Traeth Lafan Nature Reserve
Traeth Lafan is an internationally important ecological area consisting of 2500 hectares of intertidal mud and sand, from Bangor to Llanfairfechan and Beaumaris, which are exposed at low tide. In past centuries people and their livestock would walk across the Traeth Lafan from Abergwyngregyn to Beaumaris; being ferried across the channel near the Anglesey shore, and guided back to Abergwyngregyn in foggy weather by the tolling church bell. The ferry operated from 1292 but this perilous journey became redundant after construction of Telford’s Menai Suspension Bridge and the ferry ceased in 1830.
Today Traeth Lafan is left to the wildlife. The whole area is one large diverse ecosystem, with numerous species living side by side, often dependant on one another.The muds and sands support an abundance of cockles, mussels, lugworms and small fish, and these in turn attract waders and wildfowl. Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, Knot, Red-breasted Merganser and Gannets can be seen when the tide is in. In autumn and winter Traeth Lafan supports the biggest population of moulting Great Crested Grebes in Britain, together with other Grebes, rare Divers and Golden-eye. Some 5,000 Oystercatchers may be here in winter.
Stealth required at GZ
We would like to thank Robin Perkins, Gwynedd Council Countryside Manager' for giving us permission to place this cache.
Gwarchodfa Natur Traeth Lafan
Y mae Traeth Lafan yn ardal ecolegol pwysig yn rhyngwladol. Mae 2500 hectar o fwd a thywod rhynglanwol, o Fangor i Lanfairfechan a Biwmares, yn cael eu dadorchuddio ar lanw isel. Yn yr amser a fu, byddai pobl a’u da byw yn cerdded ar draws Traeth Lafan o Abergwyngregyn i Fiwmares. O 1292 cawsant eu cludo ar draws y sianel ar fferi a oedd yn defnyddio cloch yr eglwys i’w tywys yn ôl yn ddiogel mewn tywydd niwlog i Abergwyngregyn. Daeth y daith beryglus yma i ben pan agorwyd Pont Menai Telford yn 1830.
Mae ystod eang o adar yn defnyddio Traeth Lafan: Pibydd y Mawn, Gylfinir, Pibydd Coesgoch, Pibydd yr Aber, Hwyaden Frongoch a Huganod pan fo'r llanw i mewn. Yn yr hydref a'r gaeaf mae Traeth Lafan yn cynnal poblogaeth fwyaf o Wyach Fawr Gopog sy’n bwrw plu ym Mhrydain ynghyd a gwyachod eraill, trochyddion prin a'r Hwyaden Lygad Aur. Bydd tua 5,000 o Biod Môr fod yma yn y gaeaf.
Rhaid bod yn ofalus i beidio cael eich gweld yn y fan yma.
Hoffwn ddiolch i Robin Perkins, Rheolwr Cefn Gwlad Cyngor Gwynedd am rhoi caniatad i ni osod y cache yma
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