🌳 New research explores how woodland creation could reshape the future of British mammals… As countries race to meet biodiversity targets, large-scale woodland creation is high on the agenda. But what does this mean for wildlife? 📖 Read here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

🚨🐬 Breaking: UK porpoises show record levels of mercury poisoning New research has revealed that harbour porpoises around the UK coast are carrying record-high levels of mercury, nearly double what they were in the early 1990s. Protecting marine ecosystems has never been more urgent.

Just one place now available for this guided wildfowl walk on the Loughor Estuary... www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-wildfowl...

We're hiring a Communications Officer! We're looking for a creative individual with an eye for design & flair for storytelling to create engaging content across our communications channels to inspire action for nature. Apply today: www.welshwildlife.org/jobs/communications-officer

Great to work with our friends at @metoffice.gov.uk @climatecentreuk.bsky.social & @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social to spread the word about how climate change is impacting plant flowering times. Huge thanks to everyone who took part in #NewYearPlantHunt & collected vital data! #CitizenScience #NYPH

Blackbird on frosted Cotoneaster (I think). 06/01/26. #photoyrticklist No6. 🪶 #birdingwales #ukbirding #nature #wildlife

#12DaysWild may be over, but there are still so many ways to stay connected to nature and make a difference! Whether it’s planting for pollinators, reducing waste or joining local events, every action counts. Find more ideas here: champ.ly/yUuWqGNQ 📸 Chris Gomersall/2020VISION

Bookings have opened for our Wildfowl Walk on the Loughor Estuary with Russell Evans. Places are going quickly already so book soon if you'd like to join us as places are limited. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-wildfowl...

Stop and listen! Nature’s got the best playlist this winter. This #12DaysWild, take a moment to listen to nature’s soundtrack. From the cheerful robin’s winter song to the blackbird’s flute-like melody, every bird has its own tune. 🎵 Take a listen: champ.ly/swRlo4yk 📸 Margaret Holland

Spotting animal tracks is a great way to discover hidden wildlife on your #12DaysWild walks. From Deer hoofprints to Otter trails, every mark tells a story! 🐾 Take a closer look: champ.ly/6nUY6VDr 📸 Karen Lloyd, Peter Cairns, Amy Lewis

A chilly scan from Pembrey Harbour delivered 2 Great Northern Diver and c50 Eider off Whiteford. Pretty sure I had the Slavonian Grebe as well but too brief to be sure. Plenty of Brent Geese and a handful of GCG. Skylark and Rock Pipit also new for the year. #birdingWales

Help the environment this #12DaysWild and head to your local wild space 🌳, beach 🏖️, or street 🏠 to carry out a litter pick! 🚮 #beachclean #litterpick

At Rhossili yesterday very good to note a new sign asking people to keep seal pups safe by giving them space and not interfering! 👍

🥂 Happy New Year from Glo i Natur CIC 🥳 Thanks to everyone who’s supported us so far - by following, sharing, attending talks or showing interest. We’re still in our early days, but 2026 is shaping up to be an exciting year as we turn ideas into action across the South Wales Valleys. 💚

Happy New Year from the MBA! 🎉 As we step into 2026, we want to thank our incredible community for your support, passion and commitment throughout the past year. Here’s to a year of growth, learning and making waves together! 🌊✨ #HappyNewYear #MarineBiology #OceanScience #MBACommunity

We'd like to wish all our brilliant followers, fans, patrons and supporters a really happy, safe, and healthy 2026! 🦔 📆 🎉 📷 Emily Clark & BHPS #HappyNewYear #NY2026 #HNY #NewYear #hedgehogs #hedgehog #wildlife #NYMotivation

The 2026 #NewYearPlantHunt is now underway and the first records are already pinging in! Take a look at the Results map: nyph.bsbi.org/results.php There are going to be a lot more markers pinging in as the day goes on, each one showing where a plant or list of plants has been recorded. Let's go!

Happy New Year! It's time to kick off #RecordEveryDayJanuary 🍾 Submit a species sighting each day this month to get your wildlife recording year started and be entered into a prize draw for book tokens 📚

Happy New Year, folks! Let's look forward with optimism and a renewed effort to appreciate and protect wildlife - even if it's in your laundry basket! That's where I found this Giant House Spider - biggest I've ever seen at +2" 😄 Please don't ask which species... 🤷‍♀️ @liamolds.bsky.social

Step into 2026 with a wild walk! From gentle strolls to rugged hikes, our nature reserves are bursting with winter wonder. Tag us in your first #12DaysWild walk of the year and discover trails near you: champ.ly/x22tcqN1 📸 Danny Green/2020VISION

One of the four Tundra Bean Geese that were at Sker this morning - not a species I was expecting to see when I went out this morning given how rare wild geese are anywhere in Glamorgan. Never close but a great find by @deanbolt.bsky.social

It’s beginning to look a lot like… New Year! More wildflowers are beginning to stir, and I spotted these today for the last #WildflowerHour of 2025: groundsel, primroses, speedwell, hazel catkins, periwinkle, blackthorn, hogweed, sweet violet, cyclamen and snowdrop. #TheWinter10

On the 5th day of #12DaysWild, we’re going completely nuts for Red Squirrels! These fiery woodland elves don’t hibernate, they squirrel away snacks to survive the chilly months. 🌰🐿️ 📸 Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

The December Moth is truly moth-nificent! It’s one of the few species flying in winter. Fluffy and charcoal-coloured, it rests in woodland. Adults do not feed and live on energy stored as caterpillars. 🐛 📸 Vaughn Matthews #12DaysWild #12DiwrnodGwyllt

