Biodiversity of Wales facts for kids

Map of Wales:
     Topography above 600 feet (180 m)     National parks

Welsh Mountain Pony

The biodiversity of Wales refers to the wide variety of ecosystems, living organisms, and the genetic makeups found in Wales.

Wales is a predominantly mountainous peninsula located between England and the Irish Sea, covering 8,023 square miles. It has terrestrial habitats and many protected areas rich in biodiversity, including three national parks and five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The national parks include: Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire Coast and Brecon Beacons. AONB include: Anglesey, Clwydian Range, Gower Peninsula, Llŷn Peninsula and Wye Valley, which is partially in England. Wales also has many locations categorised as Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area and local nature reserve. There are many zoos and gardens, including the National Botanic Garden of Wales.

On the coast, a great diversity of species such as seals, dolphins, sharks, jellyfish, crabs and lobsters can be found. There are also seabird colonies on the islands near the coast. Species which can only be found in Wales are the Radnor lily, spotted rock-rose and a type of fish, the gwyniad, only found in Lake Bala. The rare fen orchid (Liparis loeselii) is one of the most threatened species in northwestern Europe and has vanished from many places in Wales. The Welsh Government funds Natural Resources Wales (NRW), Plantlife, Bridgend County Borough Council and the Wales Biodiversity Partnership coastal ecosystem group to help reconstruct its natural habitat and secure the future of this threatened species.

The Welsh government works closely with the Wales Biodiversity Partnership (WBP) which promotes and monitors the Wales biodiversity action plan. In 2010 the Welsh government launched a Natural Environment Framework, "A Living Wales", which focuses on sustainable land and marine management in Wales. The Environment (Wales) Act 2016 put into place a range of powers and duties designed to enable the natural resources of Wales to be planned and management in a more sustainable, pro-active and joined-up way than was previously possible.

Elements

Floral biodiversity

Gagea bohemica

Trees

The sessile oak (Quercus petraea), one of Wales' most common species, can be found across the region. English holly (Ilex aquifolium), one of the few native evergreen trees, can found in southern Wales. The wych elm (Ulmus glabra), a native species, suffers from disease and competition introduced by exotic species.

Flowers

The cuckoo flower (Cardamine pratensis), a herbaceous perennial, can be found throughout Wales. Bog rosemary (Andromeda polifolia), a small flowering shrub, can be found in central Wales. Within the British Isles, the Snowdon lily (Gagea serotina) is found only on the slopes of Snowdon.

Important Plant Areas

Important Plant Areas (IPAs) in Wales are areas of "the highest botanical importance" as determined by Plantlife.

Faunal diversity

Red kite (Milvus milvus)

Marine

Around Cardigan Bay and Pembrokeshire coast, minke and pilot whales are common in the summer while fin and killer whales are rare. Bottlenose dolphins are common and Risso’s dolphin and Atlantic white-sided dolphin are rare. Whales, grey seals, basking sharks and sunfish can also be seen.

Mammals

Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and fallow deer (Dama dama) are the two largest mammal species in Wales. Roe deer are found in central and northern Wales. Fallow deer are found in rural and semiurban areas of Wales. The European polecat (Mustela putorius) can be found in both urban and country environments. Found in the same area is the red fox, one of the most common mammals in Wales.

The red deer, one of five native deer species, is the biggest non-marine mammal in Wales. Fallow, muntjac roe and sika deer can also be found. pine martens are very rarely seen. Other mammals include badgers, foxes, hares, hedgehogs, otters, rabbits, stoats, weasels, red squirrels, and 13 species of bat.

Birds

About 420 species of birds have been found in Wales. Red kites and ospreys are a "signature species" of Wales. Dippers, choughs, puffins, guillemots, razorbills, short-eared owls, Manx shearwaters, whimbrel and plovers are also common. Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus), a rare species in Britain, has several nesting places in Wales. Red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica), once a common species, has reduced population dramatically due to human hunting. Red grouse can be found at the extreme north part of Wales. King eider (Somateria spectabilis) is also heavily hunted for its feathers.

Reptiles

Adders, common lizards (try Oxwich bay) and grass snakes have been recorded. Some sand lizards bred by Herpetological Conservation Trust volunteers and Chester and Jersey Zoos have been released into the wild.

Priority Species

Endemism

Trees

Native species include ash, birch, oak, willow, holly, juniper, Scots pine and yew. Planting and conservation of natives species is encouraged, because they tend to better survive the local environment. They also help balance the biodiversity and provide wood and timbers.

Flowering plants

Ash, service tree, wild leeks, Tenby daffodil.

Bryophytes

Wales has over 300 species of mosses and liverworts.

The endangered species are: Bartramia stricta, Cryphaea lamyana, Ditrichum plumbicola, Hamatocaulis vernicosus, Pallavicinia lyellii, Petalophyllum ralfsii, Riccia huebeneriana and Sematophyllum demissum.

Mammals

• Lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros)
• Red squirrels

Birds

• Hen harrier
• Black grouse
• Curlew
• Golden plover

Reptiles

There are five native reptiles in Wales. These include grass snakes, sand lizards, common lizards and slowworms.

Amphibians

There are six native amphibians in Wales. They are the common toad, great crested newt, natterjack toad, palmate newt, smooth newt and common frog.

Invertebrates

An estimated 25,000 invertebrate species live in land and freshwater habitats in Wales.

Human impact

Welsh biodiversity has been reduced by human activity. Many native species were lost because of lack of woodland support.

Animals

Many conservation projects have been set up to preserve the red squirrel. There is a great decline in the number of hedgehogs. The use of pesticides has cause a major decline of honeybees; a Pollinator Action plan was launched at the Royal Welsh Show in July 2012.

Management

Wales has 175 species on the Section 74 list of Species of Principal Importance for the Conservation of Biological Diversity. However, the list of species and habitats of principal importance in Wales is now based on new legislation in the form of sections 6 and 7 of the Environment (Wales) 2016 Act. In Wales, the United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP) was implemented by the Wales Biodiversity Partnership (WBP). The Countryside Council for Wales also assists in sustainability management.

Wales Biodiversity Partnership (WBP) organises the overall plan, and on a local scale, each council carries out its own surveys and reports back, then produces management and protection plants for the identified species and habitats.

The Welsh government cooperates with European Community directives on the conservation of wild birds and natural habitats and wild flora and fauna as well as with NATURA 2000.

Gallery

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  Daffodil

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  True service tree

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  Wild leeks

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  Wych elm

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  Sessile oak

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  Holly

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  Cuckoo flower

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  Bog rosemary

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  Snowdon lily

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  Pilot whale

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  Bottlenose dolphin

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  Grey seal

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  Basking shark

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  Roe deer

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  Fallow deer

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  Red fox

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  European polecat

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  Red squirrel

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  Puffin

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  Osprey

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  Short-eared owl

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  Montagu's harrier

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  sand lizard

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  Grass snake