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We’re excited to unveil the new logo for the Neath Port Talbot Local Nature Partnership ! This design reflects the unique character of our county—where industrial heritage meets natural beauty. The logo brings together elements of our rich history and the vibrant landscapes we work to protect, symbolizing the harmony between people, wildlife, and place. Our aim was to create a visual identity that celebrates both the resilience of nature and the community’s commitment to conservation. You’ll start seeing this logo on our projects, events, and communications as we continue working to enhance biodiversity across Neath Port Talbot. How many species and habitats can you identify in our logo? Comment below!

We had a fantastic time at the Nature Unearthed event on Sunday 13 July 2025 , at the stunning Margam Country Park . The weather couldn’t have been better—blue skies and sunshine set the perfect scene for a day of celebrating nature. This special event was part of Wales Nature Week and was proudly supported by the Welsh Government’s Local Places for Nature fund . It was a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to connect with the natural world through a variety of engaging activities. A huge thank you goes out to all our amazing partners who hosted stalls and ran activities throughout the day. From wild yoga and bug hunts to fungi walks and river discoveries, your enthusiasm and dedication made the event truly memorable. If you’d like to get involved and be part of future events like this, why not join the NPT Local Nature Partnership ? You can also visit our What's On page to see what other events we have coming up.

Visitors to Gnoll Country Park may have noticed the transformation of a wetland area of the park. Over the last 15 years, the ponds that could once be found here have become overgrown and were all but gone. This was a problem for the amphibians that used to breed here and the other pond life that called this area home. This year, the Friends of Gnoll Park successfully applied to the NPT LNP Grant Fund to restore these ponds. With the help of a mini digger and plenty of elbow grease from the Friends of Gnoll Park, the ponds are now restored! The ponds are specially designed to have plenty of shallow sloping areas, where the most plant and animal life is usually found in ponds. The surrounding grassy habitat provides space for animals to live when they are not in the ponds. The wetland area is now back to being a haven for nature in the Park and tadpoles have already been spotted making the most of the restored area. Let's give a round of applause to the Friends of Gnoll Park for their dedication and teamwork! The NPT LNP Grant Fund is made possible by the Welsh Government Local Places for Nature fund.

