Butterfly Surveying at Riverside

Local volunteers from Swansea Canal Society and Godre'Graig Community Association took part in a butterfly survey funded by Environment Wales, at Glantawe Riverside Park on Sunday. Local expert Martin Humphries guided them around a planned transect or route which will be used for all future surveys. At times the survey was hampered by wind which grounded the butterflies, but at other times the sun came out, the wind died down and the butterflies showed themselves!

Species which appeared on the day included Small tortoiseshells, Large whites, Common blues, Speckled woods, a Comma, a Brimstone and a Small Copper.

The volunteers were also rewarded with a dramatic chase by a sparrowhawk on a goldfinch. Fortunately for the goldfinch the sparrowhawk was spooked by our presence and it lived to tell the tale!

The volunteers will be taking their newly acquired knowledge back to their own projects.

The meadows at Glantawe Riverside Park have many grasses and wild flowers that both serve as breeding plants (eggs are laid in plants that the caterpillars can eat) and as a nectar source for butterflies. In the next few years it is planned to get the meadows managed to preserve / enhance their wildlife value. Left to their own devices they will turn into scrub with trees taking over.

If anyone is interested in taking part in future surveys for birds, butterflies or wild flowers please contact the Riverside Centre.