Cardiff's newly appointed Lord Mayor has chosen RSPB Cymru and BuglifeCymru as his chosen charities for his year in office.

Over the next year the Lord Mayor has pledged to help the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Cymru and Buglife Cymru raise their profile as well as raising much needed funds by hosting special fundraising events and key activities organised by the charities.

The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Cllr Bob Derbyshire said: "I am very much looking forward to working with charity representatives from the RSPB and Buglife Cymru over the coming Mayoral year. These charities play a big part in helping to protect our fragile planet which is facing many challenges. They have also both worked closely with Cardiff Council in recent years. Work I fully appreciated during my time as Cardiff Council's Cabinet Member for Environment. I urge everybody to please help us to help the environment by supporting my chosen charities this year."

RSPB Cymru's Director, Katie-jo Luxon, said: "I'm really excited by the opportunity to make our city the best home for wildlife it can be and to share that passion for nature with more children, families and communities.From the wildflower meadows of Forest Farm to the tranquil lakes of Roath Park, Cardiff has an abundance of wildlife on offer, but sometimes it can be all too easy to live in a city without appreciating the fantastic natural world around us. We're therefore thrilled that RSPB Cymru and Buglife Cymru have been chosen as the Lord Mayor's charities of the year, allowing us to encourage even more people to enjoy the moments of pure joy and wonder that nature evokes."

Buglife Cymru's Manager, Clare Dinham, said: "We are delighted to have been chosen as one of the Lord Mayor's Charities and we're excited by the opportunity to continue to create important habitats for our pollinators across Cardiff. Linking our gardens, allotments, parks and school grounds will allow pollinators and other insects to move across the city and beyond. Healthy populations of invertebrates help to pollinate our crops, support other wildlife such as birds and small mammals and provide enjoyment and wonder. We're also looking forward to recruiting more volunteers to support our work in Cardiff and help us create even more habitats for invertebrates and brilliant opportunities for local people."

RSPB Cymru and Buglife Cymru are working across Cardiff to bring more children closer to nature through the Giving Nature a Home in Cardiff project. In partnership with Cardiff Council and part funded by the Big Lottery Fund and Aldi, the project is inspiring and enabling young people, families and local communities to take action to not only support wildlife in Cardiff, but also to treasure it. Since the project began in 2014 it has provided free outreach sessions to over two thirds of Cardiff primary schools, engaging over 17,500 children with hands on experiences with nature.

For more information about RSPB Cymru & Buglife Cymru please visit:www.buglife.org.ukand

www.rspb.org.uk/wales

Donations will be gratefully received. Please send cheques, payable to ‘Cardiff Council Lord Mayor's Charity' to:

Protocol Office
Mansion House
Richmond Road
Cardiff. CF24 3UN.

If you wish to organise a fund-raising event to support the Lord Mayors Charities please email:ProtocolOffice@cardiff.gov.ukor call 029 2087 1543.