Another rush to produce the Nats’ Newsletter in time to advertise the forthcoming summer programme and beyond, but unlike the last issue, I think we have just about made it in time! There has been a great upsurge in interest in the Penllergaer Estate, Swansea, with the formation of the Friends of Penllergare and their publication of a book on its history. Lewis Weston Dillwyn was an accomplished botanist and naturalist of the first half of the nineteenth century, privately publishing his ‘Materials for a Fauna and Flora of Swansea and the Neighbourhood’ in 1848 (see p.7). His son John Dillwyn Llewelyn continued his interest in addition to being deeply involved in the development of photography at its dawn, in association with William Henry Fox Talbot. Other members of the family were acknowledged as accomplished scientists and astronomers and they built an observatory at Penllergare which is still in reasonable condition although the mansion was blown-up in the 1950s and more recently replaced by council offices. The landscaped estate, having been neglected for many years is currently undergoing some degree of restoration by the fact that the lower lake, which was drained in 1966 as the dam was considered unsafe, is to be partially reinstated. The wooded valley closest to the site of the old mansion still contains several majestic trees planted by the family, including Wellingtonia and Coast Redwood, whilst closer to the River Llan, naturalised thickets of Broad-leaved Bamboo and Giant Knotweed provide dense cover for Otters. The valley is a haven for many forms of wildlife and in the last few years, intensive ecological surveys have been completed as part of the scheme to eventually make the site into a Country Park.

But you may be thinking what is the relevance of all this to the Llanelli Naturalists. Two articles in this issue of the Newsletter refer to L.W.Dillwyn’s observations. Firstly, Philip Jones’ recalls that the first truffle was recorded in South Wales by Dillwyn in 1847 and the particular species, Pachyphloeus citrinus, has never since been refound with certainty in Britain! The specimen is still at Kew. Secondly, Yucca was observed in 1839 at Crymlyn Burrows near Swansea and Dillwyn suggested that its origin might be as a drift seed deposited by the tide. Both, you must agree, are profound observations and bear witness to Dillwyn’s eminence. Furthermore, in his ‘Materials’ he includes many records from the Llanelli area, chiefly those of James Motley, the industrialist who resided at Aelybryn House (now the Diplomat Hotel). Some of Motley’s specimens, including many first or second records for Carmarthenshire, survive in the Royal Institution in Swansea, but the greater proportion of his herbarium was destroyed in the Blitz.

A full and varied programme of field meetings and illustrated talks has again been arranged for 2000-2001. I have included some outdoor meetings from the programmes of both the Wildlife Trust WestWales and the West Wales Country Gardeners, which I hope will be of interest . I also hope that the autumn and winter indoor meetings will be well attended as it is a pity if speakers have to travel a long distance to be greeted by just a small audience.