael ei drosglwyddo gan y llwydion. Mae hyn yn golygu fod Merryll yn gorfod gwagio'r bwydwr a’i lanhau â diheintydd arbennig cyn trapio a gwaredu’r gwiwerod llwyd. Unwaith y mae hyn wedi’i wneud, mae modd ail-lenwi’r bwydwr. Bydd Merryll yn cadw llygad barcud ar y lluniau fideo i wneud yn siŵr nad yw gwiwerod llwyd yn osgoi sylw. Dywedodd Merryll: "Rwy'n casáu gorfod difa’r gwiwerod llwyd, ond mae gweld y cochion yma ar gamera wedi rhoi'r hwb i mi wneud yr hyn a allaf i’w helpu.” Daliwch ati â’r gwaith da, Merryll!
Mae gennym ail drap camera ger Llanfair Clydogau, yn agos iawn i’r fan lle gwelwyd gwiwerod coch yn ddiweddar. Does dim sôn am wiwerod coch hyd yma, ond rydym yn bwriadu symud y camera cyn bo hir i safle mwy addawol mewn coetir gerllaw. Byddwn yn rhoi’r newyddion diweddaraf yn rhifyn y gaeaf o'r cylchlythyr hwn, a hefyd ar ein tudalen Facebook.

Daeth Cydgysylltwyr y Cynllun Benthyca Trapiau a gwirfoddolwyr eraill i Randir-mwyn ym mis Gorffennaf i fwynhau bwyd a rhannu profiadau am wiwerod. Roedd yn gyfle delfrydol i’r gwirfoddolwyr rwydweithio a thrafod syniadau newydd ar gyfer y prosiect. Roedd hefyd yn fodd i wirfoddolwyr, sy'n canolbwyntio ar waith yn eu cymunedau eu hunain, gael gwir ymdeimlad o gydweithio, ac o fod yn rhan fach, ond hanfodol, o brosiect mwy. Diolch yn fawr iawn i Jane a Matthew Hand am gynnal y digwyddiad a darparu bwyd blasus - yn enwedig y wiwer sbeislyd!

Trap Loan Scheme Coordinators and other key volunteers gathered together in Rhandirmwyn last July for food and plenty of 'squirrel talk'. The afternoon was an ideal opportunity for the volunteers to network - to swop anecdotes and to brainstorm potential new ideas for the project. It also helped to give the volunteers, who are grafting away in their local communities, a real sense of working together, and of being a small, but crucial part of a bigger project. Big thanks to Jane and Matthew Hand for hosting the event and for providing such delicious food - especially the spicy squirrel!

Travelling Greys / Llwydion Teithiol

Mae Cydgysylltydd y Cynllun Benthyca Trapiau, Matthew Hand o Randir-mwyn, yn ystyried pa mor eofn yw gwiwerod llwyd, ac mae’n cyflwyno damcaniaeth ei hun.

Trap Loan Scheme Coordinator and avid outdoor enthusiast, Matthew Hand of Rhandirmwyn, speculates on how intrepid grey squirrels are, and comes up with his own theory of Speculative Species Dispersal. To quote Matthew: "Obviously I have no idea what I’m talking about (in article), I have an inquisitive mind, especially when I see an animal doing something strange – there is usually a reason why, so I tend to ponder what it might be, I suppose Charles Darwin was much the same and he turned out right some of the time!!"
If you have your own theories on this topic, it would be good to hear from you!

Greys squirrels have been incredibly successful at populating this country and nothing has stopped their forward march across our landscape. One reason is that they are far more comfortable (than reds) crossing open land to reach other suitable woodland habitat to colonise. But how far will they travel over open ground?

