Buglife Cymru

Wales is home to the UK’s only populations of the Large Mason Bee (Osmia xanthomelana), the Scarce Yellow Sally (Isogenus nubecula) and nationally important populations of the Fen Raft Spider (Dolomedes plantarius), Blue Ground Beetle (Carabeus intricatus), Bog Sun Jumper (Heliophanus dampfi) and Shrill Carder Bee (Bombus sylvarum). Species new to science and to the UK continue to be discovered in Wales, particularly in coal spoil sites which offer mosaic habitats capable of supporting a wide range of species, such as the Beddau Beast (Cranogona dalensi) and the Maerdy Monster (Turdulisoma cf helenreadae).

Our projects have restored and enhanced habitats including brownfield coal spoil sites, wildflower-rich grasslands, rivers and streams, sand dunes, and woodlands. We are working hard to give a brighter future to some of Wales’ most threatened species such as the Tormentil Mining Bee (Andrena tarsata), Grayling Butterfly (Hipparchia semele) and Strandline Beetle (Eurynebria complanata).

We believe in the value of working in partnership with other organisations to restore nature. Most recently we have worked with Bumblebee Conservation Trust on their ‘Connecting the Carmarthenshire Coast’ project and the Vale of Glamorgan’s ‘Restore the Thaw’ project. We are also very proud to be one of 10 partners working on ‘Natur am Byth!’ – Wales’ flagship species recovery programme.

As the leading voice for invertebrates in Wales, we continue to champion the needs of our special species to Welsh policymakers. Our advocacy activities include holding events in the Senedd, joining the collective calls of Wales Environment Link as a member organisation, and taking MSs out to see Wales best invertebrates up-close on site visits. To find out more about our policy asks, read our Manifesto for Bugs.

Buglife has achieved many successes in Wales over the past ten years, including:

• Being the first country in the UK to complete a B-Lines network map, a project which restores connected wildflower-rich habitat across the UK.
• Being the first country in the UK to complete a map of Important Invertebrate Areas – the most important places in Wales for invertebrates.
• Delivering conservation projects for rare and threatened species, such as the Blue Ground Beetle (Carabus intricatus)
• Engaging local communities with our work and connecting people to the amazing world of invertebrates – for example our Wales Oil Beetle Hunt.
• Safeguarding our most important wildlife sites from development, such as the on-going Bedwas Tips proposed development.