Wales Farmer 34 COUNTRYSIDE


Dark sky at night — it’s atourist delight


■ Film shows dark side of Beacons park


By Anwen Humfrey


AN astonishing time-lapse film has revealed anation- al park’s skies as they’ve


never been seen before. Brecon Beacons Park Society


and Brecon Beacons National Park Authority arehoping anew short film showcasing the park after darkwill makeviewers starry-eyed and help the area win accreditation as Wales’ first International


DarkSkies by


Reserve. The short film wasproduced photographer


Michael


Sinclair whopainstakinglycap- tured countless of hours of time- lapse footage of the darkskies abovethe Brecon Beacons National Park. Charles Henderson, vice-


chairman of the Brecon Beacons Park Society,said: “Our Dark Skies launch video shows just howdarkand splendid the night skyishereinthe Brecon Beacons. “The film shows howbright


the stars shine when we’reall usu- allytucked up in bed, and we hope to encouragemorepeople to takeupstargazing hereinour wonderful national park.” Punch Maughan, director for


Brecon Beacons Tourism, added: “Astro-tourism and an interest in all things sparklyhas been a growing trend over the last few years and we aredelighted that thereissomething moreto encouragepeople to not just come forthe dayinthe Brecon Beacons buttospend the night hereaswell. “Some businesses have already


stepped up to the challenge and have telescopes and skymapsto help their guests orientate them- selves with the night sky.” Ruth Coulthard, funding


development manager forBrecon Beacons


National Park


Authority,said: “Thereare so manybenefits to us gaining accreditation, which is the reason we areactively pursuing this des- ignation with the Park Society.


July 2012


Bid to halt plant diseases spread


TWOfilms have been launched aimed at letting people know howthey can help prevent the spread of devastating plant diseases. One of these diseases has


resulted in the prematurefelling of morethan 3,000 hectares (7,500 acres) of larch trees across the UK over the past three years. The diseases,caused by fun-


gus-likeorganisms called phy- tophthora, areaserious threatto the nation’s trees and shrubs and can be inadvertentlyspread by countryside users,gardeners and tree and plant industry profes- sionals. The films were launched at the Institute of Chartered Foresters’ (ICF) annual national conference as part of anew,cross-industry response to this threat. Morethan 20 organisations


from the public sector,including the Scottish,Welsh and Northern Ireland governments,together with trade associations and char- ities,helped makethem. LordTaylor,Deframinister


forplant health, said: “I’m delighted that, as part of the implementation of the Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Action Plan, we’relaunching at this event our newawareness films to tackle the threatfrom phytophthoraorganisms. “It is very significant thatthese


films have been produced by such awide consortium of people from within and outside Government, because we all have arole to playinprotecting our treasured gardens,woodlands and countryside from the increasing threatfrompests and diseases.” Both films arebeing uploaded


ASTRO-TOURISM: Brecon Beacons national park is keen to sell its dark side. “Not onlywill it give deserved


recognition to one of our most special features,itwill help reduce light pollution in the future, reduce CO2 emissions, have manybenefits to wildlife and give areal boost to our tourism economy.” Onlyahandful of internation-


al destinations have been granted the highlyprestigious DarkSkies award.


On aclear day you can see the Milky Way


ON aclear night above the Brecon Beacons stargazers are able to see the Milky Way, as well as numerous major constellations, bright nebulas and even meteor showers. There are currently only two sites in the world that hold International Dark-Sky Reserve status –Exmoor National Park and Mont Megantic in Quebec, Canada. The new Dark Skies film can be viewed at www.breconbeacons.org/darkskies


Flying the flag for Welsh beaches


KEEP Wales Tidyiscelebrating news thatBlue Flagstatus has been awarded to 43 beaches and five marinas in Wales. The coveted Blue Flagis


awarded onlytothe best beaches in Wales and venues arerecog- nised fortheir environmentally sustainablemanagement, cleanli- ness,excellent facilities and for achieving ahigh standardof water quality. The programme is owned and


run by the independent non-prof- it organisation Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and managed in Wales by Keep Wales Tidy. Pembrokeshireonce again tops


PURE PLEASURE: Tenby, one of Wales’s 43 Blue Flag beaches.


the list, awarded 12 flags, fol- lowedbyAnglesey,Ceredigion and Gwyneddwith six each, and Conwy and Swansea with four each. Bridgend achievedtwo flags while


Carmarthenshire,


Denbighshireand Vale of Glamorgan receivedone each. Lesley Jones,chief executive of


Keep Wales Tidysaid: “I am delighted thatWales’ beaches are once again being celebrated. Visitors to our Blue Flagbeaches can be surethatthey will have access to excellent facilities and bathing waters of the highest quality.Therehas neverbeen a better time to enjoyour wonder- ful beaches and coastline.” Business minister Edwina Hart


said: “This is obviouslygood news forthe tourism industry and sends out avery positive message to visitors thatWales has an abundance of superb safe beach- es,seaside resorts and marinas for all to enjoy. “Tourism makes avital contri-


bution to the Welsh economyand this latest news,combined with the recent opening of the Wales


For the latest Wales farming news: walesfarmer.co.uk


Coast Path, provides agreat opportunity to promote Wales’ stunning coastal scenery and attract morevisitors to Wales.” Chris Mills,director of


Environment Agency Wales,said: “This is reallygood news forthe environment and forthe economy thatbenefits from tourists flock- ing to the superb beaches we have in Wales. “Wehaveworkedhardto


improvewater quality at our beaches by directing investment by water companies,advising farmers on different working practices and tackling other sources of pollution. “Thereisstill, however,alot of


work thatneeds to be done with tougherstandards coming into forceoverthe next fewyears. Manybeaches in Wales arelikely to meet these higher standards in the futurebut some mayfall


to YouTube and youcan find links at the Forestry Commission website www.forestry.gov.uk/ phytophthora.


Fox cub in grave trouble


AFOX cub needed ahelping hand recentlyafter becoming entangled in brambles in aceme- tery in Sketty,near Swansea. The cub wasspotted at the cemetery on Carnglas Road by a member of public, whocontact- ed the RSPCA. The animal’sneck had become entwined in brambles and the young foxwas unabletofree itself.


After being cut free,the fox


cub waschecked over by avet and boarded briefly at the RSPCA’s Llys Nini Animal Centre. The young foxwas then


released in the same spot by an RSPCA inspector,beforedisap- pearing quicklyinto its den. RSPCA animal welfareofficer


Andrew Harris said: “It’sstill spring and Britain’s foxcubs are still out and about having aplay –occasionallygetting into trou- blelikethis little fellow. “Wewould urge anyone who


spots acub or foxindistress such as this one to call us,and to try their best to monitor the situa- tion while keeping asafe distance just as the caller did, until we arrive.”


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