At the ‘Working for Wildlife’ event on Sunday, people made bird boxes to take away to put up in their gardens. They also saw displays by the Wildlife Trust, Coed Cymru, Red Squirrel project, Parc Natur Penglais, the local bat group and many others. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds also brought along their mobile cinema. And the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds brought along their mobile cinema.

Creuad the community group made a Creative Trail at Pen Dinas & Tanybwlch Local Nature Reserve.

Young and old alike enjoyed making music on instruments made from local wood by Mike and Sue Appleton.

On Tuesday 14th there was an open day at Coed Simdde Lwyd, a Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales Nature Reserve, in Cwm Rheidol. Lizzie Wilberforce, the Wildlife Trust Officer, and volunteers gave guided walks around part of the area of sessile oak woodland in the valley. Many birds breed in the woods and wood warblers were heard on the day.

Despite the shaky weather Ermol V was fully packed when it ventured out of New Quay Harbour on Wednesday 15th for a two hour cruise along some of Ceredigion’s finest coastline. Guiding the trip was Liz Allan, Conservation Management Officer and Biodiversity Weeks organiser in Ceredigion.

Amongst the passengers on board were Lisa Jones from Cross Inn and her friend Kitty Evans. They had won the trip as the second prize of the Biodiversity Quiz that has been running all week on Radio Ceredigion. The first prize, two tickets for a day trip to Skomer Island, was won by Avril Davil from Cilgerran.

On Wednesday, the Shark Trust held a 'Shark day', at New Quay harbour. Children from Ysgol Ceinewydd and Ysgol Mydroilyn used the shark-o-meter to explore the smallest, flattest and strangest sharks. Then as part of the Great Eggcase Hunt the children learnt about hunting for eggcases and other strandline treasures.

In the evening, Helen Bates from the Seawatch Foundation gave an informative talk on The Marine Biodiversity of Cardigan Bay. Her talk was brought to life with wonderfully colourful images of underwater marine life including ‘deadman’s fingers’ coral and grazing sea urchins. The audience also learnt how to tell the difference between bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises.

On Thursday 16th, Liz Allan led a guided walk along the coastpath to the Cardigan Bay lookout point where the group met one of the Dolphin Watch volunteers. Diving gannets and harbour porpoise sightings were some of the highlights.

That evening an enthusiastic Lesley Cowhig from the RSPB presented ‘Aren't Welsh Birds Brilliant!’ The RSPB is encouraging farmers in Ceredigion to manage some of their land to benefit declining farmland birds such as the yellowhammer.

On Sunday 19th, Paul Evans from Ceredigion County Council, led a 3 mile circular Butterfly Walk linking Llanrhystud to the coast path. Much of the walk focused on an area of south facing heath/meadow which is an excellent habitat for butterflies and insects.

Denmark Farm near Lampeter had its open day on Sunday. There were guided walks and pond dipping in this haven for wildlife as well as crafts displays and stalls and pony rides.

Sarah Andrews, Biodiversity Officer, Ceredigion County Council on email: saraha@ceredigion.gov.uk or phone: 01545 570881

Annalisa Bianchessi, Cardigan Bay SAC Officer, Ceredigion County Council on email: annalisab@ceredigion.gov.uk or phone: 01545 572139

Ceredigion Biodiversity Week organiser:
Liz Allan 01545 572 142 liza@ceredigion.gov.uk

Welsh Biodiversity Week organiser: Emily Dicks 01248385500 e.dicks@ccw.gov.uk, http://www.biodiversitywales.org.uk