It’s not every day that a government project about moths gets people fired up — but that’s exactly what’s happening in Wales right now.
While local councils are tightening their belts and public services are being cut back, the Welsh Labour government has stirred controversy by spending a quarter of a million pounds on a project to survey moths in the Llandudno area.
For many taxpayers, this feels like a frustrating mismatch of priorities.
The Cryptic Creatures of the Creuddyn Project and Its Funding
The so-called Cryptic Creatures of the Creuddyn project is focused on surveying moths living on the limestone cliffs of the Great Orme headland near Llandudno, along with nearby areas.
It received a hefty grant of nearly £250,000 from the Welsh Government’s Nature Networks Fund and is being managed by the Heritage Fund.
The aim? To protect rare and vulnerable insects, including the tiny Horehound Plume micro-moth — a species that only measures about 2cm and has been found in large numbers in its sole Welsh habitat.
Local Criticism Mounts Over Spending Priorities
Not everyone is convinced that this is the best use of public money, especially as families across Wales continue to struggle with the rising cost of living and local councils are forced to slash frontline services.
Louise Emery, a councillor from Llandudno, voiced her frustration sharply.
She questioned why the government isn’t prioritizing basic community needs like education, road maintenance, and public toilets over counting moths.
“Why aren’t schools and communities properly funded to improve education or maintain highways and toilets?” Emery asked.
“When local authorities are told they have no money, spending almost a quarter of a million pounds on moths just doesn’t add up.”
She acknowledged that while the moth survey might have some merit in isolation, it feels “utterly ridiculous” given the wider financial struggles faced by councils trying to keep parks, roads, and essential amenities running.
Project Successes and Scientific Discoveries
Despite the criticism, the project has delivered some fascinating findings.
In one survey on the Great Orme, researchers found over 1,100 Horehound Plume moth caterpillars — a surprisingly high number that highlights the ecological importance of the area.
The project also tracked a rare weevil species, Helianthemapion aciculare, first found on the Great Orme back in 1992, which appears to have its only UK habitat there.
According to the Welsh Government, this kind of research is crucial for shaping how habitats are managed and conserved in the future.
The initiative is a partnership between Conwy County Borough Council, Natural Resources Wales, and Butterfly Conservation.
Council Leader Defends Use of Grant Money
Conwy council leader Charlie McCoubrey pointed out that the funding for the moth project is strictly grant money earmarked for this specific purpose.
“Grant funding is for particular projects and can’t be diverted to other services,” he explained.
He also said that the council will continue to apply for such grants while local authority budgets remain tight.
Wider Spending Controversies in Welsh Government
This moth project controversy isn’t happening in isolation.
Last year, it came to light that Welsh Labour government officials spent nearly £16,000 dining at a fancy New York restaurant, along with thousands more on flights, luxury hotels, and other hospitality related to taxpayer-funded trips.
The total expenses for April 2022 to April 2023, while Mark Drakeford was First Minister, amounted to nearly £1.5 million — almost double the previous year.
The pricey New York meal at Zou Zou’s restaurant, reportedly part of a St David’s Day promotional event, alone cost nearly £16,000.
These revelations have further added fuel to taxpayers’ frustrations over how public money is being used.