Kenfig Nature Reserve: Future management decision 'shortly'

The reserve runs from near Bridgend to near the steelworks in Port Talbot

A decision over who will run a nature reserve, renowned for its sand dune habitats, will be made "shortly", its landowner said.

After being responsible for the Kenfig Nature Reserve for decades, Bridgend council's lease ended on Tuesday.

The 1,300-acre (530 ha) area between Porthcawl and Port Talbot is regarded as one of the finest examples of a sand dune habitat in Europe.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is currently discussing a long-term lease.

Landowner the Kenfig Corporation Trust said it hopes the transfer will be completed "very shortly".

"NRW will be 100% responsible for the Kenfig Nature Reserve site and the building will be refurbished," it said in a statement.

"Litter bins and  litter picking will be outsourced to a licensed recycling and waste company which will start from January 1 until further notice."

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The reserve attracts up to 200,000 visitors a year but Bridgend council decided in December 2018 to end its involvement, citing the £200,000 cost of running it.

While this was made up largely of grants, the move would save it £40,000 a year.

Some campaigners fear the reserve will be neglected

Another issue was its lease prevented it creating a cafe and proper visitor attraction - and it hoped a charity could tap into grants and the support of members.

Council officials finished clearing their items from the reserve centre on 20 December.

NRW's John Hogg said: "We're continuing to discuss the legal, financial and day-to-day operational detail of taking on a long-term lease at the Kenfig National Nature Reserve."

While he said NRW would work with the trust to protect conservation interests there, it was unclear what would happen immediately after 1 January.

Kenfig is the last stronghold in Britain of the fen orchid

"We are exceedingly worried about the reserve going into next year," local campaigner Heather Protheroe told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"Fears are growing that the reserve will just be neglected, rubbish will build up, the centre could become subject to vandalism and wildlife conservation will be minimal.

"With the centre shut, there are now no facilities for the visiting public to use either."

She said she had written to the trust to request a meeting on behalf of the group to discuss how the local community might be able to help volunteer at the reserve, keeping the bins emptied and, in the long term, open the building as an information centre.

Steve Parker, who has volunteered at the nature reserve since 2014, also wrote to the trust to offer his help in cleaning the car park areas of litter until a new tenant was secured, something he regularly does now.

He said: "I am fully aware that within a short period of time following the departure of Bridgend council, litter will gather and bins will fill with no known plans to tackle that issue."