The actions that are suggested on this website are our road map to this; our Nature Recovery Action Plan. Nature Recovery Action Plan An assessment of the state of nature in NPT is the first step towards achieving a sustainable, healthy environment, which will provide all of us and future generations of NPT with an inspiring place to live. The actions that are suggested on this website are our road map to this; our Nature Recovery Action Plan. Responsibility for these actions lie with all of us and as such, we have not sought to assign actions to particular organisations or groups. Instead, it is our hope that this document will provide the guidance and inspiration for anybody, or any group or organisation, to undertake the actions that are within their capability to deliver. The Secretariat of NPT LNP (NPT Council) are providing a facilitation role to support, collate and monitor work towards these actions. If you would like to discuss your potential involvement in delivery of these actions, please get in touch with NPT LNP . Actions for the recovery of all habitats in NPT The following actions apply to all habitats across NPT and are listed here to avoid repetition. For specific habitat actions, please click here . Planning Policy Conserve and enhance biodiversity through the planning process Tree Planting Prevent inappropriate tree planting in the county e.g. on important grassland habitats. Encourage natural regeneration in place of tree planting where possible Invasive non-native species Prevent the encroachment of INNS on important habitats in NPT Think before you fly Raise awareness of the dangers of flying drones to nesting birds and contact training companies to encourage the inclusion of species disturbance in their training for those who fly drones professionally Illegal off-roading Report damage to nature sites from illegal off-roading to the police Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) Investigate where ALAN is an issue in the county and determine where improvements could be made Nature Networks Improve the condition, connectivity and resilience of protected sites. Education and engagement Deliver education and engagement activities across all habitats to increase understanding and awareness of their importance for nature and for tackling the nature emergency Recording Continue to record species in NPT and submit to SEWBReC 30x30 Increase the amount of protected or in ‘other effective area based conservation measures (OECMs)’ land in NPT, in line with the 30x30 target and the Biodiversity Deep Dive recommendations. Recognition of Greenwashing Raise awareness of greenwashing and help people to recognise if a project is truly of benefit to nature. Actions for specific categories Click the links below to explore the actions for each category. Heathland and Moorland Read More Semi-natural Grassland Read More Wetland Habitats Read More Coastal Habitats Read More Marine Habitats Read More Inland Rock and Cliff Read More Urban Read More Freshwater Read More Woodland Read More Open Mosaic Habitats Read More Enclosed Farmland Read More Background In 2001 the NPT Biodiversity Forum (now known as the NPT Local Nature Partnership) launched its Biodiversity Action Plan for 2001-2005, which contained details and action plans for 80 species and 15 habitats. In common with most of the Local Biodiversity Action Plans produced in Wales and the rest of the UK at that time, few targets were met and in the decades that have followed, regional and national biodiversity in general has not fared well. In fact, for many important wildlife populations and their habitats, there have been significant losses. Yet, NPT still retains a variety of priority habitats, including 17 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and the county as a whole contains a significant number of Section 7 species and other priority species of local and national value. These precious, dwindling resources deserve our attention and in order to address this there has been a step change in wildlife recording in NPT in the last 20 years. This has helped us to build a large database of habitats and species and that, in turn, has allowed us to understand the biodiversity gains and losses in NPT. At this time, we need to understand how well or how badly nature is coping in NPT so we can protect the natural environment, preserve our wild places and make plans for the future. An assessment of the state of nature in NPT is the first step towards achieving a sustainable, healthy environment, which will provide all of us and future generations of NPT with an inspiring place to live. The actions that are suggested in this document are our road map to this; our Nature Recovery Action Plan.

This site outlines how we can all take action for nature in NPT. NPT LNP members work hard to help nature recover 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. 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: 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. 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! 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. 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. 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 . 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: Manage part of your lawn as a meadow or a short-flowering lawn Install a pond Install bird and bat boxes Plant pollinator-friendly plants Avoid peat compost and chemicals Avoid planting species which are invasive in the wild Remove Invasive Non-Native species such as Himalayan Balsam and Bamboo 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: 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. Aim for higher energy efficiency by installing double glazing, solar panels, air source heat pumps etc. 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...: Meadows The Marsh Fritillary Butterfly Peatlands Sand Snails Pollinators You can find these on our 'Resources for Educators' page . 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! 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. 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 . '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. Learn more. Bryncoch Environment Group Nature activities in the locality of Bryncoch, including toad patrols and litter picks. Learn more. Crymlyn Burrows Rare plant monitoring, beach cleans, invasive species control. Keep an eye out for upcoming events here . Learn more. Friends of Craig Gwladus Volunteer work parties and events at Craig Gwladus Country Park. Learn more. Friends of the Earth NPT A small friendly local group who campaign on issues which affect the environment in NPT Learn more. Upland Water Vole Project 2025-2028 Help to find water voles in the uplands of Glamorgan. Learn more. South Wales Miners Museum Help required to help visitors discover the nature of Afan Forest Park. Contact Jeff Lewis-Jones. Learn more. Afan Angling and Conservation Club Management of the River Afan, including works to remove barriers to fish migration. Learn more. Bryn Residents Action Group (BRAG) Work parties in and around the village of Bryn, including Bryn Tip LNR. Learn more. Coed Cadw Woodland management activities at Woodland Trust woodlands in the county. Learn more. Friends of Gnoll Country Park Volunteer work parties and events at Gnoll Country Park. Learn more. Glamorgan Bat Group Bat surveys and research, affiliated with Bat Conservation Trust. Learn more. NPT Wildlife A place to find out about wildlife and nature in Neath Port Talbot. Learn more. Ty Banc Canal Group Volunteering and events on the Neath Canal, including biodiversity sessions. Learn more. Buglife Natur am Byth 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. Learn more. Butterfly Conservation Marsh Fritillary surveys and habitat management in locality of the Dulais valley. Learn more. Coed Lleol Workshops and volunteering at sites across NPT Learn more. Friends of Jersey Park Volunteer work parties and events at Jersey Park. Learn more. Gower Ornithological Society Bird-focussed walks, talks and surveys in Swansea and NPT. Learn more. Lost Peatlands Wildlife surveys, assisting with conservation tasks and supporting at events. Learn more. Working with Nature NPT Nature activities and volunteering across NPT. Learn more.

