Welsh wildlife

Many of these are quite common in the rest of the UK and beyond but many of us don't fully appreciate what we're familiar with. And I remember seeing on TV a man in China being fascinated in a zoo there by the European hedgehog. Sadly their numbers are dwindling in Britain.

The adder is the only venomous snake in Wales. The other is the grass snake. Sand lizards are the largest Welsh lizards.

Puffins, Manx Shearwaters and Gannets have strongholds on the islands off the coast of Pembrokeshire: the first two of these live in burrows.

Polecats and pied flycatchers are something of a Welsh speciality. Dippers (very dapper i think) are a pleasing sight on rocks in fast running rivers and streams. Their name comes from their bobbing motion.

The red kite was almost wiped out in Britain, but it was saved in mid Wales and has made a great comeback. It is the symbol of the county of Powys.

The Gwyniad fish may not look special but it is unique to Llyn Tegid/Lake Bala.

The colourful Snowdon beetle is another name for the Rainbow Leaf beetle but it may be a separate (if very similar) species.

Jelly fish have been appearing in increasing numbers, basking sharks a rarer visitor, while dolphins can be seen together along the West coast in Cardigan bay.

Beevers are due to be reintroduced to Wales very soon, though there has been opposition from farmers. Wolves died out in the middle ages in Wales