Laugharne Citizen Science Group

14/07/2026

Five spots on the Taf successfully sampled: Glogue, Login, Whitland, Pont-y-Fenni and Llanddowror - where there is a veritable forest of Himalayan balsam . . . possibly a job for next year?

11/07/2026

Batman?

11/07/2026

At this time of year, we often receive reports of suspected sewage pollution along the coast – and these reports can turn out to be the breakdown of algal blooms.

Algal blooms on the coast are algae that often become more obvious over the summer months when the weather is warmer and there’s more sun.

It can be tricky to tell the difference between algal blooms and sewage. There are a few key things that can help you tell the difference:

✔️Algal blooms usually occur between April and August.
✔️Long lines of algal foam can often be seen off headlands lying parallel to the coast.
✔️ If conditions are rough, thick mats of foam may be created on the shoreline by wave action.
✔️Stormwater overflows tend to cause a grey discolouration of the water and often have an origin such as a pipe or outfall, where the discolouration is strongest.
✔️Sewage discharges can contain fats and oils causing waves to flatten around it and sometimes attract seabird flocks.

It is best to avoid touching algal bloom in the sea, lakes and rivers because some of them can be toxic.

Find out more here: https://orlo.uk/jGZsK

If you think you might be seeing pollution that is not algae, please report it to our incident line on 03000 65 3000 or incident line https://orlo.uk/Vvz0l

09/07/2026

These are the first results from the water testing we have been doing of Laugharne estuary. So far nothing alarming, some changes in July. There is a full review on the website. Do sign up please to get the newsletter from our site.

If you want to help we would like to expand our coverage of the rivers that flow into the estuary at Laugharne- so if your on a stream or river that flows into the Taf at Login, St Clears or Whitland and happy to collect a sample please contact us. We currently get samples on the Taf at Login, Whitland , Llandowror and what is the testing station on the Taf between Whitland and St Clears. Below St Clears sewage works on the Taf would be an ideal sample-so far we cannot find a public right of way to get there. If you know one please let us know..

All collected data helps to analyse what is ending up in the estuary, but as a smallish team in Laugharne we could do with more help collecting samples.
Thank you.

09/07/2026

Took this, with their permission, of a group of visitors having a picnic under the solitary tree. Would it not be a good idea to use the Welsh Water offer of tree planting to have some more along the green banks to offer shade ?

07/07/2026

LCS weeded the car park at the top of Duncan street and Wogan street down to Island House and select.

We are called Laugharne Citizen Science because Citizen Science is a worldwide recognised name for small community volunteer groups. Very few of us are scientists- what we share is a concern and appreciation for nature. The water testing, weeding so no glyphosate is sprayed, kick sampling to record invertebrates, Bumblebee survey and tree monitoring are some of the things we do. So do join us-no need to be a scientist- just a concern for nature and the environment we live in.
The water testing results do end up being looked at by scientists when we upload them to the Nutrient Management Board, but the collection and sample testing is done by us.

06/07/2026

A UNICEF report finds that the rapid global expansion of pesticide use—more than doubling between 1990 and 2022—has far outpaced protections for children.

30/06/2026

Accidental find on the underside of a wooden fence panel, this cast-off outer shell/exoskeleton of a nymph. Must have emerged from the river and clambered up. Impressive! 😀

29/06/2026

Been fretting that I’ve not seen him all year so it is good to get some Merlin-app-based reassurance 😀

25/06/2026