Land nature - What are we doing?

View this page in Welsh / Gweld y tudalen hwn yn Gymraeg


Enhancing biodiversity and sustainable land use underpins much of our work, with many of our ongoing projects helping to make the Vale a place for flora and fauna to flourish.

This page is designed to show you some examples of the biodiversity and land-use work the Council is doing as part of Project Zero.


Restore the Thaw water vole release

Water Vole

In 2023 we launched the Restore the Thaw Landscape project. The three-year programme of work aims to make biodiversity improvements along the River Thaw and surrounding landscapes.

Alongside monies from the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Project Zero fund, the project received funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund on behalf of Welsh Government and in partnership with Natural Resources Wales.

Our Restore the Thaw Landscape Project team have been working with The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, South East Wales Rivers Trust, Initiative for Nature Conservation Cymru, and Natural Resources Wales to recover Water Vole populations along the River Thaw after a nationwide decline.

The team recently released over two hundred captive-bred Water Voles after working to improve their habitat along the River Thaw.

Local volunteers have been trained by the team to be able to recognise and record signs of Water Vole activity, as part of a community-led monitoring project to track Water Voles.



Porthkerry Country Park receives a Woodland Investment Grant

Porthkerry Park

Porthkerry Country Park has been awarded a £249,676 grant investment by The National Lottery Fund in partnership with the Welsh Government, enabling us to make significant improvements to the country park and its wooded areas.

We have continued our pledge to improve the woodland biodiversity and habitat management throughout Porthkerry. The installation of a 900m footpath will reduce the degradation and erosion of surrounding areas from footfall and trampling.

We are continuing to fight back against invasive species like Japanese Knotweed in order to ensure that we are able to preserve the population of native trees, plants and inspects. This grant will allow for the purchase of new tools and equipment that volunteers and partners can use to more effectively manage the wooded areas.

The funding will enable extensive conservation work to take place and restore and protect vital habitats to ensure the woodland continues to thrive. The project will also help Porthkerry Country Park continue its status as member of the National Forest for Wales, which it was awarded in November 2023.

This is another example of how the council’s Project Zero initiative is helping to reshape our local parks and spaces to improve biodiversity and create areas for residents to enjoy for years to come.



Vale Nature Festival

In honour of our local wildlife, the Vale Local Nature Partnership hosted their first Vale Nature Festival this year, bringing awareness and education to the public.

Taking place at Porthkerry country park, the event aimed to educate communities on how we are restoring the Vales biodiversity, and how they can help.

The Restore the Thaw Landscape Project Team, Park Rangers, volunteers, and stall holders came together to create the family event, staging workshops, demonstrations and walks.




St Cyres park biodiversity improvements

Following a public consultation in 2023, the Vale Local Nature Partnership decided a plan of action to enhance biodiversity at St Cyres Park, Penarth.

With funding from Welsh Government’s Local Places for Nature Scheme, the project has planted a community orchard with the help of pupils from St Joseph’s RC Primary, established areas of meadow with mown paths, planted native trees, and constructed a temporary fence along the woodland to allow the grassland to naturally regenerate into scrub and woodland.

Most recently informative signage has been placed around the park to help raise awareness of the project with park visitors.


View this page in Welsh / Gweld y tudalen hwn yn Gymraeg


Enhancing biodiversity and sustainable land use underpins much of our work, with many of our ongoing projects helping to make the Vale a place for flora and fauna to flourish.

This page is designed to show you some examples of the biodiversity and land-use work the Council is doing as part of Project Zero.


Restore the Thaw water vole release

Water Vole

In 2023 we launched the Restore the Thaw Landscape project. The three-year programme of work aims to make biodiversity improvements along the River Thaw and surrounding landscapes.

Alongside monies from the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Project Zero fund, the project received funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund on behalf of Welsh Government and in partnership with Natural Resources Wales.

Our Restore the Thaw Landscape Project team have been working with The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, South East Wales Rivers Trust, Initiative for Nature Conservation Cymru, and Natural Resources Wales to recover Water Vole populations along the River Thaw after a nationwide decline.

The team recently released over two hundred captive-bred Water Voles after working to improve their habitat along the River Thaw.

Local volunteers have been trained by the team to be able to recognise and record signs of Water Vole activity, as part of a community-led monitoring project to track Water Voles.



Porthkerry Country Park receives a Woodland Investment Grant

Porthkerry Park

Porthkerry Country Park has been awarded a £249,676 grant investment by The National Lottery Fund in partnership with the Welsh Government, enabling us to make significant improvements to the country park and its wooded areas.

We have continued our pledge to improve the woodland biodiversity and habitat management throughout Porthkerry. The installation of a 900m footpath will reduce the degradation and erosion of surrounding areas from footfall and trampling.

We are continuing to fight back against invasive species like Japanese Knotweed in order to ensure that we are able to preserve the population of native trees, plants and inspects. This grant will allow for the purchase of new tools and equipment that volunteers and partners can use to more effectively manage the wooded areas.

The funding will enable extensive conservation work to take place and restore and protect vital habitats to ensure the woodland continues to thrive. The project will also help Porthkerry Country Park continue its status as member of the National Forest for Wales, which it was awarded in November 2023.

This is another example of how the council’s Project Zero initiative is helping to reshape our local parks and spaces to improve biodiversity and create areas for residents to enjoy for years to come.



Vale Nature Festival

In honour of our local wildlife, the Vale Local Nature Partnership hosted their first Vale Nature Festival this year, bringing awareness and education to the public.

Taking place at Porthkerry country park, the event aimed to educate communities on how we are restoring the Vales biodiversity, and how they can help.

The Restore the Thaw Landscape Project Team, Park Rangers, volunteers, and stall holders came together to create the family event, staging workshops, demonstrations and walks.




St Cyres park biodiversity improvements

Following a public consultation in 2023, the Vale Local Nature Partnership decided a plan of action to enhance biodiversity at St Cyres Park, Penarth.

With funding from Welsh Government’s Local Places for Nature Scheme, the project has planted a community orchard with the help of pupils from St Joseph’s RC Primary, established areas of meadow with mown paths, planted native trees, and constructed a temporary fence along the woodland to allow the grassland to naturally regenerate into scrub and woodland.

Most recently informative signage has been placed around the park to help raise awareness of the project with park visitors.