Bat Conservation Trust

The Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) is the only organisation solely devoted to the conservation of bats and their habitats in the UK, and works to enable people and bats to live in harmony.

BCT works to maintain and enhance sustainable populations and diversity of bats and to conserve their habitats for everyone to enjoy. In all areas of its work BCT will educate and involve people in the wonder of bats and their conservation.

The Bat Conservation Trust helps bats by: -

• Campaigning for bat conservation
• Enabling local action through a national network of bat volunteers
• Encouraging support into bat ecology and monitoring bat populations
• Acting as lead partner for four of the national bat Biodiversity Action Plans
• Educating and supporting people who find bats in their property
• Encouraging everyone to appreciate and enjoy bats

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Brecon Beacons National Park

The Brecon Beacons National Park is one of eleven National Parks in England and Wales. They are all Local Authorities with the special purpose of:
• Landscape and wildlife conservation
• Promoting public enjoyment
• Understanding and supporting local communities

The Brecon Beacons National Park Authority consists of 24 members supported by a staff of 100, plus a very active group of volunteers. It can provide advice and small amounts of grant aid to assist community groups and individuals in areas such as:
• Biodiversity
• Sustainable development
• Improved access

The Authority's small community development team liases with the 50 community councils in the Park and with a wide range of community groups. The Authority:
• Operates several visitor centres
• Provides a wide range of publications
• Runs an extensive programme of guided walks

The National Park Management Plan and the Local Biodiversity Action Plan set out key policies that can be found on the National Park's website. Planning policies are available via the Local Plan and the Authority is currently preparing a Unitary Development Plan.

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Bridgend Biodiversity Partnership

The Bridgend Biodiversity Partnership (BBP) was initiated in August 1998 and comprises a range of conservation organisations involved with the collection and collation of wildlife data for the Bridgend County Borough area. The Partnership feeds into, and is informed by, a grouping of key partners responsible for delivering the Countryside Strategy and Integrated Action Programme for Bridgend County Borough.

The work of the BBP is supported by the Glamorgan Biodiversity Advisory Group, a forum, established in July 1997, whose remit is to develop biodiversity objectives and action plan targets for the old Glamorgan County area (often referred to as the Watsonian Vice-County 41). This 'strategic approach' was seen as both sensible and logistically essential, considering the limited resources of not just the eight local authorities that comprise Glamorgan, but also of the old county's statutory and non-statutory environment organisations. In any event, such an approach is consistent with Planning Guidance (Wales): Planning Policy, which stresses that 'landscape and nature conservation issues are not confined by administrative boundaries, and should be addressed strategically and discussed with adjoining planning authorities'.

The goal of the BBP is to maintain the physical and biological integrity of the biodiversity resource of Bridgend County Borough in a condition capable of supporting its characteristic range of habitats and species, to improve or enhance its ability to support these habitats and species through proactive management and to encourage human contact with and enjoyment of biodiversity, so that present and future generations can benefit from its environmental quality and economic benefits.

The BBP comprises:

BRIDGEND BIODIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP

Botanical Society of the British Isles
Butterfly Conservation
Countryside Council for Wales
Botanical Society of the British Isles
(East Glamorgan Recorder)
Glamorgan Bird Club
Glamorgan Moth Recording Group
Glamorgan Wildlife Trust
British Trust for Ornithology

Organisations shown in bold type are members of the Bridgend Biodiversity Partnership Steering Group; the other organisations are a grouping of key partners also involved with delivering the Countryside Strategy and Integrated Action Programme for Bridgend County Borough.

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Bridgend Civic Trust

What are we?

What we aim to do is to monitor what others are doing to Bridgend Town and to apply pressure in the right quarters to remedy when we think things are going wrong or when we consider that some particular direction should be taken. We also try to point out to members, and sometimes the general public, what we have of value in the Town and thus set people thinking and possibly taking action. To do this we must have the support of our membership. The bigger and more vocal the membership is, the more likely we are to be able to achieve something. We try to keep members informed of what is happening by way of our Newsletter, which is published 2 or 3 times a year, and by holding social and general meetings as often as we can. Apart from the AGM in October, we try to have a couple of coffee mornings, a members Dinner and possibly one other meeting with a speaker. Our other main event is to participate in European Heritage Day in September, which is co-ordinated in Wales by the Civic Trust for Wales, where we arrange for a building, not normally accessible, to be opened. Most of the work is done by committee members who meet once a month. However members also monitor planning applications each week and attend meetings with Council Officials etc.
We are affiliated to the Civic Trust for Wales and the UK Civic Trust. We are represented on the Council's Regeneration subcommittee and the Chamber of Trade.

