Wildlife and Ecology
The Pont Valley is home to a multitude of wildlife including Red Kites, Deer and Red Squirrels as well as a rich diversity of other less rare species. Some of these we know of, others you may have encountered personally but not reported. For example, there are regular and persistent reports of the Great Crested Newt occurring in some wetlands. Only some of these have been verified since the last major survey carried out.
Some organisations underestimate the importance of the Pont Burn Valley to wildlife in our area. When dealing with companies such as UK Coal, we need to be able to present facts which we believe refute any such claim. Of course we could commission experts of our own and may well do this. But we believe that local knowledge and participation as an ongoing catalogue, rather than one single survey might also be useful.
We think that we can record, on these pages, detailed information about all our wildlife, inviting individuals as well as organisations to join with us. The Pont Valley Net has started with rarer species which we think might seize attention. But we invite others to tell us more, either as individuals or organisations and become part of our network.
Some organisations underestimate the importance of the Pont Burn Valley to wildlife in our area. When dealing with companies such as UK Coal, we need to be able to present facts which we believe refute any such claim. Of course we could commission experts of our own and may well do this. But we believe that local knowledge and participation as an ongoing catalogue, rather than one single survey might also be useful.
We think that we can record, on these pages, detailed information about all our wildlife, inviting individuals as well as organisations to join with us. The Pont Valley Net has started with rarer species which we think might seize attention. But we invite others to tell us more, either as individuals or organisations and become part of our network.