VANDALS have struck at the Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve for the third time this year, the latest attack leading to a fire.

Here, the reserve's people and wildlife officer Nia Stephens talks about the shocking destruction and issues an invitation to the vandals to go along and find out about the impact of the damage they have done.

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OVER the last few decades as more people become disengaged with nature and the outdoors some people have begun to care less about our landscapes and countryside.

A lot of the British public are seriously disengaged from nature. Children and young people can name more brands than British wildlife, and people are spending less and less time outdoors.

Over the last few days Teifi Marshes has been serious victim of vandalism, starting with some minor damage to the boardwalks and resulting in a serious fire that has destroyed a hide which is popular with local people who are interested in their local wildlife.

This is not the first time vandalism has happened on the reserve, in fact it’s the third time this year. The scale of the damage and lack of care is another indicator of how disengaged people are from what happens at Teifi Marshes.

The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales who look after the reserve is a charity and when things like this happen, time and money have to be diverted from the important nature conservation work they do to repair the damage.

It is key for all people to experience wildlife, even the people who destroyed the hide.

We were very sad to see the state of the reserve this morning, it's quite shocking to see the damage that has been done. I would like to meet the people who have done this damage and show them the effect it has on other local people who do enjoy the wildlife.

I honestly believe that if the people responsible got to experience the incredible wildlife they would come to love it too and would not damage these important local resources.

I am now inviting anyone who has committed acts of vandalism on the reserve to come along and experience one of our many events. Please see why what we are doing here is so important for you.

We want to engage with the public, both young and old to show them the importance of our conservation work on the nature reserve and what it means to so many people and species.

The Wildlife Trust’s launched their ‘MYWILDLIFE’ campaign on March 2.

This campaign recognises the growing gap issue between people and nature, and aims to address and highlight the importance of nature to our ever day lives.

Sir David Attenborough is in full support to the campaign: "No one will protect what they don’t care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced." #MyWildLife

The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales is launching an emergency appeal to raise money to build better, more secure hides on the reserve, if you would like to contribute please go to http://bit.ly/TeifiMarshEmergencyAppeal or call 01656 724100 to make a donation.

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Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve

THE reserve is situated on the floor of the wide pre-glacial channel left by the former course of the Teifi and now occupied by the river Piliau, which meanders through the marshes in a narrow but deceptively deep cut. A range of habitats is supported, from open pasture and well wooded hedgerows, through Alder and Willow carr, freshwater marsh with open pools and reedbeds to tidal mudbanks.

Flooding is extensive in winter, when the area attracts large numbers of wildfowl, notably Teal, Wigeon and Mallard. Water Rail are present in winter in considerable numbers, and other regular winter visitors include Snipe, Curlew and Lapwing. Peregrines hunt over the marshes. Breedings birds include Reed, Sedge and Cetti’s Warblers and both Whitethroats, Shelduck and Moorhen. Herons also breed nearby.

Otters and Mink are present in the marshes, Water Shrews are numerous and Sika and Red Deer are now present. Fish species include Lamprey, Stickleback, Mullets, Eel, Sewin and Salmon. Frogs and Toads are numerous and both Grass Snakes and Adders are present on the reserve.

The rich assemblage of dragonflies include Emperor, Broad-bodied Chaser, Southern Hawker and Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Water Buffalo are used to graze the site at certain times of the year.