STAFF from Cross Hands Co-op food have received a crash course in conservation with the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales providing a break-time workshop to teach them about the 49 species of plants and other wildlife that have been identified in the car park.

The Co-op began working with the Wildlife Trust earlier this year when a survey of the grass verge area was carried out, identifying it as a wildlife rich habitat.

Among the rare species identified are the southern marsh orchid and the Burnet Companion butterfly. The store agreed to leave this stretch of the grass verge uncut for the summer months to allow the plants to seed naturally.

Now staff members have the opportunity to find out more about the verge’s wildlife so they can share their knowledge with shoppers and raise awareness of the urban wildlife hotspot within the community.

Cross Hands is an important area for wildlife in Carmarthenshire, yet is subject to some of the greatest development pressure in the region, according to the Trust.

Store manager, Luigi Ciaburri, said: "We had no idea that our car park was so alive with wildlife until the Trust approached us about carrying out a survey on our land.

"It’s great we have the opportunity to work together to protect and monitor an area of such conservation importance and help educate our shoppers about the many species we are sharing our home with."