Minister alerted to Natural Resources Wales's failure to protect curlew

The Countryside Alliance has demanded urgent action be taken to protect the near extinct curlew at a controversial woodland memorial site, after learning that Natural Resources Wales (NRW) have avoided monitoring for the rare species, despite earlier assurances to do so.

Last February, the Welsh Government announced that new memorial woodlands would be created at three separate sites, including a section of farmland at Brownhill in Carmarthenshire's Tywi Valley.

The plans involve planting thousands of trees, sparking considerable concern among local people that valuable agricultural land will be lost as a result.

During a public consultation at one of the drop in sessions in Llangadog at the time, an NRW representative revealed that there were curlew on Brownhill, but they did not fledge. Members of the public also claimed at that meeting that they had seen curlew and lapwing on the site.

In an onsite meeting with Natural Resources Wales and the Minister in August 2022 it was agreed in the presence of the Minister, Julie James that the Alliance would be granted permission to use a volunteer to scope the area for curlew as well as other agricultural land in the vicinity of Brownhill. 

However, under Freedom of Information laws, Countryside Alliance Wales has learned that despite earlier assurances, NRW have failed to undertake proper methodical monitoring of curlew. In the meantime, work has already begun to plant trees.

In internal emails seen by the Alliance, one official expressed frustration stating: “Erm… did we agree to access for this?!” [agreeing to permit an independent volunteer curlew specialist access to the site].

Subsequent e-mails demonstrate a lack of action to undertake any professional monitoring of curlew and indeed carry a desperate tone from NRW to carry out any such work internally, which has never come to fruition.

Rachel Evans said:

“The monitoring of curlew on the Welsh Government’s controversial Brownhill site must absolutely be a priority, particularly prior to any tree planting which has now already begun. You must ask, why are NRW so desperately trying to retain any monitoring in-house, even offering to fund the monitoring? What exactly are they trying to control, or hide.

“What this sorry process means is that curlew at Brownhill have been ignored, which is surely a failing of NRW under the Environment Wales Act, section 6, relating to their duties to protect biodiversity. Sadly, trust is quickly eroding.

“NRW cannot be trusted to be the keepers of Brownhilll and the Minister needs to make sure that they are fulfilling their obligations”.