Welsh Country March-April 2017
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BIODIVERSITY<br />
BIODIVERSITY<br />
Grayling butterfly, an iconic coal tip species Heath covered slopes of Gelli Coal Tips Heather Colletes beevisiting Ling Heather<br />
The warm, sunny slopes support excellent reptile habitat where common lizard and slow worm are abundant. Pools<br />
offer breeding habitat for frogs, toads, palmate newts and dragonflies. Areas of deep grass and heath support voles<br />
and mice, which in turn attract hunting buzzard, kestrel, red kite and barn owl.<br />
Threats<br />
These tips, however, are undervalued and misunderstood. As a legacy of a previous age, there is often a desire to<br />
sweep away the signs of a sometimes painful past. They face increasing threats from development, natural<br />
succession, re-working to extract useable coal, and inappropriate management and restoration. They<br />
are unique landscape features and sites of high biodiversity significance, and should be protected. The<br />
Colliery Spoil Biodiversity Initiative is working to raise awareness of the important biodiversity value<br />
of these often overlooked and underappreciated areas. It is hoped that one day in the near future, the<br />
long-term security of our spoil tips will be secured for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.<br />
For further information, please visit www.collieryspoil.wordpress.com, email collieryspoil@gmail.com or call<br />
Liam on 02920 573170 / 07437 595720. Please also follow our work on Twitter<br />
@collierspoil and Facebook at facebook.com/collieryspoil. U<br />
Words & Pictures: Liam Olds<br />
www.welshcountry.co.uk 19
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