How can you help?
This site outlines how we can all take action for nature in NPT. NPT Local Nature Partnership members work hard to help nature recover in NPT but it doesn't have to stop there. Nature conservation begins at home and there are steps we can all take, wherever or whoever we are, to help preserve the natural heritage of NPT. In addition to the habitat actions, we have suggested actions here that we, as individuals, could take to help improve the State of Nature in NPT. Take a look at the action plans and see what you could do to help. If you'd like any further information or have any questions about any of the actions, get in touch.
Join the Local Nature Partnership
Anyone is welcome to join the NPT Local Nature Partnership to become part of our network working to help nature to recover in NPT.
There are two options:
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Join NPT for Nature for community action for nature ideas, training and informal meetings where you can ask your nature questions and share your experiences.
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Join the full LNP to come along to our bimonthly meetings. These meetings are suitable for those who would like to contribute to the production of the Nature Recovery Action Plan.
You are welcome to join both, in order to do so, simply subscribe to the relevant mailing list here.
Volunteer with an LNP Partner
Many of the partners of the NPT Local Nature Partnership offer volunteering opportunities. These can be varied, from peatbog surveys with the Lost Peatlands Project to balsam bashing with Afan Environment Volunteers. ​
If you'd like to explore the volunteering activities currently available, click here.
Be a voice for nature in your area
If you have spotted somewhere in your local area that needs some care and attention, let someone know about it!
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Seen a mown area that could be managed as a meadow? Let NPT Council know by email and it could be added to the NPT Bee Friendly scheme.
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Let your local Councillors know that you are enjoying seeing nature in your area / would like to see more nature in your area. They are your voice in the local council and can help to improve management for nature in your area.
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Seen something damaging to nature in your local area? If it counts as a wildlife crime, report it to the police. If you are not sure, report it to the council.
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Species records for NPT are one of the most useful tools we have to assess how nature is faring in the county. Species recording is also a really enjoyable activity, getting you out exploring and observing nature when you have some free time. The best place to start is to watch this 'Introduction to Wildlife Recording' webinar and do some species identification courses. Look out for upcoming courses on our calendar or you can do them in your own time online - one of our partners, the South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre, has a great array of training videos to help you.
Record Nature in NPT
Garden for Wildlife
Making space for wildlife in your garden is an amazing way of helping nature in NPT. We have some large urban areas in the county and every little helps when it comes to helping our urban wildlife. These are some of our top tips below:
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Manage part of your lawn as a meadow or a short-flowering lawn
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Install a pond
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Install bird and bat boxes
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Plant pollinator-friendly plants
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Avoid peat compost and chemicals
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Avoid planting species which are invasive in the wild
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Remove Invasive Non-Native species such as Himalayan Balsam and Bamboo
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Put in a 'Hedgehog Highway' between yours and neighbours gardens
There is much more information and guidance on the Wildlife Trusts website.
Alongside your garden, you can make space for nature on your house too:
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Install bat and/or bird boxes. Swifts are in trouble in Neath Port Talbot due to loss of nest sites, a row of swift boxes on your house could make a real difference in your local area.
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Aim for higher energy efficiency by installing double glazing, solar panels, air source heat pumps etc.
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You can even look at installing 'green infrastructure' on your home, such as rain garden planters, a green roof or a living wall. Find out more about how you could achieve this here.
'Green up' your house
Inspire Children to Love Nature
Getting children out into nature is great for their wellbeing and great for nature; the more people who care about it from a young age, the more people will try to protect it. We have a few different NPT-based resources that you could use to help you learn all about...:
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Meadows
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The Marsh Fritillary Butterfly
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Peatlands
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Sand Snails
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Pollinators
You can find these on our 'Resources for Educators' page.
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There are a few 'quick fixes for nature' that people often want to dive into to try and help nature, without realising that some of these can be very damaging in the wrong context. Learn more about these before taking action to ensure that your hard work will have the desired effect!
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Honeybee hives - honeybee hives can put a huge amount of pressure on wild bees through competition for food and disease. They should only be installed for food production with associated habitat creation and never as part of a nature conservation project. Read more about this here.
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Tree planting - tree planting can be very beneficial in the right place, but in the wrong place it could be very damaging to nature. For example, planting on meadows could lead to the loss of the meadow. Always look to plant the right tree in the right place.
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'Wildflower' mixes - if you want to create a wildflower meadow, you should be very cautious with wildflower mixes that you can pick up in supermarkets. These are often non-native mixes with little benefit to native biodiversity. Instead you should look to create a meadow through management and if seeding is required, source native, local provenance seeds. Find out more here.
Be 'in the know' about nature
Volunteer Opportunities in NPT
Below are some of the current volunteer opportunities in NPT - if you like the sound of one, click the link to find out more.
Afan Environment Volunteers
Work days on 1st Wednesday of the month in the Afan Valley, including habitat management and wildlife surveys.
Bryncoch Environment Group
Nature activities in the locality of Bryncoch, including toad patrols and litter picks.
Crymlyn Burrows
Rare plant monitoring, beach cleans, invasive species control. Keep an eye out for upcoming events here.
Friends of Craig Gwladus
Volunteer work parties and events at Craig Gwladus Country Park.
A small friendly local group who campaign on issues which affect the environment in NPT
South Wales Miners Museum
Help required to help visitors discover the nature of Afan Forest Park. Contact Jeff Lewis-Jones.
Afan Angling and Conservation Club
Management of the River Afan, including works to remove barriers to fish migration.
Work parties in and around the village of Bryn, including Bryn Tip LNR.
Ty Banc Canal Group
Volunteering and events on the Neath Canal, including biodiversity sessions.
Buglife Cymru is working with partners and communities across Swansea Bay to undertake timely and specific conservation interventions for 13 rare species identified as being at risk of local, and regional extinction.
Marsh Fritillary surveys and habitat management in locality of the Dulais valley.
Lost Peatlands
Wildlife surveys, assisting with conservation tasks and supporting at events.
