Welsh Wildlife Centre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Welsh Wildlife Centre |
|
|---|---|
| Canolfan Bywyd Gwyllt Cymru | |
Welsh Wildlife Centre, Cilgerran
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | Cilgerran, Wales |
| Nearest town | Cardigan, Wales |
| Area | 264 acres (107 ha) |
| Operated by | Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales |
| Visitors | 80,000 (in 2019) |
| Awards | Visit Wales Gold Accolade (2016) |
| Hiking trails | Cardigan-Cilgerran Offshoot (Pembrokeshire Coastal Path) |
The Welsh Wildlife Centre is a special place in Wales where nature thrives! It's a wildlife reserve located near Cilgerran, right on the border between Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion. You can find it close to the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, which is a famous walking trail.
Contents
What is the Welsh Wildlife Centre?
The Welsh Wildlife Centre opened in 1993. It is about a mile from the town of Cardigan. The main building is made of wood and glass. It offers amazing views of Cardigan and the River Teifi.
This special place is owned and looked after by the Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales. The reserve covers about 264 acres (107 hectares) of the Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve. The BBC has called it "one of the best wetland reserves in Wales." It is also one of the few places in the UK where you can see water buffalo living freely.
The centre welcomes over 80,000 visitors every year. It's a popular spot for people who love nature!
Habitats and Animals
The reserve has many different types of natural areas. These include grassy fields, wooded areas with hedges, freshwater marshes, and areas with tall reeds. There are also muddy banks that are affected by the tides.
Many different birds live here, such as sedge warblers, reed warblers, and kingfishers. You might also spot marsh harriers and red kites flying overhead. Besides birds, the reserve is home to water voles, sika deer, and otters. In the summer, you can see lots of insects, including 17 different kinds of dragonflies!
Visitor Facilities
The visitor centre has a lovely place called the Glasshouse Cafe. It's a restaurant with a wide view of the marshes. They serve homemade food, local treats, cakes, and ice cream. Inside the visitor centre, you will also find accessible toilets, a shop, and rooms with interesting displays.
Supporting the Centre
The Welsh Wildlife Centre sometimes receives grants to help improve its facilities. For example, in 2019, it got £10,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This money helped make the visitor centre even better and attract more people.
Sometimes, parts of the centre need repairs. In 2019, a special bird-watching spot called the Kingfisher Hide was damaged. The Wildlife Trust asked for help from the public to raise money to rebuild it. Another time, a badger sculpture was also damaged.
Getting There
The Centre is a short drive from the Cardigan end of the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path. You can also enjoy a nice 20-minute walk to the centre along the marshes path.
