What are Local Wildlife Sites?
Local Wildlife Sites (also called Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation or SINCs) are a way of recognising some of the best places for wildlife locally. They are areas considered to be of particular conservation value because of the habitat or variety of species they support. Sites are assessed against a set of local criteria which include looking for key indicator species.
Local Wildlife Sites play a critical conservation role by providing wildlife refuges, protecting threatened species and habitats, and acting as links and corridors between nationally designated sites such as National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)
How do sites become Local Wildlife Sites?
The majority of the Park’s Local Wildlife Sites were identified thanks to the Brecknock Wildlife Trust, through their Local Wildlife Sites project which ran from 2006-2009. Sites were found in a number of ways including visiting sites that were known historically to be good for wildlife and visiting landowners who felt they might have Local Wildlife Site quality sites.
Sites were subject to a botanical survey and were assessed against the Criteria for the Selection of Local Wildlife Sites in the Brecon Beacons. Each site was approved or otherwise by the Brecon Beacons Local Wildlife Sites Panel, which included representatives from Brecknock Wildlife Trust, Countryside Council for Wales, Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, Powys County Council, PONT, BIS, Wildlife Trust for South & West Wales, Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust and Gwent Wildlife Trust.
What does it mean to be a Local Wildlife Site?
Local Wildlife Sites are a voluntary system to encourage and support landowners to learn about the special wildlife on their land and how to care for it.
Importantly, being a Local Wildlife Site:
- Places no legal restrictions on your agricultural operations or management decisions.
- Does not create new rights of way on your land.
- May help protect the site from adverse development but does not commit owners to anything.
- Is intended as recognition that a site is one of the best places for wildlife in the Brecon Beacons National Park and a cause to be proud.
- Does not mean we freely access your land – your agreement is always obtained prior to any visits.
- Can help with accessing funds to undertake ‘wildlife friendly’ management works.
For more information on Local Wildlife Sites visit the Brecknock Wildlife Trust website.