All of us have seen grey squirrels hopping over a field to reach other hedgerows or woods (usually for a food source) and this does not seem to worry them, although they would be extremely vulnerable to predators whilst doing so, it is a common enough sight. This is understandable behaviour, with other trees in view and a potential new habitat with less competition from other greys, it is a risk worth taking. One of the reasons our small colony of red squirrels has survived is that much of the upper Tywi forest area is surrounded by vast stretches of moorland which have slowed or hindered the continual infiltration of numbers of grey squirrels into that commercial forestry block.
Last year whilst driving the mountain road from Llyn Brianne to Tregaron, my wife spotted a grey squirrel hopping across the open moorland a kilometre to the east of Cwm Berwyn plantation (heading eastwards), I am presuming it could see the upper Tywi forestry (about 3 kilometres away) before it left, but I have not checked the sight line. This would be a big risky journey for a squirrel, even if forced to seek better habitat, this got me wondering why it would do it and not simply drop down the tree lines back into the valleys westward.
This September I was finishing off my Cambrian Way trek in Snowdonia, walking towards Conwy up on the Carneddau ridge. I was approaching the trig point on Foel-fras mountain (Grid Ref: SH 696682 at 3000+ft) when I saw some footprints in the mud, “Strange I thought, looks just like a squirrel, but it can’t be up here”. A minute later I came across a grey squirrel hopping along the stone wall in front of me. It was a fully grown, mature, well-conditioned squirrel (not a young animal), it appeared pretty tired and kept 10 yards in front of me all the way – probably hoping I would throw it some food, oh dear, it chose the wrong person! Eventually I crossed the wall and started my descent and left it. It was miles to any trees on the other side of the mountain, so I didn’t give much for its chances, but why was it there?
I’m guessing it had travelled up from the commercial forestry block at Aber falls (the only close wooded area), probably following the water course, which would be a distance of 3 miles and 2000ft ascent over very rough, barren terrain. Not a tree in sight anywhere, just heather, bracken, tussocks and rock for miles.
So I have a theory! It is not just that grey squirrels move out due to food and habitat competition, seeking a mate or being ousted by other stronger individuals, these are the obvious and would account for the young (and weaker) being pushed out from an area. To populate a new territory and for the species to survive by expansion, the strong, mature individuals need to disperse to colonise. So perhaps some have a predisposition to go “walkabout”, risking their individual lives on the gamble that a small percentage will succeed and the species as a whole expand their territory.
This is my theory of “Speculative Species Dispersal” and I have no idea if there is anything to it or not, but grey squirrels have certainly done well for themselves – up till now!

Mae e-lyfr newydd am wiwerod coch ar gael i'w lawrlwytho am ddim o wefan Ymddiriedolaeth Gwiwerod Coch Cymru. Mae'r llyfr yn cynnwys astudiaethau achos am wiwer coch o bob rhan o Brydain a Gogledd Iwerddon ac mae'n rhannu profiadau ynglŷn â chadwraeth y wiwer goch. Gwerth ei ddarllen!

A new red squirrel e-book is available free to download from the Red Squirrels Trust Wales website. The book contains red squirrel case studies from across Great Britain and Northern Ireland and presents a shared experience of red squirrel conservation practice. Well worth a read.

Trap Loan Scheme / Cynllun Benthyca Trapiau
For free bait and loan of trapping equipment,
contact your nearest Local Co-ordinator, based in
Pontrhyfendigaid, Tregaron, Llanddewi Brefi, Llanfair Clydogau, Ffarmers, Crugybar, Rhandirmwyn and Abergwesyn.
Visit the website for contact details
If you are interested in becoming a Co-ordinator for your local area, contact Becky on b.hulme@welshwildlife.org / 07972 201202

I gael abwyd a benthyca cyfarpar trapio am ddim,
cysylltwch â’ch Cydgysylltydd Lleol agosaf ym
Mhontrhydfendigaid, Tregaron, Llanddewibefi, Llanfair Clydogau, Ffarmers, Crug-y-bar, Rhandir-mwyn a Abergwesyn.
Ewch i’n gwefan i gael y manylion cyswllt
Os oes gennych ddiddordeb mewn bod yn Gydgysylltydd yn eich ardal leol, cysylltwch â Becky ar b.hulme@welshwildlife.org / 07972 201202

By-Catch / Sgil-ddaliadau

Yn ystod yr haf cawsom sawl adroddiad am sgil-ddaliadau diddorol – a allai fod yn broblem – gan aelodau o’r Cynllun Benthyca Trapiau.

Over the summer we have received several reports of interesting – and potentially problematic -‘by-catch’ from Trap Loan Scheme (TLS) members.
Back in September, Glenda had a small mammal in one of the traps in her garden, which is situated right next to a river bank. Initially she suspected that the animal might have been an American mink (photo left), a non-native invasive species, which are often mistaken for

otters, but are in fact much smaller. Mink fur is dark brown and they have a distinctive white chin and lower jaw. A male’s body length is about 35–45 cm, while females measure 30–38 cm. American mink have become widely established throughout the UK since the 1950s following escapes and releases from mink farms. Mink are opportunistic

carnivores. They will feed on a variety of prey including birds (waterfowl and ground nesting farmland birds) and mammals (water voles, rabbits etc.); mink are generally found near watercourses.

