Kenfig Nature Reserve

22/10/2026

Our brand new 2027 Kenfig Nature Reserve Calendars are here! 🐦

Featuring beautiful photographs of our wonderful nature reserve, our 2027 calendars are now available for just £8 each!

Every penny of profit will go towards our Bird Hide Project.

A lovely gift for Christmas, or a little treat for yourself while supporting a great cause!

📍 Available to purchase from The Visitor Centre.

Thank you for your continued support! 💚

21/10/2026

Wildlife Wednesday 🍄

Common bird's nest (Crucibulum laeve) is a fungus that looks like a birds nest filled with 'eggs' at the bottom.

Each cup is 4-10mm wide, initially they are covered by a membrane which ruptures to reveal the little 'eggs' you can see. They are found throughout the UK, in clusters on decaying wood, they especially like it where it's dark and damp.

Did you know? The eggs are actually spores which use rain to disperse elsewhere! Up to 4 feet away, a big distance for a small fungi. 💧

15/10/2026

We loved being able to help and be a part of this beach clean!! So excited to see where this goes! Looking forward to the next one 🐟 💚

15/10/2026

Help us replace the bird hide at Kenfig! 🦆🦉🦢

The hide provides a welcoming space for visitors, wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, schools and community groups to experience Kenfig's incredible bird life and connect with nature.

From peaceful wildlife watching to educational visits and citizen science activities, replacing the hide will help more people enjoy and learn about one of Wales' most important nature reserves.

Every donation contributes to the money we already have put aside to replace the bird hide and gets us closer to being able to reopen again!

Thank you ❤️

Help us to rebuild Kenfig's bird hide and bring this all-weather nature observation and learning asset back into community use.

14/10/2026

Wildlife Wednesday 🦢

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor). This instantly recognisable waterbird is spotted on Kenfig Pool and at the Afon Cynffig river mouth! It is the UK's largest swan! Here in this picture you can see we have 2 adults and 1 juvenile, which were spotted down the river mouth recently!

Did you know? When cygnets have just hatched they are the size of a grapefruit! Often seen riding on the back of their parents for protection, warmth and as an energy saver!! How cute ❤️

We have them here at Kenfig all year round mostly, have you spotted them yet??

12/10/2026

Help shape the future of volunteering at Kenfig National Nature Reserve!!

We are seeking feedback to grow volunteering opportunities, introduce new activities and enhance volunteer experience!

Whether you're an active volunteer, have never thought of volunteering, are considering it or are experiencing barriers, we'd be grateful if you could take a few minutes to complete our survey.

Thank you for helping us create more opportunities for people to get involved in conserving and enjoying Kenfig National Nature Reserve!!

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

07/10/2026

Wildlife Wednesday 🐍

This week we've got the Grass Snake (Natrix helvetica)! This is our longest snake but it is harmless! Make sure you check your compost heaps, as they tend to lay 10-40 eggs in rotting vegetation which will keep them incubated until they hatch in autumn.

Did you know? To deter predators they have a number of tactics up their sleeves! They can hiss, release a bad smelling secretion, and also play dead. Grass snakes rarely bite, even when they are threatened, they may strike out using their head but will keep their mouth closed!

They are quite shy animals but still keep your eyes peeled you might get lucky!

Thank you to Andrew McGleish who managed to get this amazing shot of a Grass snake on the reserve!

05/10/2026

From the beginning of October, we have introduced Tempo Time Credits for our volunteers! 🎉

Every hour volunteered helps support rare wildlife, habitats, learning opportunities and community engagement here at Kenfig!!

If you volunteer and earn Time Tempo credits, you can use them to enjoy access to a variety of activities 🏊📽️

We really appreciate all the work our volunteers do and this is just one way to recognise that and say thank you ❤️

We always welcome new volunteers as well, if you are interested please email - [email protected] for more information!

02/10/2026

September Sightings 🤩

Below is our sightings list for September! Although it is not a comprehensive list of everything that’s been on sight this past month, it shows what a great place we are to see a variety of nature and wildlife.😍

And wow, what a month September has been on the reserve!! 🪲

We can’t wait to see what autumn will bring onto site!

A huge thank you to our volunteers who monitor, record and update the sightings board. It is an essential part of Kenfig!

Comment below any sightings you’ve seen that we may have missed this month 👀

If you’re visiting us, make sure to check out our sightings board in the visitor centre before heading out! It’s updated daily, and don’t forget you can add your own sightings into our book in the visitor centre or come in and chat to us!