Let’s Visit the Welsh Island of Anglesey
Many of us in England, only know Anglesey as the ‘place where you take the Holyhead ferry to Ireland’, if you’re not flying to the Emerald Isle. And puffins! But it’s got a lot to inspire, from the tip of North Wales.
If out walking, always follow the Countryside Code, to keep all creatures safe. At the coast, read our post on keeping dogs safe by the seaside.
Known as ‘the mother of Wales’ (Mon Mam Cymru!), Anglesey is best-known for its untouched landscape (though like anywhere, local volunteers have to regularly clear up litter from tourists on its sandy beaches.
One creature that thrives here is the red squirrel. Not due to grey squirrel culls, but because the pine forests are intact, providing native homes for shelter and food. In England, only Northumberland really has a thriving population, as its pine forests are not logged.
Read more on how to help both red and grey squirrels.
Anglesey is home to one of the longest village names in the world:
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
Sea Parrots on Isle of Anglesey
Puffins are common on the Northumberland coast, and also on the island of Anglesey. These birds spend most time at sea (diving for 30 seconds at a time, using their wings to ‘fly through the water), coming ashore to raise ‘pufflings’ who live in burrows underground (adult beaks are dark grey, only changing to orange during mating).
Despite their comical appearance, our puffin friends are in serious decline, due to climate change, over-fishing and rising sea temperatures (having to dive deeper, to find food).
Most puffins lay one egg yearly with the same lifelong mate, then spend six weeks keeping the egg warm, until hatching into ‘pufflings’ which live on oily fish, to survive.
In England, there has been a recent ban on sandeel fishing to protect dwindling numbers of both puffins and kittiwakes. This is being fought by the EU (so presumably Ireland has not had a ban, as it is still a member of the European Union).
Welsh wildlife TV presenter Iolo Williams is recovering after a heart attack, but due to his job, ‘death doesn’t affect me one bit. I know that life – a mayfly, an oak tree, a fox or a human – comes to an end’.
He says when his time comes, he would like to be placed in a linen sheet and somebody plant an oak tree on him, so his energy will help nature!