This site is the place to find out information about the Neath Port Talbot (NPT) Local Nature Partnership, the state of nature in NPT and our Nature Recovery Action Plan (NRAP). Conserving, protecting and enhancing the nature of Neath Port Talbot in South Wales Read a pdf of the State of Nature of NPT NPT Local Nature Partnership Conserving, protecting and enhancing the nature of Neath Port Talbot We achieve our aims by creating partnerships between people that protect and care for nature in NPT, gathering information on the conservation of species and habitats in NPT, supporting the development of projects that are contributing to the aims of the Partnership, developing new projects to address local priorities and providing an advisory function on the subject of the state of nature and nature recovery in NPT. Read more THE STATE OF NATURE IN NPT An assessment of the State of Nature of our county has revealed that nature in NPT is in trouble and at risk from threats such as climate change and development. Urgent actions are required to improve the resilience of NPT’s biodiversity, in particular the coastal, heathland and moorland and semi-natural grassland habitats. Read More HOW CAN YOU HELP? 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. Read More Our Nature Recovery Action Plan An assessment of the state of nature in NPT is the first step towards achieving a sustainable, healthy environment, which will provide all of us and future generations of NPT with an inspiring place to live. The actions that are suggested on this website are our road map to this; our Nature Recovery Action Plan. Read More NPT nature in numbers 21 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) 950 Hectares of protected land 70 Section 7 Species 21 UK Red Listed breeding birds Follow us Upcoming Events Sun 07 Dec The Christmas Shiver / Digwyddiad Nadoligaidd i Deuluoedd / Aberavon Beach SA12, UK RSVP 07 Dec 2025, 11:00 – 16:00 Aberavon Beach SA12, UK Join Beach Academy and the NPT Local Nature Partnership for a day of festive family fun at Aberavon Beach! Dewch i fwynhau hwyl yr ŵyl gyda’n diwrnod hwyl i deuluoedd llawn gweithgareddau’r gaeaf! Wed 14 Jan Form and Function of Feathers and Moult - a Gower Ornithological Society event / See GOS website RSVP 14 Jan 2026, 19:10 – 21:00 See GOS website Mark Grantham, Licensing and Engagement Officer at the British Trust for Ornithology will talk to us about the form and function of feathers and moult. Wed 11 Mar To Antarctica and back with Arctic Terns - a Gower Ornithological Society event / See GOS website RSVP 11 Mar 2026, 19:10 – 21:00 See GOS website Dr Chris Redfern will talk to us about Arctic terns. Arctic terns are renowned for the global scale of their migration. The routes taken by individuals can be determined using small electronic ‘geolocators’ attached to a leg ring. These devices have been fitted to Arctic terns ... Wed 15 Apr Cudyll Cymru – a new dawn for monitoring raptors in Wales - a Gower Ornithological Society event / See GOS website RSVP 15 Apr 2026, 19:10 – 21:00 See GOS website Charlotte will talk to us about Cudyll Cymru, BTO’s Welsh Raptor Monitoring Project. Her role for the last couple of years has been to develop and co-ordinate raptor population monitoring efforts and obtain greater understanding of the populations of some of our commoner species in particular.