The Natural Environment and Biodiversity

Anglesey is a marvellous place for wildlife and landscape. The spectacular coastline has a huge variety of habitats: cliffs, coastal heath, sand dunes, estuaries, rocky & sandy shores – and of course the Menai Strait dividing Anglesey from the mainland. Inland, the island is equally rich with broadleaf woodland & conifer forests, lowland heath, over 60 lakes, and some of the most important wetlands in the UK. Anglesey is brilliant for bird watching, and also is home to some of Britain’s rarest mammals: the red squirrel, water vole and otter.

Menter Môn is dedicated to conserving Anglesey’s biodiversity. As a community based organisation, we aim to benefit both wildlife and the people of Anglesey and visitors by giving them a most varied experience of its natural beauties. We believe that the best way to protect wildlife is to make it an attraction for visitors and rural tourism. Thousands of people come to Anglesey to enjoy the scenery and nature.

In this website we describe our biodiversity and natural environment projects. The Otter and Red Squirrel projects began in the late 1990’s. Red squirrels have disappeared from most of the rest of Wales, but are now increasing on Anglesey as a result of our project. We have helped re-establish otters on Anglesey’s rivers and wetlands, which are especially good habitat. Otters are increasing naturally, but remain vulnerable. The Anglesey wetlands are also haven for the Water Vole – the UK’s fastest declining mammal. Our Water Vole project is improving this habitat and protecting the Water Vole from its predator the American Mink.

Working with local communities, we have established 6 Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) – with more in the pipeline. The LNRs provide open spaces rich in wildlife for local people and visitors to enjoy. We also encourage local schools to use them as an educational resource – especially the primary schools.

Anglesey is one of the most important geological sites in the UK, with many different rock types represented – the oldest being ‘Pre-Cambrian’ of over 600 million years old. These rocks were formed as life itself was beginning to evolve on Earth. We support GeoMôn, Anglesey’s geopark.

Our natural environment projects are supported by funds from: Europe, the Countryside Council for Wales, the Environment Agency Wales, the Forestry Commission Wales and GrantScape, and the Esmé Kirby Snowdonia Trust. We also work in partnership with voluntary organisations such as the North Wales Wildlife Trust and the Friends of the Anglesey Red Squirrels.