🪰 Plenty of Dark-edged Bee-flies out at Cwm Tips today ☀️
These fuzzy flies are nest parasites of ground-nesting bees, taking advantage of the strong mining bee population on site — a sign of a healthy ecosystem.
Who doesn’t love a Bee-fly? 💚
#BeeFlyWatch #BeeFly #CoalToNature #GloiNatur #CwmTips
🌿 Great to welcome Heledd Fychan (Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for South Wales Central) to Cwm Tips today.
We discussed its importance for wildlife, restoring grassland for the Small Blue, and plans for volunteer days & school visits.
Thanks for the support 💚
#GloiNatur #CoalToNature
🐍 Big find at Ogmore Washeries!
We recorded an adult Grass Snake today - confirming the species on site for the first time.
That means 4 reptiles now: Common Lizard, Slow-worm, Adder & Grass Snake - making it a key reptile site in the Bridgend Valleys. 🌿
#Reptiles #CoalToNature #SouthWales
The Friends of Betteshanger have long fought to protect the wildlife of Betteshanger Country Park, a SSSI-worthy colliery spoil site in E Kent. Pls help them develop a new vision for the site by taking this short survey eu.surveymars.com/q/iXYOi3Bnt.
@gloinatur.bsky.social #CoaltoNature #CoalSpoil
The Pyrenean semi-slug Semilimax pyrenaicus - a pretty brown slug with dark spots carrying a small redundant shell on its back. Found in S Wales and the Pyrenees
Liam talking to a rapt audience about the amazing diversity of coal spoil tips across South Wales.
If you missed Liam’s talk, he’ll be leading an outdoor coal spoil walk for us at Parc Melin Mynach, Gorseinon, Swansea on Sunday May 31st. Please subscribe to our Eventbrite page to be notified when bookings open.
#CoaltoNature @gloinatur.bsky.social
🌍 #WorldWildlifeDay
Coal spoil & other brownfield sites are vital for wildlife. These overlooked habitats support rare species - some found nowhere else, giving #Wales an international duty of care.
Industrial past, global biodiversity future. 💚
#CoalToNature #Wildlife #Cymru #Nature #Brownfield
📣 Featured in Ouest-France! 🇫🇷
Our work at Cwm Tips (Rhondda Cynon Taf) is highlighted in one of France’s biggest papers — showing how wildlife is reclaiming this former coal tip.
🌍 Post-industrial nature recovery matters.
🔗 www.ouest-france.fr/leditionduso...
#CoalToNature #CwmTips
🎤 Talk reminder!
Discover the surprising wildlife of South Wales’ coal spoil sites — from the “Maerdy Monster” to the Pyrenean Semi-slug, plus fungi, plants, birds & more.
🎟️ Book: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/coal-spoil...
#CoalToNature #NatureWalk #Swansea #Cymru #Wales #Nature #Wildlife
🎶 Have you noticed how much more vocal the birds are lately? 🐦
Today at Ogmore Washeries, we recorded 11 bird species singing in the same area — a sure sign that spring is on the way… and we can’t wait! 🌿
#SignsOfSpring #CoalToNature #OgmoreWasheries #Birdsong #Bridgend #OgmoreVale #Woodland
Filmed through binoculars (excuse the quality!), this was today’s special sighting at #Pontycymer Lakes, Garw Valley 💙
Once part of Ffaldau Colliery, the lake is now a haven for #wildlife - including Kingfishers, now seen here almost daily this winter.
#CoalToNature #GarwValley #Nature #Kingfisher
3 weeks since launching our 'Save the Small Blue at Cwm Tips' #Crowdfunder and we’ve raised £915 - nearly halfway! 💙
Thank you for your support 💚
If you would like to donate, visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-the-s...
#SaveTheSmallBlue #GloiNatur #CoaltoNature #Nature #Wales #Cymru #Wildlife
These wetlands support scarce species like Grass Snake, Great Crested Newt, Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly, and Marsh Helleborine orchid.
Even the most unlikely landscapes can become vital refuges for nature. 🌿💚
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#CoalToNature #GloiNatur #Wetlands #NatureRecovery #WorldWetlandsDay #Wales
Proud moment for Glo i Natur CIC today 🌿
Our work at Cwm Tips, Beddau was mentioned in the Senedd by Heledd Fychan MS, highlighting coal tips as havens for biodiversity.
Great to see nature and safety discussed together - and even the Beddau Beast got a mention!
#GloiNatur #CoaltoNature #CwmTips
A perfect reminder that coal spoil sites still surprise us — turning up species new to Britain, even on places we think we know well.
Where will it be found next? 👀🐌
#CoalToNature #GloiNatur #CoalSpoil #CollierySpoil #Biodiversity #Nature #NewSpecies #Wales #SouthWales #CynonValley
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❄️ A new discovery at Cwm Tips ❄️
We’ve been visiting this site for over 10 years - and only just found this new tufa spring, frozen in winter. Formed where calcium-rich water now emerges from the tip, it’s a reminder that these landscapes are still changing.
#GloiNatur #CoaltoNature #Tufaspring
One of the sites we visited this week was Cefnpennar Tip (RCT). Now largely birch woodland, it still supports heathland & open grassland — perfect for Cladonia #lichens, and #liverworts such as Least Crystalwort, thriving where competition is low 🌿
#GloiNatur #CoaltoNature #Nature #Wildlife #Wales
Tufa springs on coal tips 💦
These rare micro-habitats form where water passing through coal spoil picks up calcium - likely from ancient marine bands - and deposits it at the surface. Unusual in the acidic Valleys, and vital for specialist wildlife like soldierflies.
#GloiNatur #CoaltoNature
We usually showcase the plants, fungi & invertebrates of coal spoil sites - but here’s some of the hidden life too 🐭
Wood Mice sheltering under a metal sheet at Darren Fawr Tip in the Garw Valley.
Coal tips: full of surprises, even in winter.
#GloiNatur #CoaltoNature #SouthWalesValleys
Visited the Lewis Merthyr coal tip above Trehafod last weekend. Once industrial spoil, it’s now heather, whinberry, lichens & warm bare ground supporting specialist wildlife. Conifers are creeping in, so management is key. Even in winter it’s beautiful 💚
#GloiNatur #CoaltoNature #CoalSpoil
Last night, Liam and Carys from Glo i Natur CIC joined the @wtsww.bsky.social Brecon Group AGM, where Liam gave a talk on the rich biodiversity of South Wales’ coal spoil sites - from Pennyroyal & Adder to the “Maerdy Monster”!
Thanks for the warm welcome.
#GloiNatur #CoaltoNature #CoalSpoil
Big news! 🌿 After 10 years of work celebrating the biodiversity of South Wales’ coal spoil sites, I’ve launched Glo i Natur CIC - a new community interest company protecting, restoring & celebrating our coalfield nature.
➡️ Follow @gloinatur.bsky.social to join the journey 💚
#CoaltoNature
