Charity fundraising campaign takes flight to save Pembrokeshire’s habitats

The Pembrokeshire Coast Charitable Trust is launching a new campaign to improve habitats across the National Park for the incredible array of wildlife that call this part of Wales home.

Following on from the success of previous fundraising campaigns, such as Wild about Woodlands and Make More Meadows, the Trust hopes that its new The Birds and the Bees campaign will encourage more people to think about the many species that benefit from habitat restoration and improvement.

Director of Pembrokeshire Coast Charitable Trust, Katie Macro, said: “Many of the iconic sights and sounds of our National Park owe their magnificence to the region’s remarkable biodiversity. From its rugged coastline to the ancient landscapes of the Preselis and the hidden sanctuary of the Daugleddau Estuary, Pembrokeshire has long been recognised as one of the ecologically richest and most diverse parts of Wales, and a place of international importance for its high-quality habitats and rare species.

“Despite this, however, our environment is fragile, in decline and needs our help more than ever.”

While Pembrokeshire’s flower-rich coastal habitats have provided sanctuary to one of the UK’s last surviving populations of shrill carder bees, there are many species whose prospects aren’t as bright. One example is the yellowhammer. While populations across Wales have decreased by 30% since 1994, as a result of habitat loss and changes in farming practices, their decline in Pembrokeshire over the last 40 years is nearer 90%.

Katie Macro explained: “Donations don’t need to be enormous to make a difference to our native wildlife. While £50 would pay for a group of Welsh Mountain ponies to graze a meadow for a month, improving habitats for bumble bees, solitary bees and chough, £10 would provide enough local meadow seed to sow across 100 square metres, providing a welcome boost to pollinators and birds such as the skylark.

“Whether Pembrokeshire is your home, or your home from home, your help is needed to protect our National Park for future generations.”

To donate to The Birds and the Bees campaign, visit https://pembrokeshirecoast.enthuse.com/TheBirdsandtheBees.

Further information about the Pembrokeshire Coast Charitable Trust and the work being done to protect these spectacular landscapes and their wildlife can be found at https://pembrokeshirecoasttrust.wales/.