Royal Welsh Show presenters, Rachael, Rhys and Sara.

Well that's it for another year, I've just finished recording the end link with Sara and Rachel, and am now ready to step down from my presenter duties for the Royal Welsh show 2012.

We've had a marvellous time but happy to be on our way for dinner as once again we didn't have time for lunch.

Looking back over the week it's hard to pinpoint single highlights as the whole show has been the most amazing experience.

For me the kindness of the Davies family allowing me to help prepare their champion dairy cows during an incredibly stressful time must top my highlight of my show.

We have all had an amazing time and I hope you have enjoyed watching.

Rhys

This follows on from a recent RSPB report which mentions that the population of swifts visiting the UK each summer to breed is nearly a third lower than it was in the mid-1990s.

Swifts are now on the amber list and birds of Conservation Concern as their numbers have declined dramatically in the past 10 years

This year's spate of bad weather has resulted in fewer flying insects for swifts to eat.

I've seen a fair few out and about this summer while working on BBC Wales Weatherman Walking, both at Burry Port and Cardiff Bay Nature Reserve but not in any great numbers.

A lack of nest sites is also causing problems as older buildingsd are being renovated and newer buildings don't provide a suitable space for swifts to nest in.

You can help the RSPB by completing a short survey about swifts in your area.

Wales now has 95,000 hectares of ancient woodland - an increase of more than 50% since the last survey, eight years ago.

The huge leap from the previous estimate of 62,000ha is due to the use of more accurate, digital maps and more precise methods which enabled new areas to be identified.

The revised inventory was commissioned by Forestry Commission Wales and the Countryside Council for Wales with support from Coed Cadw/Woodland Trust, which owns Cwm George and Casehill woodland.

Ancient woodland - CCW

Environment Minister John Griffiths launched the revised Ancient Woodland Inventory yesterday and visited one of the new areas of ancient woodland that has been recognised at Cwm George and Casehill woodland, near Dinas Powys in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Mr Griffiths said "Ancient woodlands are not just museum pieces which need to be preserved, but can also be a valuable asset, providing wider benefits"

Ancient woodlands are our richest and most important sites for a vast range of insects, birds, animals, flowers and trees and are home to more threatened species than any other UK habitat.

They also have historical and archaeological significance and can be a source of inspiration for local culture and folklore.

Five years ago, I'd never even visited Ynys Mon but I'm gradually getting to know the place having spent two weeks there with Springwatch followed up with a Weatherman walk at North Stack last year.

I seem to end up visiting the island outside of the school holidays which probably helps but it's always nice and relaxed with very few people around.

Our first walk began in Cemaes Bay on the north coast, just around the headland from Wylfa Nuclear Power Station, which seemed to shadow us for most of the walk, appearing and disappearing around every dip and bend until Porth Cynfor/ Hell's Mouth.

The walk was absolutely fascinating, steeped in history, myths and legends with coastal views to die for - even in the rain and drizzle!

Our guide was Dave Salter, a local walker and former power station worker who knew the area like the back of his hand and laughed and joked his way around this rugged circular walk.

Cemaes Bay is a pleasant little white-washed coastal village, once a thriving port but now a sleepy backwater with a relaxed pace and stunning bay, popular with tourists when the sun shines.

Producer Gareth Rees-Rowlands and Derek Brockway admiring the restored lifeboat in Cemaes harbour.

Highlights included seeing the fully restored Charles Henry Ashley lifeboat which operated between 1872 - 1932 in the harbour and Middle Mouse - the most northerly island in Wales, where Bishop Patrick (later Saint Patrick) was once shipwrecked.

Apparently he swam ashore and lived in a cave with a freshwater pool beneath the cliffs, building the beautiful Llanbadrig church up above, in around AD440 - making it one of the oldest Christian sites in Wales

The church is fascinating, steeped in history and features Islamic wall tiles inside - not something you'll find every day in a Christian church. It's also featured in the Hollywood moive, Half Light starring Demi Moore.

The beautiful Llanbadrig church with some unusual, Islamic tiling inside.

The local gentry, a Lord Henry Stanley who paid for much of the renovation following a fire, had converted to Islam and requested something inside the church that represented his faith, so you'll find pretty, ornate blue tiles adorning the walls around the altar.

Henry Stanley, also known as the 3rd Baron Stanley of Alderley went on to become the first Muslim member of the House of Lords.

The Dalai Lama was apparently quite taken with the place too and during a visit, described it as the 'most peaceful place on earth'. There's a wooden bench on the headland where he sat to admire the views.

During our visit, harbour porpoises swam lazily in the sea below, with a mother and calf feeding as the tide turned.

A view over the graveyard towards Middle Mouse island where Saint Patrick was once shipwrecked.

Heading along the coast we passed Middle Mouse and heard a cacophony of sea birds, busily nesting on the island, safe from predators.

This area is a great place to see terns too and you'll see plenty of Sandwich and Arctic terns diving for sand eels.

The walk had a few steep climbs which made the old legs burn a bit but for every hill there was a great view followed by a nice downhill section into a stunning cove.

There was an convent in the area during the 7th century but that has pretty much disappeared along with an Iron Age promontory fort, but a watch tower built in 1902 still stands.

Catching my breath after a steep climb up from Porth Llanliieiana, heading towards the watch tower.

It was built by a Captain Picton to commemorate the coronation of Edward VII in 1902 and a great place to watch ships from, as they battle the fierce tides which eventually surge around the island and up the Menai Straits.

Cemaes was once a thriving port, exporting limestone, marble, bricks, lime and corn and importing coal and flour.

The remnants of the brick works can still be seen though and there are some fine examples at Porth Wen which supplied silica bricks for the steel industry and glazed bricks for domestic use in Victorian times.

The sun finally shone as we ended the walk on a quiet back lane that took us back to the village.

Luckily we were blessed with some glorious summer weather as we walked a stunning part of the Carmarthenshire coast along the Loughor Estuary as far as the old harbour at Pembrey, just past Burry Port.

We met some truly inspirational people along the way and if you've not walked, cycled or skated this stretch of coast before, then I highly recommend it.

Glassy views over the Loughor Estuary on a calm, sunny day.

It's under an hour from Cardiff by car, just off the M4 and easily accessible by train and bus too.

The Millennium Coastal Park is ideal for walkers of all abilities and it's staggering to see what they've achieved there since 2000, when you consider the whole area was once a derelict industrial site - think Port Talbot being transformed into 'Teletubby land' and you get the picture.

Derek with local guide and wheelchair athlete, Ritchie Powell at Burry Port.

The 10 mile section of park is landscaped with rolling green hills, angling lakes and nature reserves such as the National Wetlands Centre and Pwll Lagoon.

The wetlands area and surrounding salt marshes are very important habitats and home to up to 50,000 waders each winter.

On a clear day you get stunning views over to north Gower and Whiteford Burrows lighthouse which is visible along the walk.

Burry Port was where Amelia Earhart's plane, Friendship was towed to, after landing in the estuary making her the first woman to fly across the Atlantic on June 17,1928.

Our second walk was closer to home as we visited Cardiff Bay to do a circular walk with TV presenter Frances Donovan - complete with Nordic walking sticks!

Frances Cottey tries to teach Derek Brockway the basics of Nordic walking

We began at Custom House in Penarth Marina and walked around the barrage visiting local iconic landmarks - The Senedd, The Pierhead Building, Whitewater Rafting Centre etc.

The new Doctor Experience opens in mid-July and occupies the strangely shaped large blue hangar over towards the Norwegian Church.

Rounding the St David's Spa Hotel we spent some time at the Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve - somewhere I'd never visited before.

It's not that big but packs a lot in to a small space - a green oasis surrounded by freshwater and the urban jumble of Cardiff Bay.

The warden mentioned that they have a large number of unusual species visiting the reserve which are not always easy to spot but rare bearded tits and water voles have been seen recently.

Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve

Warblers are out in force currently including Cett's, sedge and reed warbler as well as reed buntings and wildfowl including nesting great crested grebes.

When the sun comes out the dragonflies and butterflies arrive and it's well worth a walk if you're ever visiting Cardiff Bay.

From here we crossed over the busy road bridge back to Penarth, stopping off at the Whitewater Rafting Centre to film kayakers contorting their paddles, before making our way over the Pont y Werin footbridge to Penarth Marina and Custom House where we began.

If you're a keen walker then the Monmouthshire Walking Festival runs from 22 June to 1 July and is a ticketed event.

The guided walks cover a wide variety of terrains and topics taking in the local flora and fauna as well as hillforts, castles and plenty of stunning scenery - some of which we walked last year. Visit the website for more details.

The largest of our three native snakes, it can grow over 1.5m in length with the females being larger than the males.

A grass snake recently photographed by Darren Harries.

They're normally olive green or brown in colour with a characteristic yellow collar behind the head. The undersides are paler white with distinctive blocks of black.

Grass snakes can be tricky to spot due to their speed, agility and camouflage and are one of the few animals that will fake death, becoming completely limp if cornered.

Another defensive technique they use is to excrete a foul smelling liquid from their anal glands which apparently takes a long time to remove from your hands - should you be tempted to pick one up.

Like most snakes, you have to be extremely lucky and patient to spot one, as they will invariably slither away at the slightest vibration as you approach.

Grass snakes are excellent swimmers so your best chance of seeing one is actually when it's swimming in water or curled up in a pond hiding under foliage near the bank.

A swimming grass snake by Rat Salad.

Grass snakes prefer being close to water where they prey upon frogs, toads, small fish and the occasional small mammal or bird.

As Britain's only egg laying snake, a favourite haunt is in garden compost heaps which provide the perfect conditions for incubating their eggs in.

Grass snakes eggs will lay up to 40 eggs which require temperatures between 21-28 degrees with plenty of humidity.

Grass snake by Dave Hill @ DEFRA

After about 10 weeks the young snakes emerge in early autumn but few reach adulthood, becoming prey to other animals and as a result of this and loss of habitat, these snakes are now in decline.

The head markings on the snakes are unique like a fingerprint and can be used to identify individuals age, sex and distribution

If you do happen to find a grass snake in your garden then don't panic, they're completely harmless and you're incredibly lucky to have one.

BBC Wildlife Finder: Grass snakes

Wikipedia: Grass snakes

Herpetofauna.co.uk

Welsh ospreys are also doing well. At the RSPB Glaslyn reserve all three chicks have hatched and the pair at the Dyfi Estuary should have chicks hatching this weekend.

Keep an eye on the Dyfi Osprey Facebook page for some incredible HD webcam images of the birds on the nest - probably the best you will ever see of a bird of prey!

Welsh beaches gained 43 Blue Flag awards this year but six lost their status including Aberavon, Llandudno North Shore, Aberystwyth South, Criccieth and Newport.

For snake lovers out there, The National Poisons Information Service - (yes it does exist) have revealed that Wales is an adder bite hotspot.

23 people in Wales were bitten by the UK's only venomous snake between 2009-11 but to keep things in perspective, no-one has died from an adder bite for more than 20 years.

If bitten, get to a hospital ASAP but providing you watch where you're walking and keep your distance, adders will invariably move away before you even see them.

Springwatch is back in Wales for another series, live from the RSPB Ynys-hir reserve. The series starts on Monday 28 May at 8pm on BBC Two.

Our Flickr group continues to capture some wonderful images from around Wales. Here are a few that have caught my eye lately:

female adder basking in the sun by Matthew Fox

Jo Edwards found this hedgehog dehydrated in her garden so gave it some food and water and got it back on its feet.

Here's something you don't see every day, a highly camouflaged, treecreeper chick on the nest in Roath Park - snapped by Anthony Cronin

A rare cuckoo, feeding on caterpillars - spotted by Mike Warburton

Who needs Springwatch when you've got your own webcam set up in the back garden. Laurence Clark was amazed to find badgers in his back yard!

It's a part of Carmarthenshire that I don't really know, so it was nice to finally see it in the flesh and the sunny weather definitely helped.

My three year old loved it and I was surprised at how tame and tolerant the ducks.

I've not see such docile creatures since I visited the Galapagos Islands, where you literally have to step over nesting boobies and marine iguanas to make any progress on each island.

Many of the ducks will feed from the hand too so keep one eye on your sandwiches.

Back to the wetlands and pretty much every duck was met with a 'hello duckie!' from my son, followed by a spot of close quarter eyeballing. Apart from the odd hiss (mainly from the South American geese) we passed through unscathed.

Geese at the WWT

He also got to grips with my binoculars although I'm still not 100% sure what he actually saw!

There were dozens of exotic ducks from all over the world - South America, Australia, Tundra, Europe etc as well as Caribbean flamingo which were a big hit.

We saw black swans, bewick's swans, eider ducks, countless moorhens and coots with their young, shelducks and plenty I'd never heard of.

In the woods surrounding the enclosures I also spotted a blackcap and chiffchaff.

Sadly I didn't get to explore the wilder wetland areas of the 66 hectare site as there is only so much a three year old can handle but I'd love to go back and spend a lot more time there.

The first chick hatches at Glaslyn. Image taken from the RSPB webcam.

After a rough and windy night which saw the osprey webcam lose power, the female finally revealed the chick at 10am.

The male osprey was close at hand, waiting patiently with a freshly caught fish for the new arrival.

Find out more on BBC News Online.

Some are internationally known such as the Skomer and Skokholm islands off Pembrokeshire. Others, like the Solutia Meadows in Gwent are less well known but provide equally enjoyable destinations for walkers along the path.

Ten of the best Wildlife Trust sites along the Wales Coast path are:

1. Skomer/Skokholm (as one reserve)
2. Cemlyn (Anglesey)
3. Solutia Meadows (Gwent)
4. Port Eynon Point (Gower)
5. Cema
6. Gwaith Powdwr (Gwynedd)
7. Lavernock Point (Glamorgan)
8. Penderi Cliffs (Ceredigion)
9. Spinnies (Gwynedd)
10. Goodwick Moor (Pembs)

Wildlife Broadcaster, Iolo Williams said: "These top ten sites will give tourists a unique chance to see the some of the hidden wildlife treasures we have here in Wales."

"While I love the world renowned sites like Skomer with its amazing birdlife and unknown marine life, I'm also pleased that less well known reserves like Cemlyn on Anglesey are so high up the list because it's the most important breeding site for terns in southern Britain."

"Wales' amazing coastline is home to some of our most spectacular wildlife;" explains Rachel Sharp, CEO of Wildlife Trusts Wales.

"These reserves are home to not only a huge variety of birds, (more than 185 species have been spotted at the Wildlife Trusts Abergowan Spinnies in Gwynedd for example), but also rare butterflies such as the purple hairstreak at Lavernock Point in Glamorgan and scarce plants like the southern marsh orchid on the Solutia Meadows in Gwent.

"There are also 'hot spots' for watching bottlenose dolphins and porpoises, such as at Cemaes Head, and the northern most reserve, Cemlyn, on Anglesey is internationally renowned for its bird life."

The Wildlife Trusts Dyfi Osprey Project is also only a short distance inland from the path and the Ospreys have already laid eggs this year.

May is the main breeding season for ladybirds so you can expect to see a lot more of our 51 resident species (only 29 of these are recognisably ladybirds) out and about over the next month.

Among our resident species you'll also spot the increasingly common, invasive harlequin ladybird which is being carefully monitored.

Confusingly it comes in many colours, many of which resemble our native ladybirds making it difficult to distinguish.

Introduced to north America and mainland Europe as a biological control for aphids, their ferocious appetite has led to the decline of our native species.

Not only do they eat aphids, they will also eat ladybird larvae and other insect larva such as butterfly eggs, caterpillars and lacewing larvae and at least 1000 British insects are now at risk.

First spotted in the south east of England in 2004 they have expanded rapidly, north and west.

Harlequin ladybird in Llangollen by Keith Evans

Here are a few simple ways to distinguish harlequin ladybirds from resident species from the Harlequin Ladybird Survey website:

• If it's less than 5 mm (1/5 inch) in length, it is definitely not a harlequin ladybird.

• If it's red with precisely 7 black spots, it is a 7-spot ladybird.

• If it has white or cream spots, it is a striped ladybird, an orange ladybird or a cream-spot adybird.

• If it is large, burgundy coloured and has 15 black spots, it is an eyed ladybird .

• If it has an orange pronotum, and fine hairs all over the elytra, it is a bryony ladybird..

• If it is black with four or six red spots, two of which are right at the front of the outside margin of the elytra, it is a melanic form of the 2-spot ladybird..

A recent study led by Dr Helen Roy from the UK's Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and Tim Adriaens from the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO) in Belgium has found that seven resident species are at risk.

The seven species in decline are the 2-spot, 10-spot, cream-spot, pine, orange, 14-spot and 22-spot ladybirds.

Find out more about Harlequin ladybirds on BBC Nature.

Barafundle Bay, on the Pembrokeshire coast by Arwyn Harris

1. Church Bay, Ynys Mon / Anglesey, Sunday 6 May at 10.30am

5 miles, 2.5hrs

A National Trust walk around the Church Bay Meet at the Swtan car park with Warden Bryn Jones

Contact Number: 01407711178

2. Porthdinllaen, Llyn, Sunday 5 May, 4pm - 6pm

Start and finish at Porthdinllaen car park at Morfa Nefyn
Circular walk with Ranger. Learn about the fascinating maritime history and wildlife of the village and beach.

Contact: 01758 760533.

3. Mynydd Rhiw, Llyn, Sunday 6 May, 2pm - 5pm

Start and finish at Mynydd Rhiw lay by at summit of road between Bryncroes and Rhiw. Circular walk visiting the cottages of the tyddynnwyr (smallholders) hear from the Ranger about our exciting restoration project.

Contact: 01758 760533.

4. Cwm Tydu, Ceredigion on Sunday 5 May, 10am - 1pm

Start and finish at the beach at Cwm Tydu - walk along the coast and through the woods at Ryslip to see early spring flowers, along with the possibility of chough and pearl bordered fritillary.

Contact: 01545 573030 / 07917266367

5. Solva, Pembrokeshire on Sunday 6 May, 2pm - 4pm

4 mile circular walk from Solva Harbour to Nine Wells and back with National Trust Area Warden Andrew Tuddenham.You'll see ship wrecks, coastal forts and plenty of birds along the way. Some moderate gradients.

Contact 01348 837860.

6. Stackpole, Pembrokeshire - Saturday 5th May 10am - 2.30pm

Starting and Finishing at Broadhaven car park. Walk with Head Ranger Chris Oliver along the lime stone cliffs of Stackpole, with a chance to see a variety of birds including Chough, Guillemots, Razor Bills and Gannets.

Pause at Boat House Stackpole Quay for a tea before winding your way back through dunes, woodland, farmland and the Bosherston Lakes back to Broadhaven.

Contact National Trust at Stackpole on 01646 661359 for further details.

7. Cwm Ivy, Gower on Sunday 6 May at 4:30am.

Dawn Chorus walk on Coast Path at Cwm Ivy. Listen to the countryside wake up, with experts on hand to identify the bird call. A magical experience.

Contact 01792 390636 or email: gower.admin@nationaltrust.org.uk

• You can also follow the National Trust's Coast Path blog.

The Mid Wales Red Squirrel Project, which has been running since 2002, has received £12,000 funding from Environment Wales to help support red squirrel conservation in the area around Llyn Brianne and the Tywi Forest.

The red squirrels here form one of only three key populations left in Wales, and the only one left in south Wales.

Isabel Macho, Biodiversity Officer with Carmarthenshire County Council, said: "We are really lucky still to have red squirrels in Carmarthenshire, and their protection is one of our conservation priorities."

"The unique nature of the Tywi forest has allowed them to survive here longer than in the rest of south Wales but they remain very vulnerable due to habitat loss and the impacts of grey squirrels."

A red squirrel by Steve Davis

Dr Lizzie Wilberforce of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales went on to explain, "Unfortunately, grey squirrels aren't native to Britain and have more or less replaced our native red squirrels throughout Wales."

Grey squirrels are much larger, out-compete reds for food and carry a disease called squirrel pox, which is fatal to red squirrels.

New funding has allowed the project to undertake a large survey of the Cothi and Gwenffrwd valleys to assess where squirrel activity can be observed and to engage landowners and other interested individuals in red squirrel conservation.

It has also supported a carefully designed programme of grey squirrel control that has been targeted to maximise the benefit for red squirrels in their core habitat.

Huw Denman, a private forester and member of the red squirrel project, said: "Small changes to the way woodlands are managed, like altering the proportions of tree species you plant, can make a huge difference to red squirrels survival."

Working with local landowners, the project hopes to create a better future for red squirrels in Wales.

Watch red squirrels on BBC Wildlife Finder

The female laid her first egg two days later than last year on 4 April, and has been sat on the nest throughout the night, getting up to feed briefly this morning.

Geraint Williams, Osprey Project Officer said: "The ospreys have been busy getting their nest ready and bringing moss and twigs to build it up. The nest diameter is currently two metres in size."

The team are hoping more eggs will follow over the next few days. Each egg will then be incubated for around 37 days, which means the first egg should hatch around the beginning of May.

Work will start this summer on a £400,000 project at the popular Llandudno Junction site, benefiting from £178,705 from Communities and Nature, a strategic project led and managed by the Countryside Council for Wales and part funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.

The initiative, known as Conwy Connections, includes several elements, the centrepiece being the landscaping of land between the existing Visitor Centre and Waterside Coffee Shop, known as Y Maes.

Artists impression of Y Maes by Alan Gray, RSPB volunteer.

Y Maes an outdoor meeting place will provide elevated views for visitors across the reserve and beyond to the Conwy Valley.

It will also include picnic areas, new seating and will be the hub of events such as the monthly Farmers' Markets and annual Gardeners' Markets.

Once planted with nectar-rich flowers and berry-bearing bushes, it will incorporate natural areas for youngsters to play, such as stepping logs, a den-building area, a roly-poly bank, secret cave and mud bath!

The first phase of the project includes major improvements to the car parking facilities at the site, the building of an observatory with a green roof to overlook the lagoon and the installation of solar panels on the roof of the coffee shop.

Work is expected to start later this summer, subject to planning consent.