Community
Local zoo raises nearly £3000
STAFF AND visitors at Anna’s Welsh Zoo raised nearly £3000 for conservation projects in South East Asia this year.
The fundraising efforts were part of the EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria) South East Asia campaign. Zoos across Europe work together to raise awareness and funds for conservation projects worldwide, and efforts in 2013 focussed on the plight of habitats and species in South East Asia.
Steve, Lisa and Bryn the gibbons, some of the most iconic residents of Anna’s Welsh Zoo, hail from South East Asia. Many of their fellow countrymen are at serious risk of extinction. The Western Hoolock Gibbon is one of the true ‘acrobats’ of the forest, but their population has declined by more than 90% over the past years, and it is now one of the 25 most endangered primate species in the world. Capture also presents a significant problem to the Siamang, which is one of the most heavily targeted gibbon species in the illegal pet trade. The mother is typically shot to obtain the young Siamang for sale. Zoos across the world are working together to maintain an ‘insurance’ population of Siamang gibbons, which could be used to strengthen the wild population if required.
The flagship species of the South East Asia campaign was the Saola. The Saola is also listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, and can only be found in a thin strip of forest between Vietnam and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Scientists only found out about the Saola in 1992, and it is considered ‘the greatest animal find of recent times’. Photographed in the wild only three times, very little is known about the Saola. With its small range, it is threatened by habitat loss, hunting and snaring.
The zoo raised over £2900 for projects to protect animals like the Western Hoolock Gibbon and the Saola. This will go directly to fund things like field equipment for rangers, batteries for camera traps and snare removal by community forest guards.
The majority of the money was raised at the ‘Explore South East Asia’ event at the zoo in July. The event saw the zoo opened from 4pm – 9pm for a one-off low entry fee, and all takings at the gate went directly to the EAZA campaign. Nearly 500 people visited the zoo for the event and enjoyed keeper talks on the South East Asia campaign projects, lectures from experts who have visited the region, South East Asian specials in the cafe, and live music from local musicians on the Park’s very own Dragon Stage (formerly of Glastonbury fame!)
Anna’s Welsh Zoo is open weekends in December and January, and every day during the Christmas holidays (excluding December 2426 and New Year’s Day).
During December you’ll be able to decorate gingerbread shapes in the cafe (they make great home-made gifts or decorations for the tree), and on Saturday, December 7 and 14 you’ll be able to make your own nature-inspired Christmas decorations with ‘Ranger Sara’.
Special events for the Christmas holidays include Christmas-themed story telling in the Manor on Sunday, December 22 at 12 noon and 2pm, helping the keepers to make enrichment treats for the animals on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 December and a family friendly introduction to artic animals by local naturalist and polar guide, Mick Brown, on Saturday, January 4 at 12 noon.
Visit www.annaswelshzoo.co.uk or call 01646 651201 for details.
Community
Be wary of gulls as breeding season approaches
AS families across Wales head to the seaside for the bank holiday weekend, a national trade body is urging people to be wary of gulls as their egg-laying season gets underway.
During the breeding season, gulls have been known to launch attacks on people, says British Pest Control Association (BPCA).
After mating and nest-building in February and March, many gulls will be protecting nests and eggs towards the end of April and into May.
However, BPCA is also reminding people that avoiding gulls wherever possible is always the best course of action as interfering with wild birds, their eggs or nests could lead to prosecution.
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 states that all wild birds and their eggs are protected, but people with the appropriate knowledge on licences, such as BPCA members, can take steps if the birds are causing a public health and safety concern.
Natalie Bungay, Technical Manager at BPCA, said: “We love British birds. All wild birds and their eggs are rightfully protected by law in the UK, so it is absolutely vital that holidaymakers, householders or business owners don’t interfere with them.
“However, gulls can pose a serious safety concern. They have been known to attack people unexpectedly, which can be a frightening experience, especially if they draw blood, which can occasionally happen.
“We often think of gulls as a coastal problem – which they can be in seaside towns where people have fed them regularly. But for some time now they have also been an increasing problem in towns and cities away from the coast too.”
Gulls can live for 25 to 30 years and many weigh around 1kg, with wingspans of around one metre.
Seaside visitors can try to avoid attracting gulls by ensuring picnic foods or chippy take-aways are kept covered or eaten out of sight of gulls where possible.
Nesting gulls can cause problems for homes and businesses both on the coast and inland, as well as at supermarkets and hospitals, as these buildings can offer ideal nesting sites which are difficult to access and proof.
Nests can clog gutters or chimneys, which may cause water overflows, or potential issues with carbon monoxide, as well as bringing a risk of secondary infestation from bird mites, ticks, fleas and beetles.
Properties are also at risk from bird droppings, which can carry some harmful bacteria and diseases, as well as even cause slips, trips and falls where they build up.
