Included in the scope of our contract to manage assets for Dwr Cymru Welsh Water is the management of their conservation, access and recreation functions in Wales. Our teams in Wales are protecting local biodiversity in many ways:
Tree sparrow project: We are working to reinstate tree sparrow numbers which have suffered a decline in recent years. 76 nest boxes have been constructed along with a feeding station. A spring cereal crop of linseed and tritecale covering 1.75 hectares has been planted for the past three years to supply a foraging area for the winter from seeds produced in the autumn.
Dormice and bats: Dormouse nesting areas and 30 bat boxes have been introduced in woodlands around reservoirs. The intention is to inspect the nests and feed information into the national programme on dormice and bats to help track migration and breeding.
Green corridors: Dwr Cymru Welsh Water is actively supporting work to provide a 'green corridor' through its land in conjunction with the Wildlife Trust, Forestry Commission, RSPB and other stakeholders. The focus is looking for the value of the land owned and how habitats can be upgraded to allow animals from southern areas to move north and west as the effects of climate change materialise.