Awards

Although it is always easier to raise a matter when one is criticising it, we also like to give praise where it is due. To this end we offer awards (a plaque or a certificate) to people and organisations that have done something worthwhile to enhance the Town.

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Bridgend County Borough Council

Environmental and Planning Services Directorate

Conservation and Environmental Policy Section
• Countryside Management, Nature Conservation, Ecology, Biodiversity, Coastal Planning - 643170/643160/643667
• Countryside Access - 643182
• Local Agenda 21, Sustainability - 643179
• Project Implementation, Regeneration Strategies, Environmental Improvement Schemes, Landscape Schemes,
Community Routes, Industrial Heritage, Listed and historic Buildings, Conservation Areas and archaeology - 643163/643164
• Commercial & Industrial Improvement Area Grants, Town Improvement Grants - 643175
• Maesteg Town Centre Improvement Grants - 643669

Transportation and Engineering Department
Rights of Way - 642537

Architects & Technical Department
• Recycling, Waste Collection and Disposal - 643439

Leisure and Community Services Directorate
• Parks and Playing Fields - 642720

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Bridgend & District Local History Society

Bridgend & District Local History Society celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2002. There are more than 100 members and at least 60 of these regularly attend the Society's monthly meetings when invited speakers talk on a specific subject, which usually have a historical connection.

Meetings are held in Brynteg Lower Comprehensive School Hall at 7pm, usually on the third Wednesday of each month between September and March (excluding December).

The Society's Annual Dinner is held each April and in May, June and July of each year, trips to places of historical interest are organised.

New members are always welcome!

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Bristol Zoo Gardens

Bristol Zoo Gardens is owned and operated by the Bristol, Clifton & West of England Zoological Society. The Zoological Society is a registered charity.

Mission statement:
To maintain and defend biodiversity through breeding endangered species, conserving threatened species and habitat, and promoting a wider understanding of the natural world.

This mission is achieved:
By participating in conservation breeding programmes for exotic and native wildlife
• Through education to schools and our visitors
• Through studying the animals in our care
• By linking our programmes to conservation projects in the wild, both in the UK and abroad

Local wildlife conservation projects may be supported directly, through grants from the Society. This includes previous support for:
• Avon wildlife Trust
• The Hawk & Owl Trust
• The Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife Project

There are currently 40 local wildlife projects supported through the Bristol Zoo Gardens Millennium Awards for Conservation. We also support species conservation through breeding for reintroduction. Species to benefit from this include the Barberry Carpet moth, the Reddish Buff moth and the Water Vole.

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British Ecological Society

The British Ecological Society is a learned society, a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. Established in 1913 by academics to promote and foster the study of ecology in its widest sense, the Society currently has around 5000 members spread around the world. The core activities are the publication of the results of research in ecology, the development of scientific meetings and the promotion of ecological awareness through education.

The Society's missions:
To advance and support the science of ecology and publicise the outcome of research, in order to advance knowledge, education and their application.

The Society employs four full-time and two part-time staff at its office in London from where the Society is administered. In addition, financial support is provided for universities and institutes around the United Kingdom. The work of the BES is underpinned by the efforts of unpaid Officers and Committee members who determine policy and carry projects forward. The Society publishes four, internationally renowned journals and organises at least two major conferences each year, plus a large number of smaller meetings. It also initiates a diverse range of activities to promote the awareness of ecology at the public and policy maker level in addition to developing ecology in the educational system, and it provides financial support for approved ecological projects. The Society is funded through income from subscriptions, publications and its investment portfolio.

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British Trust for Ornithology

The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) is the UK's leading bird research organisation. Since 1933, many thousands of BTO members and volunteers have helped in various projects designed to measure bird populations in Britain and Ireland. This partnership between volunteers and scientists at our headquarters in Thetford, Norfolk, is unique. Data collected on a nation-wide level is the only true picture with which we can tell how well our birds are doing from year to year.

