Sandfields West
Although quite urban, Sandfields West has a lot of good habitats. There are a lot of grass verges which, in the spring, get covered with Daises and Dandelions offering early food for emerging queen bumblebees. On the coast the eastern end of Baglan Bay SINC is in the ward. The Panhandle SINC is designated as an area of remnant dune with a good population of Slow-worms. This is the start of the remnants of a mobile dune system and saltmarsh. This end of the beach starts to become more natural. There is plenty of potential for managing roadside verges for wildflowers under NPT Bee Friendly, which is in the process of being investigated. The whole ward is in a B-Line.
We share our urban areas with many species. These include House sparrow which have greatly declined in the UK. Houses can also be used by bats such as Common pipistrelle, they like to roost in small gaps such as under tiles or behind fascia boards. Beachcombing here you can find all sorts from Mermaids purses (shark and ray egg cases) to jellyfish and starfish. The tideline is a great place to watch Sanderling scuttling about their business. In the winter, nationally important numbers of Great crested grebe can be seen in the sea. Specialist dune plants include Restharrow, Sea stock, Sea spurge and Sea-holly. Harbour porpoise can sometimes be seen out to sea.
Actions
- Identify opportunities for green infrastructure in the ward e.g. green roofs, more street trees and/or living walls
- Encourage ward constituents to take part in ‘Hedgehog Street’ to increase connectivity of habitat for hedgehogs in the ward
- Look for locations for NPT Bee Friendly management around the ward i.e. sites where flowers would grow if mowing was paused for the summer
