The Ystradgynlais area has, perhaps surprisingly, very good habitats for wildlife and a number of rare species of plants, insects, reptiles etc can be seen if you are quiet. 100 years ago this area was the hotbed of the Industrial Revolution with coal mines scarring the countryside and iron works belching out smoke and steam. How quickly nature has reclaimed the land!
Ystradfawr Nature Reserve
This reserve, once the site of extensive coal mining, is a great example of how nature has reclaimed the landscape. It is a rich mix of wildflower meadow, rhos pasture and young woodland.
The spring and summer wildflower displays are stunning. The rhos pasture has purple flowering devil's-bit scabious in summer, The species rich wildlflower meadows have magnificent displays of ragged-robin and angelica. Grass-snakes, slow-worms and common lizards can be seen basking in the sunshine. The wet woodland is inhabited my many woodland birds. It is a good site to hear the well-known call of the visiting cuckoo.
The reserve is an open access reserve, you are allowed to visit the reserve on foot for your quiet enjoyment of the wildlife present. Please keep dogs on a lead to prevent disturbing ground nesting birds and clean up your dog litter
There may be cattle or ponies on site, please do not approach them or feed them. Additionally there may be electric fencing to keep them off parts of the site, please cross with care.
To find this cache, enter the eastern section of the reserve through the Lower Gate and follow the track up the hill. It is a few meters from the track at the base of a large tree. Below the GZ are a couple of dams in the stream. These were built to provide a steady stream of water to wash the coal in the washeries below . There are some steep drops down to the stream near GZ so be careful with geokids and geodogs. Do not climb on the walls. They are very old and crumbly.
Common lizards are often seen in the field on the other side of this stream. If you continue up the track and cross the little bridge with a handrail then follow the path carefully across the stream you may see some lizards basking in sunny spots. They hide very quickly so move slowly and quietly.
If you are continuing to WCT - Vermillion Wax Cap then you will need to go back across the stream then follow the grassy route between two silver birches up the hill. That is very muddy and not recommended for little children. Refer to that cache for details. Otherwise cross the field roughly south then follow the path next to the fence downhill. You will eventually come out by the gate and cycle track.
Please leave the information cards in the containers when you have signed the log and replace carefully as you found it.
Well done to WELSHMAN65 on being First to Find.
Placed with kind permission from Wild Communities Project, Brecknock Wildlife Trust