Gweunydd Blaencleddau is a large wetland complex in a shallow south-west valley around the headwaters of the Eastern Cleddau river. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) situated in Pembrokeshire, South Wales.
Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
![]() Freshwater West Panorama | |
Location | Pembrokeshire |
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Grid reference | SN1549931781 |
Coordinates | 51°57′14″N 4°41′10″W / 51.954°N 4.686°W |
Interest | Biological |
Area | 149.5 hectares (1.5 km2; 0.58 sq mi) |
Notification | 2000 |
Site of Special Scientific Interest
editGweunydd Blaencleddau is situated at the head of the Eastern Cleddau river, 1.67 miles (2.69 km) south-west of Crymych and covers an area of 149.6 hectares (370 acres) of shallow south-west trending valley between 190 m and 275 m above sea-level. The site was designated an SSSI in 2000 for its biological qualities. It is a mixture of wet heath and damp grassland and has significant populations of the marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) and the southern damselfly (Coenagrion mercuriale).[1][2]
Special Area of Conservation
editA Special Area of Conservation has also been established around this north-eastern tributary of the Eastern Cleddau river.[3] The site is designated for habitats including calcium-rich springwater-fed fens - Alkaline fens; the southern damselfly (Coenagrion mercuriale); marsh fritillary butterfly Euphydryas (Eurodryas, Hypodryas) aurinia; purple moor-grass meadows - molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clayey-silt-laden soils (Molinion caeruleae); wet heathland with cross-leaved heath Rhostiroedd gwlyb - Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix; very wet mires often identified by an unstable 'quaking' surface - transition mires and quaking bogs; and blanket bogs.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "MAGIC Map Application - Gweunydd Blaencleddau SSSI". DEFRA MAGIC Map. DEFRA.
- ^ "Site of Special Scientific Interest, Carmarthenshire, Gweunydd Blaencleddau" (PDF). Natural Resources Wales.
- ^ "Gweunydd Blaencleddau, Special Area of Conservation map" (PDF). Natural Resources Wales.
- ^ "Entry in the Register of European Sites for Wales, Gweunydd Blaencleddau, Special Area of Conservation" (PDF). Natural Resources Wales.
External links
edit- SSSI & SAC links from Natural Resources Wales