The BTO conducts many surveys including:
• Garden Bird Watch - popular national survey involving the counting of birds in gardens
• Breeding Birds Survey - an annual nation-wide survey of breeding birds, co-funded by the BTO, the JNCC, which is the government's own conservation watchdog body, and the RSPB
• The Nest Record Scheme - a popular survey which measures the nesting success of Britain's birds

There are so many special surveys organised by the BTO, some of which are short-term studies looking at particular issues, or undertaking national surveys on particular species such as Heron, Mute Swan and Peregrine.

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British Trust for Conservation Volunteers

BTCV. Your chance to change the world

If you are between the ages of 8 and 80 and you care about the environment you can join us at BTCV!

Do regular conservation work near where you live by joining one of BTCV's midweek or weekend groups. Most of BTCV's 165 offices have such groups. It's an opportunity to wrap up warm and do some rewarding practical conservation activity such as hedging, planting trees or creating a wildlife garden!

Go on one of our UK or International Conservation Holidays. From bargain weekends in Bedfordshire to six week turtle monitoring trips in Grenada. You can protect landscapes and wildlife habitats in the UK or help communities around the world improve their environment.

BTCV Green Gym - these are for people who prefer to get fit by doing useful environmental activity in the fresh air as opposed to calorie-burning in a gym or sports centre.

BTCV offers conservation training courses and a support scheme for local community groups. We also run Millennium Volunteers programmes for 16 to 24 year olds and provide New Deal training for the long-term unemployed.

If you would like to support us financially, you can join our Supporters' Club. For £12 a year we will send you our Conserve magazine and details of special offers.

For further information, please ring our friendly call centre team.

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Botanical Society of the British Isles

The Botanical Society of the British Isles is for everyone who is interested in the flora of Britain and Ireland. The society traces its origins back to 1836, when it was founded as the Botanical Society of London. From its earliest days it has welcomed both professional and amateur members, and it remains the biggest and most active organisation devoted to the study of botany in the British Isles.

The BSBI produces national Atlases and county Floras of the distribution of plants. It publishes a scientific journal, Watsonia, and holds conferences on botany.

Members are kept informed by a newsletter three times a year and are invited to make use of our system of county recorders and national referees who can help with the identification of plants. Field meetings are held throughout Britain and Ireland, and sometimes abroad.

An education programme supported by the society aims brings high quality botanical training within the reach of all, from A Level students to professional development and postgraduate courses.
The BSBI is a charity (No. 212560) and is managed by a Council of elected members.

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Butterfly Conservation

Butterfly Conservation is the UK charity taking action to save butterflies, moths and their habitats. Working with a wide range of partners, Butterfly Conservation is taking action by:

• Advising landowners & managers on conserving and restoring important habitats
• Purchasing and managing land for threatened butterflies, moths and other wildlife
• Carrying out surveys, monitoring and other essential research
• Lobbying government and its agencies to influence land use policy

In Wales three of our projects cover Bridgend:

Threatened Butterflies
We will be concentrating on surveying and giving conservation advice on the most threatened butterflies in Wales, especially the Marsh and High Brown Fritillaries.

Moths
Over the next two years Butterfly Conservation is seeking to get a better understanding of the distribution of six priority moths: Orange Upperwing, Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth, Buttoned Snout, Double Line, Waved Carpet and Argent and Sable.

Forest Enterprise Woodlands
We are continuing our woodland surveys in order to identify which woodlands are important for butterflies and moths, and followed by advice on habitat management.

We need more volunteers to help with these surveys. Butterfly Conservation will be able to provide guidance, advice, equipment and out of pocket expenses.

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Bryngarw Country Park

Bryngarw Country Park is located five miles north of Bridgend, at the base of the Garw Valley. Within its 113 acres the park is blessed with a great variety of landscapes and habitats, comprising of formal gardens, gently rolling meadows, mixed woodlands and river corridors. On site facilities include toilets, cafe, visitors centre and children's playground. Owned by Bridgend County Borough Council, the park receives over 75,000 visitors a year and provides the venue for a variety of family events through out the summer. Bryngarw boasts its own full time ranger service who carry out essential park maintenance, conservation work, and run the schools environmental education programme. The park is open daily (excluding Christmas and Boxing Day) 10am - 5pm October to March and 10am - 6pm April to September. Car parking charges apply at weekends and school holidays through out the summer.
For more information or details on events, please contact the ranger service.