❄️ The icy, frosty conditions today are ideal for spotting hair ice — those delicate, silky threads of ice that form on dead wood. This magical phenomenon is caused by a specific fungus, Exidiopsis effusa, which enables water to emerge from the wood as fine strands that freeze into hair-like ice. ❄️

❄️ 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

We have managed to release some extra tickets for the Gwent-Glamorgan Recorders' Forum 🥳 Join us in Coleg y Cymoedd, Nantgarw on 31st January for this free celebration of Welsh wildlife! Book your space here: ggrf26.eventbrite.co.uk

Adult Neobisium carcinoides on left - immature and adult Neobisium simile on right. Scale 1 mm. Strongly pointed epitome and medially furrowed carapace are useful key features. South Wales speciality. @collieryspoil.bsky.social @sewbrec.org.uk @britishspiders.bsky.social @pseudoliam.bsky.social

Ever wondered what’s beneath your feet? This fantastic map overlays the underground workings of Lady Windsor Colliery (Ynysybwl) onto today’s landscape, revealing the true scale of mining beneath the Valleys and bringing our coalfield heritage vividly to life. ⚒️ #MiningMaps #CoalMiningHeritage

🥂 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. 💚

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

✨ Golden-eye moment! 💛 Out in the Cynon Valley today, our team found Golden-eye Lichen (Teloschistes chrysophthalmos) on hawthorn at the former Aberaman Colliery. Once Critically Endangered, this Mediterranean species is now spreading - it was first recorded in Wales in 2015 on coal spoil.

🎄 Merry Christmas & Happy New Year / Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda 🎄 Thank you to all who’ve supported us through our transition to Glo i Natur CIC 💚 2026 is shaping up to be an exciting year - with events, training and new projects ahead. Keep an eye on our socials for updates!

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 🤍

We recently visited Parc Calon Lan & the former International Colliery in Blaengarw. Once coal spoil, these sites now offer space for the community and support rich wildlife, including threatened species like Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary. A powerful example of nature reclaiming industrial places.

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].

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

A reason to leave Burdock standing when doing grassland management by cut and collect. Goldfinches love 'em.

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

Great to speak with the Nature Restoration & Forestry students from Black Mountain College in Treherbert today about coal spoil wildlife. Sharing this knowledge is vital - inspiring future practitioners to recognise the biodiversity value of these sites. 🌿💚

It's been a long wait but an advance copy of 'Grasshoppers' has finally arrived. It's been worth the wait with excellent printing

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

We joined the 3 Valleys Partnership Meeting this morning at Bryngarw Park to discuss nature recovery across the Ogmore, Garw & Llynfi valleys. A key part of our role is ensuring coal spoil sites are recognised for their wildlife and heritage value - and included in future funding opportunities.

A very exciting opportunity for an environmental investigative journalist to join our team at the Initiative for Nature Conservation Cymru.

Amendment 40 to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill has been voted down. Had it passed, it would have meant more precious wildlife would have retained existing protections. Instead, MPs have bought into the false 'nature vs growth' narrative.

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

Brett Westwood chatted with Peter Creed about progress on Pisces Publications eagerly awaited #FliesofBritainandIreland at this year's Worcestershire Entomology Day. Due late Jan/early Feb 2026. Pre-order now bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @gailashton.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @georgemcgavin.bsky.social

My first Snow Flea (Boreus hyemalis) of the winter at Cali Heath @yorkswildlife.bsky.social reserve today. Nice of her to pose out in the open on a fallen leaf, so didn't need to spend hours waiting for one to emerge from the Polytrichum moss! @ynuorg.bsky.social #Mecoptera #Boreidae #ukwildlife

Head to our website for more info on our letter, or hear Rob tomorrow morning on @bbccymruwales.bsky.social

1/3 Liam & Christian were in the Wyre Forest Coalfield today, where Liam was guest speaker at Worcestershire Entomology Day 🐞 Nearly 100 people attended!

We are delighted to share the Autumn 2025 edition of the Gwent-Glamorgan Newsletter! Many thanks to all contributors. Download a pdf here: www.sewbrec.org.uk/upload/libra... Or read as a flipbook here: online.fliphtml5.com/zpyru/zqpk/

A new Red List for Vascular Plants in Great Britain has just been published - the first update for twenty years 🌿 So what is a Red List, and why does it matter? What does this new report tells us about the state of Britain’s flora?

We’re excited to announce the launch of Glo i Natur CIC - a new community interest company dedicated to protecting, restoring, and celebrating the unique biodiversity and heritage of South Wales’ coal spoil sites. 🌿 Follow our journey from coal to nature: gloinatur.org #GloiNatur #NatureRecovery