£700,000 boost for Welsh nature reserve

‘Dyfi 360 Landscape for people and wildlife project' wins Heritage Lottery Fund support 

October 2011: Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust (MWT)'s Dyfi 360 Landscape for People and Wildlife project has received nearly £700,000 to help develop the plans.

The Heritage Lottery fund has provided initial support of £683,700, £56,600 of which the trust will receive immediately for the outline proposals, with the rest to follow over a two year period and on successful completion of more detailed plans.

‘More than 30,000 people are attracted each year to the Dyfi Nature Reserve to explore and observe its unique habitats boasting 100 bird species, 48 plant species as well as significant populations of otter, bank vole, dormouse, amphibian species, 350 species of moth and, more recently, breeding osprey.' 

Turning into a year-round visitor attraction
‘The reserve is an important part of the UNESCO designated Biosphere which covers the Dyfi estuary and is one of only two Biosphere sites in the UK. Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust hopes to extend and conserve the biodiversity of the reserve and transform the site into a year-round state of the art wildlife visitor attraction.

'Plans include a new bird observatory, improved visitor access and signage with teaching and exhibition space, remote camera system and a training programme for our volunteers.'

Senior manager Estelle Bailey says: ‘This is such fantastic news for the trust. The grant will allow us to work up the level of detail for the proposal with the long term goal of opening this spectacular reserve year round for the local community and passing tourists to enjoy. We have plans to do some really exciting education work and events with local schools and groups. And what fantastic new it is for the wildlife too.'

More about Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve