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 by 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.
This is one for older children and adults because it is very wet and muddy. Little wellies risk being filled with water or lost in the mud. To find this cache, follow the track up hill from WCT- Common Lizard and cross a small bridge on your right with a hand rail. Follow the narrow path until it descends to the stream. DO NOT go down to the stream. To your left by two silver birches, is an old track which has grassed over and continues up hill. This is the bridle way to the open moor but it is little used. Follow this track to the gate. The cache is inside the field but you may like to go through the gate to look at the view. The grass incline beyond the gate also has a variety of waxcap toadstools in the Autumn. Please make sure that you close the gate afterwards.
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.