Wrap up warm and wish upon a winter star! Head outside, look up, and let the night sky dazzle you. It’s the most magical decoration of all! ✨ 📸 Ed Marshall #12DaysWild #12DiwrnodGwyllt

Happy first day of #12DaysWild ! Winter may make you want to hibernate, but nature is full of life. Take a festive walk and tell us what you find in the comments! 📸 Danny Green/2020VISION

Merry Christmas🎄 From all us at The Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales we wish you a wonderful wildlife-packed festive season! Thank you to each and every one of you who has supported our work to protect more wildlife and wild spaces in Wales this year! 📸 Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

#SeasonsGreetings from the Royal Entomological Society 🎄🪲 As 2025 draws to a close, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported #InsectScience this year. Wishing you a peaceful festive season & a bright New Year. Here’s to more discovery, curiosity & collaboration in 2026! 🌟

A new study explores how new woodlands may introduce unexpected consequences for native mammal species—highlighting both opportunities and risks for conservation planning. 📖 Read the full paper here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

Last chance to submit polecat sightings from 2024 and 2025 to our #NationalPolecatSurvey! We'll be sharing findings from the survey in 2026. Thank you to everyone who has taken part! Report via: - arcg.is/1TXqHC - The @mammalsociety.bsky.social Mammal Mapper App - iNaturalist - Send us a message

Some festive finds at International Colliery, Blaengarw this weekend ❄️ These beautiful snow-white #lichens are Stereocaulon species - possibly S. evolutum and S. dactylophyllum. They’re delicate and only grow in places with very little disturbance, as they’re easily broken. A winter treat 🤍

#12DaysWild is just around the corner! 🦊🐦🦉 Here's some winter wildlife to get you inspired to spend the festive season connecting with nature! Want more inspiration? Sign up to #12DaysWild today: champ.ly/eXqJCAsG

Cool sunnies! 😉 💚

A three species roost down at Llanrhidian Marsh this evening with the Pallid Harrier joined by both a female Hen Harrier and cream-capped Marsh Harrier. One of the Kestrels was tucking into a meal and a Bat emerged post sunset to hunt. Speaking of which, the sky put on a bit of a show. #birdingWales

Many thanks to everyone who shared pix of wild & naturalised plants to brighten up the #WinterSolstice! Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas, then we have one more #WildFlowerHour before the #NewYearPlantHunt. And then days keep on getting longer until it's Spring! @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

#RecordOfTheWeek today is a festively decorated Spotted Snake Millipede (Blaniulus guttulatus), spotted in Taf Fechan by Graham Watkeys. Many thanks for the record and photo, submitted via www.sewbrecord.org.uk. Merry Christmas to all from the SEWBReC Team 🎄🎁☃️🎅

"People ask: ‘How can it happen in five days?’ The answer is because it’s immersive, and it touches every aspect of the child’s mind, body and spirit, and it gives them hope. It gives them optimism, and it gives them a new value of themselves" Brilliant. 💚

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

We'll be running #RecordEveryDayJanuary again in 2026! Send us a wildlife sighting for each day during Jan and be entered into a prize draw. Records can be submitted via www.sewbrecord.org.uk, LERC Wales App: www.sewbrec.org.uk/recording/app or email to [email protected].

Finally bitten the bullet and joined Bluesky after months of getting nothing from Twitter. I have tried to use an importer tool to find anyone on here who I followed on Twitter, but I'm sure it will have missed people so please feel free to follow if you are one of those missed.

🎄 #InsectAdvent Day 10 is #Plecoptera day! #FunFact: Stoneflies are a sign of pristine rivers with healthy ecosystems. Their aquatic nymphs live under stones in fast-flowing highly-oxygenated streams and can take months or even years to mature. 🔗

Last chance to spot a polecat! VWT’s #4thNationalPolecatSurvey ends 31.12.2025 — and every record helps us understand how this native mammal is doing. Share your sightings here arcg.is/1TXqHC or use the Mammal Mapper app or send us an email to [email protected] @mammalsociety.bsky.social

Inspired by her time as a Long Term Volunteer on Skomer this summer, Amy has created a 2026 calendar featuring her favourite island animals. She'll be donating 10% from every calendar sold to the Trust. If you'd like to purchase one, email [email protected]. #Skomer

Very pleased to announce that following our recent talk by Dr Dan Forman about #GowerBirdHospital the students of Swansea University Conservation & Ecology Society had a quiz night and donated £42 to the Bird Hospital 👏👏👏

Thanks to all who enjoyed our Members & Friends Festive evening last night. We over-ran a bit (a lot) but what else can you do when there are fab speakers, good food and a quiz? Also found some keen new reserves volunteers! 🪏🌳🌳🌳

Tonight's the night! #jinglejingle See you at 7.30pm 🍷🧁 Talks from Thom Lyon on the pool frog and from Dr Kevin Arbuckle from Swansea University on reptiles , amphibians and venom! 🐍

There’s just one week to go until you can book your 2026 day trip to Skomer! We’re proud to work in partnership with Pembrokeshire Islands - the only boat operator that lands on Skomer. You can book your day trip on their website from 1st December. 📸 Alexander Mustard

If you'd like to join this friendly group of conservation volunteers making a real difference on our Swansea/Gower reserves, email us! 🪏🌳👶🐦‍⬛ [email protected]

I had a nine o'clock raider in my garden this morning—a blog post to mark the occasion. www.thewildlifeoculus.com/2025/11/the-... #gwentbirds