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Protecting Wildlife for the Future The Wildlife Trusts
SKOMER
SOUTH & WEST WALES, THE WILDLIFE TRUST OF
[Wales]

Nearest Town:  Haverfordwest

OS Map:  157 SM 730090

A spectacularly eroded island, which together with the neighbouring Skokholm and Midland Island is of international importance for large numbers of breeding birds. It is a National Nature Reserve (NNR).

Location and access:  Boats cross from Martinshaven, beyond Marloes via the B4327 south-west from Haverfordwest. Cars can be left in the National Trust car park. There are boats at 10 am, 11am and 12 noon every day except Mondays (Bank Holidays excepted) for daily visits from Easter to October.

Due to the continued renovation/rebuilding work begun in 2005 there will again be no overnight accommodation on Skomer in 2006. The Skomer Island Heritage Experience Project is being administered by the Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales, supported by the Countryside Council for Wales. The project is funded by a £3.2 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Tubney Charitable Trust.

There is accommodation for voluntary assistant wardens on Skomer on a Saturday to Saturday basis during the season.

Please note dogs are not allowed on the islands.


Features:
  Seabirds and migrants   Breathtaking island scenery
Whatever the time of year, Skomer provides much pleasure. The early spring arrival of the puffin and other seabirds to their colonies. The riot of flowers in May and June, when the
bluebell reigns, followed by red campion and foxglove while sea campion and thrift carpet the cliff tops. The heather of late summer, the nightly departure of young Manx shearwaters, and then the autumn seal pups. The Skokholm-Skomer islands are the largest seabird colonies in southern Britain with fulmar, kittiwake, guillemot and razorbill on the cliffs, puffin on the cliff slopes and large gulls on flatter ground. At night they are alive with immense numbers of Manx shearwater and smaller numbers of storm petrel. Add to this nesting birds like buzzard, peregrine, short-eared owl, chough and raven and rare visitors which have included Cory's shearwater, frigate bird, black kite, Caspian tern, hoopoe and black-headed bunting. Skomer is also one of the largest archaeological sites in Britain with the remains of an Iron Age community, as well as much evidence of farming in its Victorian hey-day.

More Information:
Overnight accommodation is available in the newly refurbished visitor accommodation. We also take voluntary assistant wardens on a weekly basis (Saturday to Saturday) from April to October. Accommodation is also available on neighbouring Skokholm Island. Further information from Wendy Barnes-Jones at the Wildlfie Trust of South & West Wales, telephone 01239 621600 or email islands@welshwildlife.org