As with grey squirrels, it is the law that if an American mink is caught in a trap, the trapper is legally obliged to dispatch the animal, as release would be a criminal offence. However, with hard skulls, cranial dispatch is not a safe or humane dispatch method for American mink. If an American mink is found in a trap, it must be shot at point blank range at the back of the head with either an airgun (not an air pistol, which will not have sufficient power) or a small calibre firearm. The mink must be kept still in the trap to allow for an accurate humane dispatch shot, this can be done easily by using two trapping combs to push the animal firmly against the side of the cage. Obviously, not all Trap Loan Scheme members will have the appropriate equipment or licence to carry this out. However, we have contact details for a handful of local volunteers who do have firearms licences and are willing to come out to TLS members, so if you find yourself staring at an American mink through the bars of a trap, please do get in touch.
The British Association for shooting and Conservation (BASC) runs the Green Shoots project, targeting invasive species, including grey squirrels and American mink. Green Shoots Project Officer, Audrey Watson explained the motivation behind the project: “American mink have had a devastating impact on our native fauna through predation on vulnerable species of birds, fish and mammals such as the water vole. The decline in water vole numbers can be directly attributed to predation by mink, which generally live and hunt near water, and can swim well.”
Conservation bodies accept that mink control is an essential tool in water vole conservation. If you want to find out more about mink control check out the BASC Mink Control Guidance or if you in mid or west Wales and want to get involved in mink control, contact Audrey: 07531 141497

Anyway, to get back to the point, the animal in Glenda’s trap (see above) turned out not to be a mink at all, but was in fact a polecat, a native mammal once thought to be under threat of extinction in Wales due to persecution by gamekeepers. In the last 30 years, the polecat has been making a comeback. Polecats have a dark brown coat which moults to silvery-grey in winter for camouflage, distinguishing features include a pale yellow underbelly, small white-trimmed ears, a white-tipped nose and a light ‘bandit-like’ mask across the face. Compared to mink, the polecat has a shorter, more compact body, a more powerfully built skull and is less agile..
When trapping for grey squirrels, polecats seem to be one of the most frequent types of by-catch. UK polecats are protected by law under the Countryside and Wildlife Act of 1981, so if you do get a polecat in your trap, you will need to release the animal immediately. However, as with all animals, caution is required! Open trap door, keeping fingers well away from the trapped animal, and use the trapping comb to contain the animal whilst lifting the door. When the exit is clear stand behind the trap until the animal has left the area.
Please do report your polecat to the Vincent Wildlife Trust which runs a National Polecat Survey: http://www.vwt.org.uk/projects/national-polecat-survey/

John Smith, TLS Coordinator for the Ffarmers area has had plenty of experience in dealing with hedgehogs in his traps; this type of by-catch is not always so easy to deal with. As John explained: “When it comes to getting hedgehogs out of traps, sometimes they can just be tipped out; others don't seem to wish to leave, even after a few hours with the trap left open. These have to be worked out gradually as they expand their spines through the bars! Gentle shaking, pushing the bits that are sticking out, and in the worst cases, levering with a stick through the bars has removed all of mine unharmed.”
Unlike squirrels, rats are aggressive, so need to be treated in much the same way as American mink. Do no try to put a rat in your sack – you will probably end up either with a free-range rat, or with bitten fingers (or both!) as John commented: “they stick their heads through the bars and try to bite me.” Rats carry disease, so if you do get bitten by a rat, always seek medical advice.
On the other hand, birds (commonly jays, magpies, blackbirds or chaffinch) are much more amenable visitors, easy, just open the door and out they fly!
If you have any interesting experiences involving by-catch, please get in touch.

Ymwelodd stondin y Bartneriaeth Gwiwerod Coch â sawl sioe a digwyddiad yn ystod yr haf. Dangoswyd llawer o ddiddordeb gan aelodau o'r cyhoedd a denwyd nifer i fod yn rhan o’r Cynllun Benthyca Trapiau. Diolch yn fawr iawn i bawb a fu’n helpu yn y digwyddiadau hyn, gan gynnwys John, Janet, Robert, Ben, Isabel a Matthew.

The Red Squirrel Partnership stand could be seen at several different shows and events over the summer months. We had a lot of interest from members of the public and some new recruits for the Trap loan Scheme. Big thanks to all of the people that helped out at these events, including John, Janet, Robert, Ben, Isabel and Matthew.

What a Perfect Day!

Diwrnod Perffaith!

Coed Y Bont is a community woodland owned by NRW and co-managed by a group of dedicated people from the Pontrhydfendigaid area who have got together to develop woodland, made up of Coed Dolgoed and Coed Cnwch, for the benefit of the local community.

Coetir cymunedol yw Coed-y-Bont, sy’n eiddo i Adnoddau Naturiol Cymru ac sy’n cael ei gyd-reoli gan grŵp o bobl ymroddedig o ardal Pontrhydfendigaid. Daethant at ei gilydd i ddatblygu’r coetir – sy’n cynnwys Coed Dolgoed a Coed Cnwch – er budd y gymuned leol.

Coed Y Bont lies within the buffer zone of the mid Wales red squirrel focal site, and is not that far from Cwm Berwyn where a red squirrel research project was carried out by the MISE project in 2014. In the interests of red squirrel conservation, group member, Chris Harris, having been involved in the MISE project and also the voluntary Trap Loan Scheme Coordinator for the Pontrhydfendigaid area, has been leading a grey squirrel control program in the woodland. So far, the grey squirrel population in Coed Y Bont has been reduced by over 35, a much needed contribution to the combined grey squirrel control efforts across the focal site. Let’s hope that one day soon, red squirrels will be seen in Coed Y Bont!

