Forestry Commission

The Forestry Commission in Wales is the National Assembly's forestry department and promotes forestry throughout the country. Forests and woodlands make up more than 14 per cent of the land area in Wales (over 700,000 acres) and the Commission manages the public forest estate - through its agency, Forest Enterprise.

In addition to wood production, the Commission sets an example of sustainable management in its own forests to improve conservation, education, recreation and community benefits. It encourages other woodland owners to do likewise, through grants, regulation, research and advice.

Within our national forests we manage Sites Special Scientific Interest, endangered habitats and ancient monuments.

The Commissions objectives are to:
• Protect our forests and woodland
• Expand our forest area
• Enhance the economic value of our forest resources
• Conserve and improve the biodiversity, landscape and cultural heritage of our forests and woodland
• Develop opportunities for woodland recreation
• Increase public understanding and community participation in forestry

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Froglife

Froglife is a Charity Trust concerned with the conservation and promotion of native amphibians and reptiles. Established in 1989, we work to conserve some of our more neglected species - frogs, toads, newts, lizards and snakes. Froglife is a small organisation run by volunteers and essential staff, with very low overheads, so leaving maximum funds for conservation work.

Froglife runs a comprehensive enquiry service which now services thousands of requests for information each year. As well as providing verbal advice we send out fact sheets and pamphlets for little or no cost and provide technical support to volunteers helping to conserve habitats and species.

Froglife's Great Crested Newt Conservation Co-ordinator works to achieve the actions in the UK great crested newt Species Action Plan by providing information and advice on newt surveys, habitat management, grant aid, legislation and policy.

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Friends of Friendless Churches

The Friends of Friendless Churches, founded in 1957 by a proud Welshman called Ivor Bulmer-Thomas, exists to save churches and chapels of historic and architectural interest threatened by demolition, decay or unseemly conversion.

We now own by freehold or by lease, 32 redundant churches of which 18 are in Wales. All of these faced certain decay or demolition prior to the Friend's intervention.

We are an almost wholly voluntary organisation, working in partnership (and sharing an office) with the Ancient Monuments Society with whom we also operate a joint membership scheme. In addition, the Friends are greatly indebted to local people, some of them organised into groups of 'local friends' who look after the buildings for us and many of whom act as stewards for Heritage Open Day weekends. Some of our churches are, of necessity, kept locked, but they may be visited by appointment and details of access can be provided.

We warmly welcome interest in our work and are particularly keen to foster local contacts and improve our effectiveness through increased membership. You can easily join the Society either by filling out the application form available from the office, or from our website. The standard membership rate is a modest £18 a year, with special rates for senior citizens and students.