We've just joined @bsky.app, so a bit about us:

We're a #nature #conservation initiative founded in 2015 & based in #SouthWales. We aim to achieve greater appreciation (& more positive use) of our misunderstood #collieryspoil sites in #Wales, and legal protection for the most biodiverse examples.

This is such a good initiative. #Collieryspoil is still regarded as a blight on the landscape, but can be incredibly biodiverse when not re-landscaped.

We look forward to you joining us on our journey!

#brownfields #Ecology #wildlife #nature #Wales #UK #collieryspoil #mining #coal #invertebrates #insects #biodiversity #conservation

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 #DyddGŵylDewiHapus #HappyStDavid'sDay 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

To celebrate, here is one of our favourite species to occur on #collieryspoil - the Celtic Ghost Millipede (Psichrosoma cf breuili).

Known only from South Wales (globally), it was found new to science in 2015 from Newbridge, Caerphilly, by Christian Owen.

Hookeria lucens (Shining Hookeria) is a common but beautiful moss that is found in shaded, moist, humid locations, such as along flushes in woodland and on stream/river sides. This particular patch was spotted in wet woodland at Ogmore Washeries this week.

#collieryspoil #bryophytes

Nice surprise to see Brown-banded Carder Bee (Bombus humilis) active at Cwm Tips, Beddau, this afternoon - among the earliest records at this site. Good to also see the localised wolf spider Arctosa perita, which is associated with sandy habitats which #collieryspoil replicates.

A perfect reminder that coal spoil sites still surprise us — turning up species new to Britain, even on places we think we know well.

Where will it be found next? 👀🐌

#CoalToNature #GloiNatur #CoalSpoil #CollierySpoil #Biodiversity #Nature #NewSpecies #Wales #SouthWales #CynonValley

(7/7)

Reptiles have started to make an appearance on colliery spoil over the past few weeks, such as these at Ogmore Washeries. This former coal washery is an important site locally for Adder, with Common Lizard and Slow-worm also present.

#collieryspoil #reptiles

The Glossy Glass Snail (Oxychilus navarricus subsp. helveticus), seen at Ogmore Washeries today. The blue-grey body is quite spectacular! This tends to be the most common glass snail (Oxychilus) on colliery spoil.

#collieryspoil #snails #molluscs #Wales #invertebrates

The Beddau Beast (Cranogona dalensi) is a small off-white, winter-active millipede that is known (globally) only from the western Pyrenees and Cwm Tips, near Beddau.

These individuals were seen at Cwm Tips yesterday.

#millipedes #invertebrates #myriapoda #Wales #collieryspoil

1) For those lucky enough to now be on Christmas break and more time on your hands to get out in Nature

#fungi #mycology #mushrooms #Conservation #biodiversity #ecology #natureconnection #citizenscience #biodiversityrecording #corticiumroseum #christmastime #coalspoilhabitat #collieryspoil

It was a pleasure to visit Ogmore Washeries yesterday after spending much of January indoors writing reports. Here are a few photos of the #wildlife seen (see ALT text for identifications).

#collieryspoil #invertebrates #fungi #Bridgend #brownfields

#collieryspoil #collieryspoiltip #biodiversity #biodiversityhotspot #biodiversitymatters

Spotted this in our meadow at the weekend. Not good at bee ID at all but guessing could be Andrena nitida (Grey-patched Mining Bee) or Andrena haemorrhoa (Orange-tailed Mining-bee)? @StevenFalk1 @collieryspoil @RyanClarkNature @JCGardener @Ranscombe_Farm @Ed_P_Wildlife

#collieryspoil #collieryspoiltip #biodiversity #biodiversityhotspot #biodiversitymatters

Inspiring @bwars2000 meeting, great to see @JaniceVincett @wildaboutnature @StevenFalk1 @Gemma_Baron @collieryspoil & many more. 1/2

Anyone spotted #MarshFritillary out in #Wales #Cymru yet? @SEWBReC @collieryspoil @WalesBc @NatResWales @INCCymru