Coed Y Bont Woodland group held an Official Opening on the 25^th Sept 2015 at Pontrhydfendigaid's Community Woodland. Group member, Geoff Lester gives a summary of the day:
A bright, sunny Friday morning saw the Official Opening of Coed y Bont get underway. A number of volunteers carried

out various tasks, some marshalling vehicles at the temporary car park along the main track, some leading the guests and visitors on a walk around the new paths, whilst others made sure everything was in place and ready for for a buffet and display in the village hall. It was a lovely sight, to see so many people arrive at the woodland to celebrate the occasion.

They represented the many organisations, grant funders, advisors, friends, volunteers and community members who had made the project possible. Proceedings were started by Jim Cowie, chairman of the Coed y Bont committee. Jim explained that the project had been a huge team effort, during which grant funding of over £92,000 had been raised and he thanked the many organisations and individuals had played a role.
Brian Hanwell, Local Area Manager for Natural Resources Wales, explained how much the woodland had been transformed for the better over the past 10 years and how he had enjoyed working with the people in Bont on the Community Woodland project. He went on to thank his staff, colleagues and contractors for constructing the new paths … on time despite strict deadlines.
Pupils from Bont School took part in activities arranged to illustrate the educational benefits of the woodland. Iolo Williams, the well know naturalist and television broadcaster, and principal guest of honour, gave a short speech before the symbolic ceremony of cutting the ribbon to officially open the new woodland paths. There was a photo opportunity for the youngsters of the Ysgol Feithrin who gathered around Iolo Williams as he sat on the path-side and chatted to them. A lovely touch!
informal group walk around the new paths followed with members of Coed y Bont and Natural Resources Wales on hand to offer information. The event then moved from the woodland to the village hall for a rolling photographic show prepared by Mike Buzzard showing the path construction plus some of the events and activities which have been held in the woodland over the year.
Everyone commented and said how much they had enjoyed the event. It couldn’t have gone any better - it was a resounding success!
Coed Y Bont is on the Abbey road in the direction of Strata Florida from Pontrhydfendigaid, grid reference: SN737659; there is a car park on the right. Visit this autumn to try out the new footpaths and to see amazing autumn colours; look out for interesting woodland fungi! To get involved in monthly volunteer work party sessions in the woods, contact Jim Cowie

Huw Denman , coedwigwr ac ecolegydd gwiwerod, yn rhoi sgwrs i dîm Glastir, cynllun amaeth-amgylcheddol sy’n cael ei redeg gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Bu Huw’n arwain taith dywys o amgylch Bryn Arau Duon , planhigfa goedwigaeth gymysg ger Cwrtycadno. Rhoddwyd y prif sylw i reoli coetiroedd ar gyfer gwiwerod coch ; gobeithiwn y bydd y swyddogion yn rhoi ar waith yr hyn a glywsant gan Huw, wrth iddyn nhw roi cyngor i dirfeddianwyr yn y Prif Barth Gwarchod Gwiwerod Coch.
Mae Huw yn rheoli’r coetir hwn er budd gwiwerod coch ers dros 15 mlynedd. Dywedodd Huw: "Er taw’r prif amcan yw cynhyrchu coed, rwyf wedi dangos fod technegau rheoli priodol, fel coedwigaeth â gorchudd di-dor a chadw rhywogaethau o goed allweddol, nid yn unig yn cynhyrchu pren da , ond gall fod o fudd i amrywiaeth o fywyd gwyllt gan gynnwys gwiwerod coch." Diolch i reolaeth sensitif o’r coed a chadw gwiwerod llwyd dan reolaeth, mae poblogaeth y wiwer goch ym Mrynarauduon wedi ehangu yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf.

Huw Denman, forester and squirrel ecologist, gives a talk to a team from Glastir, the agri-environment Scheme run by the Welsh Government. Huw gave a guided tour of Bryn Arau Duon, a mixed forestry plantation near Cwrt Y Cadno. The afternoon was focused on woodland management for red squirrels; we hope that they will translate what they learnt into practice when it comes to giving advice to landowners in the Red Squirrel Focal site.
Huw has been managing this woodland for the benefit of red squirrels for over 15 years. Huw remarked: "Although the primary objective is timber production, I have demonstrated that sympathetic management techniques, such as continuous cover forestry and retention of key tree species, can not only produce good timber, but can be beneficial to a variety of wildlife including red squirrels." Thanks to sensitive management and grey squirrel control, Huw has seen the red squirrel population in Bryn Arau Duon expand in recent years.