Crowds Flock to NGO South Wales Evening

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It was standing room only at the Woodcock &, Sewin Evening, an event held recently by the NGO South Wales Group at the Quins Rubgy Football Club in Carmarthen.

NGO members and friends had travelled from as far afield as North Wales for the chance to listen to sporting talks given by two keynote speakers. Gareth Edwards, NGO Patron and rugby legend, was also present.

First up to talk to the audience of just under 100 in strength was Dr Graeme Harris, an international expert on sewin (sea trout), chair of the Welsh Fisheries Advisory Committee, and co-author with angling guru Moc Morgan of the classic fishing book, Successful Sea Trout Angling.

The River Towy, arguably the UK's premier sewin water, runs through Carmarthen, so it was an attentive audience that listened to Dr Harris present an update on the on-going �2million Celtic Sea Trout Project (CSTP), which is lifting the lid on securing a future for sewin stocks. As part of this major piece of international research work the CSTP has built up a database capable of identifying from which river individual sea trout originate. Poachers should watch out. It is now possible to do this even after filleting and deep freezing.

Woodcock are very much part of the West Wales sporting scene and Owen Williams, the sporting and wildlife artist, who also runs the charity The Woodcock Network, explained to the gathering exactly why woodcock ringing is important. And how the work was revealing hitherto unknown information about the behaviour and migration of this mysterious bird. The birds are ringed both by Owen and the other members of the Woodcock Network team, spread out across the UK. Ringing is done at night, once a woodcock has been picked out in the beam of a spotlight. The birds are then caught in a landing net.

Mr Williams, an ardent sportsman, told the audience on one memorable occasion he netted two birds at once. He said: "This is probably the closest I'll ever get to the fabled right and left!"

It is widely felt that results from this work may prove to be crucial in helping to keep the species on the quarry list in the coming years. The biological research work is undertaken in liaison with the Game &, Wildlife Conservation Trust.

A successful raffle was held with fantastic prizes: including a Wales rugby shirt signed by Gareth Edwards and a box of exquisitely tied sewin flies kindly donated by Frontiers' Steffan Jones. Those present also had the opportunity to bid for chance to go woodcock ringing, kindly donated by Owen Williams. Proceeds went to the Gamekeepers' Welfare Trust.

Brian Hardcastle, the NGO's South Wales Group Chairman, said: "I'd like to thank everyone involved, including Gareth Edwards and the committee, for turning out to make this such a successful evening. A big thank you to the speakers who had come to support us on a very cold night with two fascinating talks which gripped the audience. And to everyone who donated such splendid and generous raffle prizes to raise funds for a good cause. As well as huge thanks to Elvin Thomas, who runs the Welsh Game Fair, for organising the venue."