Natalie added: “Gulls are also protected by the law, so it really is important to seek professional help.
“BPCA members are trained in bird control and will be able to offer a management plan that will alleviate the issue.
“There are a variety of bird-proofing measures available, all of which will deter birds without causing them harm, and as gulls are large and heavy, any proofing measures need to be suitable for the job, very heavy duty and correctly installed by a professional.
“Bird prevention, proofing and control is a highly specialised area requiring specific equipment and techniques. Pest professionals are required to try all reasonably practicable non-lethal bird control methods before they consider lethal control.
“Always consult a BPCA member before considering any form of bird management. You could be prosecuted if you illegally interfere with a bird, its nest or eggs.”
BPCA members are trained, experienced professionals with access to a range of specialist products not available to the public, as well as being regularly assessed to the British Standard in Pest Management BS EN 16636.
BPCA members are also endorsed by the Government via the TrustMark quality scheme.
To find a professional pest controller visit bpca.org.uk/find
Community
Social housing plans for Cleddau Bridge Hotel site backed
A SCHEME to build 38 affordable and social housing units on the site of a fire-ravaged former Pembrokeshire hotel has been backed by senior Pembrokeshire councillors.
Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet, meeting on April 22, supported a contract with developer Castell Group Ltd for the mix of affordable homes and social housing units at the Cleddau Bridge Hotel site, Pembroke Dock.
Members, in a report presented by Cabinet Member for Planning & Housing Delivery Cllr Jon Harvey, heard Castell had approached the council’s housing service to determine whether there is an interest in working with them to bring forward the development as a social/affordable housing site.
Castell Construction Ltd specialises in the construction of affordable / social housing, typically for registered social landlords across south Wales, and hopes to build 12 one-bedroom flats, 15 two-bed houses, five three-bed, two four-bed, and four two-bed bungalows.
The development package would be part-funded from the housing revenue account, the remainder from the Social Housing Grant and/or second homes premium for affordable housing if it becomes available for the Housing Service to use in this manner.
Cllr Harvey – who moved approval – said the scheme was expected to provide £230,000 a year in rentals income, describing it as “an excellent opportunity to work with a proven developer for extra social housing in an area of proven need.”
Deputy Leader Cllr Paul Miller said he was supportive of the scheme, as was local member Cllr Joshua Beynon, saying: “It’s a bit of an eyesore at the moment, if we can bring this site back into meaningful use, and in an area where there is a need, I’m all in support of this.”
Members backed senior officers be delegated powers to enter into the works contract, and to have powers to proceed with the land acquisition.
If a subsequent planning permission is secured for the site, the homes could be built by autumn 2026.
In a prime location at one of the entrances to Pembroke Dock, the former Cleddau Bridge Hotel has been derelict since a fire in March 2019, which brought emergency services from as far afield as Ammanford, Aberystwyth and Swansea.
Community
County Hall to offer space for community banking
A CALL for Pembrokeshire County Council to potentially change its banking arrangement with Barclays, after it closed its Haverfordwest branch has been turned down, but County Hall is to offer space for community banking.
Barclays Bank, on the town’s High Street, is to close on May 10.
The council has had a banking services contract with Barclays since 2013.
Councillor Huw Murphy, in a notice of motion heard by Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet meeting of April 22, asked the council to review its banking arrangements with Barclays following the announced closure.
e said the loss of a branch “not only impacts upon town centres and businesses but also disproportionately impacts the elderly who are less likely to embrace on-line banking options”.
A report for Cabinet members said, in terms of the impact on Pembrokeshire residents, Barclays has said that it is “not leaving Haverfordwest and [will] continue to provide face-to-face support for those who need it” via community locations.
Two options were presented to Cabinet: to retender the banking services contract, and, the favoured, to work with Barclays to ensure a community location is set up in Haverfordwest.
Members heard the costs associated with moving to a new banking service provider could be in excess of £50,000.
For the second, favoured option, members heard Barclays was in discussions with the council about a location for potential community banking.
Cabinet Member for Corporate Finance Cllr Alec Cormack, after outlining the risks in the report for members, and moving the notice be not adopted, said he had “considerable sympathy” with Cllr Murphy’s notice.
He told councillors there was a glimmer of light for banking arrangements in the county, with an agreement now signed for two ground floor rooms at County Hall, Haverfordwest, to be used for community banking.
From April 25, the rooms will be available on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, members heard.
Cabinet Member for Planning & Housing Delivery Cllr Jon Harvey also said he had “a lot of sympathy” for the motion, adding: “It’s excellent news a deal has been struck to occupy the ground floor rooms three days a week; hopefully this will mitigate, to a certain amount, the closure.
“If we can work with the respective banks to get a community-type approach let’s move forward.”
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