Pembroke Probus Club members engaged with nature through a virtual window into Pembrokeshire wildlife during the November luncheon meeting at Cleddau Bridge Hotel.

The window of opportunity to view our wildlife was given by Nathan Walton, a ranger with South and West Wales Wildlife Trust, during his power point presentation on the nature reserves within the four Welsh counties under his stewardship.

There are 47 wildlife trusts in the UK. The South and West Wales Trust within the counties of Pembrokeshire, Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire and Glamorgan is the fourth largest in area of them all and the largest in Wales itself.

The Trust is controlled from the Welsh Wildlife Centre in Cilgerran within the Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve. Amongst the fauna in this area can be found eight water buffalo, plus a new addition born on November 1 - the same morning as the meeting.

There are many wild fowl too as well as ospreys, peregrine falcon and heron. The Teifi Marshes Reserve provides a network of paths with a brand new boardwalk, many areas of open water and disabled access to the paths.

Of the wildlife reserves, Ranger Walton singled out five in Pembrokeshire for special mention: Teifi marshes already mentioned consisting of 65 hectares; West Williamston - 20 hectares; Pengelli - 65 hectares near Eglwyswrw; Llangloffan Fen - 15 hectares near Mathry; Goodwick Moor - 15 hectares near Fishguard.

Some of the interesting flora worthy of mention in the West Williamston Reserve is cord grass, sea couch, bee orchid, hairy violet and yellow wort. Fauna included the brown hair streak butterfly as well as waders, badgers and curlews.

The Pengelli Reserve has a connecting walk with Castell Henllys. It has the largest block of ancient oak coppice woodland in Wales and contains extremely rare flora such as the bastard balm and its fauna include polecats, the common lizard and many bats.

Llangloffan Fen Reserve has the largest flood plain in Wales and provides home for hen harriers, glossy ibis as well as adders and grass snakes. Goodwick Moor Reserve has a wet area of 15 hectares. There is a board walk right around the area and otters, voles and badgers can be seen.

There is an aspiration within the Trust to provide better woodland for Wales and volunteers work tirelessly to this end. However, many more are needed. Further details can be obtained from the Welsh Wildlife Centre, Cilgerran.

The club vote of thanks was given by Joe Barnikel, himself a wildlife watcher in his capacity as a very successful amateur fisherman - carp should watch out for this person!

Upon the conclusion of the talk, 33 members sat down to a first class carvery lunch enjoyed by all.

Future dates for members' diaries: November 15 - Beer Fest at the Cleddau Bridge Hotel, members only; December 6 - lunch with guest speaker, members only at Cleddau Bridge Hotel; December 16 - quiz night and Christmas draw at the Pembroke Dock Golf Club - members and ladies; December 20 - members Christmas lunch at Cleddau Bridge Hotel; February 17, 2012 - president's dinner, Cleddau Bridge Hotel members and ladies.