The time has flown by!
Wetlands centre is 30 years old
LLANELLI’S Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust nature reserve is marking its 30th anniversary at Penclacwydd, Llanelli.
It was opened on April 17, 1991, by pioneering broadcaster and natural historian Sir David Attenborough.
The wetlands were the result of a vision by fellow broadcaster and conservationist Sir Peter Scott, who was founder of the UK’s Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT).
It was to be Sir Peter’s last undertaking before his death in September 1989, just shy of his 80th birthday.
Following the demise of the steel, tin and coal industries in the Llanelli area, the then borough council approached Sir Peter in the late 1980s, and asked him to help restore the health of the land and develop tourism for Llanelli.
Sir Peter’s aim was to assess the 200-acre site at Penclacwydd Farm and work with the council to create a haven for wildlife and people.
He saw huge potential in this corner of Carmarthenshire and said at the time to the Llanelli Star: “We ought to have thought about having a centre in Wales much earlier than this.
“But we just did not know about Penclacwydd until very recently.
“This will be one of our better centres, which I am sure everyone will want to see.”
The restoration involved a lot of hard work, planning and dedication from many volunteers.
In truth, the work has never quite ended. There is an ongoing effort to maintain and restore the wetlands, with improvements and additions being made every season.
Wildlife simply thrives there and common sights now include water voles, otters and lapwing.
Egrets are also out on the salt marsh all year long now, but in the 1980s and into the 1990s they were a rarity.
WWT Llanelli Wetland reserve now welcomes over 70,000 visitors a year and even more birds as they stop to refuel, breed, overwinter or rest during an epic migration journey.
While the pandemic has seen the attraction closed for much of the past year, bosses are still eager to mark its achievements over the last three decades.
A spokesman said: “A 30th birthday is always a momentous occasion, and one normally marked with a huge celebration.
“Unfortunately, like so many, we had to make do with a ‘ lockdown birthday’ for the time being and keep our big plans on hold for a future date.”
Looking back at the grand opening day in the spring of 1991, bosses at Penclacwydd remember Sir David attending to speak to excited crowds which had gathered for the first glimpse of the centre.
Giving his speech, Sir David said: “I am absolutely sure that if Peter had wanted a memorial it would be this that you see around you.
“Bringing together our people and the natural world is a precious benefit to both. If you really want an example of how that should be done, just look around you.”
The reserve thrived, with visitors and school trips all taking in the beauty and learning about the nature that was on their doorstep.
Almost a decade later it was enhanced further in 2000 with the creation of a 90-hectare reserve known as the Millennium Wetlands.
Looking back to its introduction, the centre said in a blog on its website marking its anniversary: “This development effectively turned back the clock 200 years, repairing the ecological damage of years of human activity, agriculture and industry, making it more attractive to a diverse range of specialised species.”
Location has been everything to the Llanelli WWT.
Situated on the shore of the Burry Inlet, it is hailed as the most important wholly Welsh estuary for waterbirds and listed as a Special Protection Area, Ramsar Site and Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Posting on Facebook on its 30th birthday, bosses made a heartfelt thanks to the community and visitors who have come from far and wide over the years.
It said: “Everyone who has ever visited, joined as a member, made a donation or volunteered – thank you.
“You have all contributed to our success and to the development of this incredible haven for wetland wildlife.”