Probably the most important local conservation news of the past six months is the formal Declaration by Llanelli Borough Council on 13th July 1993 of Pembrey Burros and Saltings as a Local Nature Reserve under the National Park.: and Access to the Country¬side Act 1949. The area of the reserve is 207.7ha and is bounded in the west by the by-way running outside the country park fence, in the east by the Pembrey Harbour breakwater and in the south by the Cefn Sidan mean high water mark. The northern boundary, however, disappointingly runs at the altmash - burrows interface and thus includes none of the dune fringing the golf-course which in recent years have seen spectacular displays of the very scarce Green-winged Orchid as well as supporting rarities such as Sand Catchfly and White Horehound. I hope that in spite of these dunes not having been given this added protection under the Declaration (they continue to be part of the Burry Inlet SSSI), they can still be managed as part of the reserve in order to maintain and enhance their wildlife interest.
May I extend your best wishes to Trevor Crosby and Frank Webb, both of whom have been laid-up recently, and hope that they make speedy recoveries so that they may again enjoy the pleasures of getting out in the countryside in the near future.
More best wishes to Barry Stewart c the Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre who is leaving to do a degree course at Plymouth. Ian Morgan, in his Editorial (p.3), records some of Barry's important faunal work but in addition to this he is also an accomplished botanist. Apart from all his other duties with the WWT, he has largely been responsible for the establishment of the willow collection at Penclacwydd and has air contributed some important floral discoveries including the first recent county record of Stone Parsley, the first record of Fringed Water-lily and a new locality for Yellow Bartsia. He also sat on the Nats Committee and was a member of the Ffrwd Fen Management Committee. Barry's departure will leave a major gap on the local conservation scene which will not be easy to fill.
In addition to the floral, faunal and field meeting reports, this Newsletter again contains some major papers, the result of their authors' original research. Many thanks and congratulations again to Ian Morgan, the editor of the Newsletter, in not only maintaining the standard but continuing to enhance its content and appeal. The next issue will commemorate the society's 21st anniversary and I hope there will t articles from some of the "senior" members. If you have any fond recollections (or not so fond) from the early days, I know lan would be very pleased to hear from you.
If you have only received the cover-sheet of this newsletter, your subscription is overdue. To receive a full copy please make your remittance to the Treasurer, as detailed on the back cover.
The winter programme is also printed on the back cover and I look forward to seeing you again at on or more of the meetings.
