Easter Bunny Adventure

Rabbit juvenile - Richard Bowler

Spend your Easter with a truly wild Easter bunny!

Skomer Island is renowned for its breath-taking #wildlife and stunning scenery. People come from all over the world to witness the waddling walk of a Puffin and hear the mysterious calls of the Manx Shearwaters. With dolphin sightings from the cliffs, perching razorbills and the slender guillemot, the island really is a true wildlife haven to behold.

But what some visitors may often be surprised about when visiting #Skomer is the abundance of rabbits on the island, and the diversity of colours within them. From an ordinary sandy brown right through to white collared rabbits and even black rabbits, the variety is intriguing.

Rabbits were introduced to Skomer around 700 years ago by the Normans and the island was used as a rabbit farm, or coney island.  Skomer rabbits only produce one litter, usually in April, consisting of about three kittens (baby rabbits).

Rabbits have numerous positive effects for nature conservation on Skomer and they have a three main beneficial effects in maintaining Skomer’s wildlife diversity:

Puffin & Rabbit - Charles Thody

1. Although Manx Shearwaters and Puffins can dig their own burrows, they will also use old rabbit burrows as well.

2. By keeping the vegetation low when eating rabbits allow plants to have access to light which increases the botanical diversity of the island.

3. In good rabbit years it is thought that less seabirds are predated upon by the islands top predators.

April is also a special time on the island for seabirds, especially Puffins as they will return to land where their courtship takes place. The bonus of staying overnight is that at this time of year, Puffins will often spend their days out at sea and then return to Skomer in the evenings, sometimes putting on a spectacular wheeling display in North Haven.

So why not spend Easter on an island surrounded by rabbits and Skomer’s truly amazing wildlife! April is a great time to visit the island and watch as the Puffins settle into their summer houses. 

To book a stay on Skomer this spring call 01656 724100.

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Seal-sational Skomer

Seal pup on Skomer Island having a snooze

#SKOMER ISLAND voted Britain’s Favorite Nature Reserve 2016, is well known for its Puffins, but what people don’t realise is that once the puffins have left around August time, the Atlantic Grey Seals start to have their pups on Skomer’s beaches. 

The Wildlife Trust Skomer Team monitor their progress each year and so far this autumn 7 seal pups have been born. Since 1983 contributions by The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales’ members and seal friends, together with funding by NRW, have enabled the staff of Skomer Island to conduct a detailed seal study.

Seal Pup with Skomer Assistant Warden; Jason Moss

“Nowadays the seals around Skomer are doing well and are protected by law from persecution and disturbance but there was a time when this wasn’t the case.” says Birgitta Bueche, one of the two Head Wardens for Skomer Island.

For further information on visiting and staying on Skomer Island, please visit www.welshwildlife.org

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Picture Credit: The Wildlife trust of South and West Wales

We’ve got a nature reserve for you . . .

THE WILDLIFE TRUST of South and West Wales (WTSWW) has launched four promotional videos about the wild places and experiences people can enjoy on its reserves.

The first video focuses on a variety of WTSWW reserves, including Parc Slip in Bridgend, Melin Cwrt Falls in Neath Port Talbot, Taf Fechan in Merthyr, and The Welsh Wildlife Centre in Cilgerran. The second features Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, the third is about Skomer Island, and the fourth features Skokholm Island, a thriving marine nature reserve surrounded by reefs and rich seas. The island supports a variety of wildlife including thousands of sea birds such as puffins and Manx shearwaters, a large population of storm petrels, Guillemots, and Razorbills.

The trusts’s marketing and communication officer, Rebecca Vincent, says: ‘We hope the videos will show local people what we do and give them a small glimpse into the abundance of wildlife that we fight so hard to protect. We would like to thank Visit Wales’ Partnership 4 growth scheme for giving us the opportunity to produce these videos.’

The videos are now available to view at …

Facebook: www.facebook.com/WildlifetrustSouthandWestWales 

Twitter: @WRSW
Instagram: WildlifeTrustSWW
YouTube: www.youtube.com/theWTSWW
Website: www.welshwildlife.org

The trust currently manages some 85 nature reserves throughout South and West Wales.

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Picture Credit: Puffins via photopin.com

Accolade for Skomer nature reserve

THE Wildlife Trust’s #SkomerIsland – less than a mile off the #Pembrokeshire coast – has been voted the UK’s favourite nature reserve by readers of LandLove magazine, whose awards aim to celebrate the best things about the British countryside

Dr Lizzie Wilberforce, conservation manager for The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, said: ‘Skomer is internationally important for its seabird populations, and without a doubt it is the best place to see seabirds in southern Britain. It is a privilege to care for a nature reserve which is so very important, and to know that the island’s wildlife makes such a profound impression on our many visitors.’

Skomer Island has an abundance of wildlife, including 21,000 puffins, 23,000 guillemots, 7,000 razorbills, plus harbour porpoises, Atlantic grey seals, and world’s largest population of Manx shearwaters. The island is covered in a carpet of Bluebells during the spring, while a shade of pink is added by swathes of Campion.

Gina Gavigan, marketing and development manager comments: ‘It’s an amazing place to visit and stay for a unique wildlife adventure. The island attracts a variety of visitors including wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, and walkers. Proceeds raised by visitors and overnight guests support our vital research and conservation work.’

The island will be open to visitors this year from March 25 until October. Trust members get a free landing on Skomer and priority booking on overnight stays.

www.welshwildlife.org/ 01239 621600/e-mail: islands@welshwildlife.org.

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Picture Credit: flickr.com/photos/45252009@N08/9670802679">Puffin on Skomer Island</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin