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Exclusion zone brought in to protect wildlife

Rob Thomas
BBC News
BBC An aerial view of the sea cliffs at the Range, near South Stack, Anglesey where a flat headline juts into the sea. The ground is brown with grass near the cliff edge. There are two paths running parallel to each other - one closer to the edge and one closer to the centre. The sea is turquoise in colour.BBC
The cliffs around the Range are home to a host of rare wildlife

Increasing levels of damage to wildlife on a protected part of the Anglesey coast have led to a new exclusion zone being introduced.

The RSPB, which leases an area of land known as the Range, close to South Stack lighthouse, has been given special powers to protect rare bird species and the environment.

While the coastal path remains open across the 1.8 mile (2.9 km) exclusion zone, temporary restrictions aim to curb the damage caused by growing numbers of people taking part in activities such as coasteering during bird breeding season.

"It's one of the most special and important places for habitats and species, in many cases internationally," explained Alun Prichard, director of RSPB Cymru.

The restrictions are now in force and will remain in place until 15 September.

"The exclusion zone is to ensure that we safeguard that nature, to look after the nature for the rest of the nation, essentially," Mr Prichard added.

The sea cliffs at the Range are a key breeding ground for the chough, listed as a schedule one bird, and is home to peregrine falcons and rare plants and lichens.

Schedule one species are given a higher level of protection, especially during the breeding season, and deliberately harming or disturbing them, their nests, eggs or chicks can result in fines and even prison sentences, according to the RSPB.

"In recent years we've had chough prospecting - looking to nest - but put off by the disturbance, so what we want do is ensure that disturbance is lessened," said Mr Prichard.

"It's a simple matter of respect."

Alun Prichard at the Range, near South Stack. He has short white hair and is wearing a beige suit, with a dark blue shirt and a Welsh flag badge on his lapel. Behind him gorse bushes can be seen in the background on the cliff top, with a blue sky in the horizon.
Alun Prichard says the site is of international importance

The coastal path is set back from the exclusion zone and remains unaffected.

To formally exclude the public from the site required action from Natural Resources Wales (NRW), who have taken what they said was the unusual step of bringing in an exclusion zone.

Those people who have been going to the cliff edge until now, or accessing the cliffs themselves, have been doing so without the permission of the land owner or the RSPB, NRW said.

Euros Jones, NRW's operations manager for north west Wales, said the body found the request "reasonable" because of the impact of activities like coasteering and sea cliff traversing on wildlife as well as the damage caused to the geology of the Site of Special Scientific Interest.

This includes disturbance to protected lichen and the bolting of routes around this section of coastline.

Coasteering involves exploring rocky coastlines by climbing, jumping, and swimming.

Euros Jones of NRW pictured at the agency's offices in Bangor. He has dark greying hair and a short beard and is wearing glasses and a black jacket. A row of three parked cars can be seen to the left of the shot with grass behind him, and a picnic table in the background. Part of a brick building can be seen in the right hand side.
Euros Jones of Natural Resources Wales says the agency was happy to grant the exclusion zone

"We will monitor activity throughout the exclusion period and review the situation after the six-month period," Mr Jones said.

RSPB wardens in the area will make visitors aware of the new restrictions which are also highlighted on noticeboards close to the exclusion zone to raise awareness of the issue and the new controls.

This will will be reviewed when restrictions end in September, but legal action can be taken if it is felt necessary.

The RSPB, NRW and Anglesey council all said the exclusion zone was about protecting a key nature site and not an attempt to stop people accessing the coast and countryside.

"We recognise the need for and challenges of balancing wildlife protection and outdoor leisure activities," said Andy Godber, Anglesey council's visitor economy and coastal areas manager.

"Whilst the lease allows the RSPB to make such decisions independently, we would encourage further dialogue with the outdoor sector, during and after the trial period, to see if a workable solution can be reached."