Lapwing A465, Heads of the Valleys Road

Lapwing sites along the newly dualled A465 (Heads of the Valleys) Road. The opportunity exists to protect these sites which are rapidly disappearing.

The Location

A465 (Heads of the Valleys) Road close to Garnlydan (Ebbw Vale) – NP23 5ER

In-Kind Support Required

Yes

Type of Support Required

Support for Lapwing sites close to the site by creating scrapes, mowing regimes (see RSPB guidance on land management for Lapwing) and monitoring breeding populations. Monitoring can be part of CSR related training, networking or away-day activities.

Financial Support Required

Yes

Value of Support Required

Interpretation in future to highlight that the landscape supports a variety of wildlife and telling the lapwing story, for wildlife tourism. Support is also required to provide electric fencing, which has been found to be extremely successful in ensuring the survival of lapwing chicks, as it prevents predators such as foxes from getting to them. The cost of fencing and mowing (to stop the vegetation form shorting the fence) is c.£20,000 to cover 2km.

Financial support for RSPB staff (£2117 p.a) to train local land advisors (or environmental guardians) would help to ensure that the charity can sustainably involve itself in the project.

Local Name and Contact Details

Alex Pollard (alex.pollard@rspb.org.uk) 02920 353310

Any Other Comments

Aside from key CSR benefits to helping the environment and support for ecosystem services that the project delivers, investors/sponsors will benefit from environmental training, away-day activities, networking opportunities and use of meeting rooms. PR benefits include:

• 18 million website hits p.a.
• 300,000 recipients of the monthly RSPB e-newsletter
• 1.3 million readers of the quarterly Birds magazine
• Welsh Y Barcud magazine which is distributed to all Welsh members.

Dependent on the level of support, investors can also access the RSPB’s responsive audience.

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