A new caretaker has been found for Pembrokeshire's Skomer Island.

The new warden, Chris Taylor, first visited the island, home to around 13,000 puffins; 120,000 pairs of manx shearwaters as well as thousands of kittiwakes, guillemots and razorbills, at the age of 12.

He had to fight off stiff competition to win the right to live and work on Skomer, an internationally important nature reserve and the most important seabird colony in southern Britain.

Chris is delighted and excited to have been appointed the new warden.

"I first visited Skomer as a scout when I was about twelve and remember thinking I wouldn’t mind living there, I just fell in love with the place," he said.

"It’s a privilege to be able to live in such a fantastic location, and have the opportunity to make a positive impact on such an incredibly important site.

"To live and work somewhere like Skomer is truly unique. Opportunities like these are few and far between, and when they do come up, you just have to grab them for all they are worth."

The chance to look after the island arose after previous wardens Jo and Dave Milborrow waved goodbye to their life on Skomer at the end of 2009 after after six "unforgettable" seasons. This left vacancies for a new warden and assistant warden.

The island, is owned by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and managed by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales.

Dr Lizzie Wilberforce, conservation manager for the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales said: “We are delighted that Chris has agreed to return to the island, after previously working on Skomer as assistant warden.

"Such an important site needs an exceptional warden to look after both the wildlife and the many visitors, but the unique nature of island life also requires staff to be incredibly adaptable. No two days are the same.

"Wardening Skomer isn’t just a new job, it’s a new life, and a life like no other- how many people in Britain can count puffins and seals amongst their next door neighbours?”

For more information about Skomer island, go to www.welshwildlife.org