APPENDIX 5: STATUTORY PROTECTED SITES FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Grid Ref: ST 163 992

Site Area: 39.8ha

Date of Designation: 13^th December 2004

---

Description:

The SAC was designated because it contains Marsh Fritillary Butterfly and Purple moor-grass meadows which are both rare or threatened species within a European context.

Marsh Fritillary Butterfly Euphydryas (Eurpdryas, Hypodryas) aurinia frequents damp meadows and, more rarely, chalk grassland, where its larvae feed on devil’s bit scabious  Succusa pratenis. It has declined and is now extinct, from the eastern half of its former range in the UK and has shown a similar decline throughout Europe.

The area supports purple moor-grass meadows Molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clayey-silt-laden soils (Molinion caeruleae). These are wet meadows containing a species-rich mixture of grasses, sedges, herbs and mosses. These meadows are usually traditionally maintained by grazing.

Grid Ref: SO 104 101

Site Area: 0.11ha

Designation Date: 16^th May 1986

---

Description:

This site yields the most diverse Gastrioceras cancellatum Marine Band fauna known in southern Britain, including goniatites, brachipods, bivalves and crinoids. It is a horizon of considerable stratigraphical importance, since it is used to locate the boundary between the Marsdenian and Yeadonian stages of the Namurian, and a full understanding of its faunal composition is vital to its correct identification. The site thus plays an important role in establishing detailed correlations with other areas of Namurian deposition, particularly in the Pennines, Belgium and Ruhr.

This SSSI is designated for its Geological and Geomorphological Value.

This SSSI is also recognised and designated as a Regionally Important Geological/ Geomorphological site (RIGS).

Key Management and Policy Issues:

The following operations are all likely to damage the SSSI:

1. The extraction of minerals;
2. Construction, removal or destruction of roads, tracks, walls, fences, hard stands, banks, ditches or other earthworks;
3. Dumping, spreading or discharge of any material;
4. Erection of permanent or temporary structures, or the undertaking of engineering works, including the laying, maintenance or removal of pipelines and cables;
5. Tree planting, including afforestation.

Grid Ref: SO 134035

Site Area: 48.6 ha

Designation Date: 7^th March 1991

---

Description

Cefn y Brithdir is a hill of Pennant grit, situated on the western side of the Upper Rhymney Valley, overlooking the town of New Tredegar. The steep north eastern slopes support the best example in Mid Glamorgan of a dwarf shrub heath community in which Crowberry occurs as a co-dominant species.

A range of dry heath species are found on the site including; crowberry, bilberry, heather, wavy hair-grass, sheep’s fescue and mat-grass.

The diversity and relative density of the dwarf shrub species present on this site is unusual in Mid Glamorgan. Here, Crowberry is close to the southern edge of its range in Britain.

This SSSI has been designated for its nature conservation interest.

Key Management and Policy Issues:

The following operations are all likely to damage the SSSI:

1. Dumping, spreading or discharge of any materials;
2. Modification of field drainage including artificial drainage;
3. Infilling of ditches, drains or pits;
4. Extraction of minerals, including peat, topsoil and subsoil;
5. Construction, removal or destruction of roads, tracks, wall, fences, hard-stands, banks, ditches or other earthworks;
6. Erection of permanent or temporary structures, or the undertaking of engineering works, including the laying, maintenance or removal of pipelines and cables;
7. Use of vehicles likely to damage the vegetation or to disturb breeding birds;
8. Recreational or other activities likely to damage the vegetation.

Grid Ref: ST 163 992

Site Area: 43ha

Date of Designation: 25^th January 2001

---

Description:

Aberbargoed Grasslands is of special interest for its extensive stands of fen meadow and mesotrophic (neutral) grassland, which are associated with a range of other semi-naturalhabitats, as well as for a population of the marsh fritillary butterfly.

The soils are derived from boulder clays over Pennant Sandstone of the Coal Measures. The fields in the centre, south and west have impeded drainage and contain a mixture of marshy grassland communities.

Areas of particular interest support fen meadows that are characterised by abundant purple moor grass and meadow thistle with devil’s bit scabious and carnation sedge. Other species such as saw-wort and lousewort occur frequently in heavily flushed areas. Associated stands of mire contain abundant purple moor grass with tormentil, mat grass, common sedge and spotted orchid. Small stands of rush pasture are scattered across the site, with soft rush, greater bird’s foot trefoil and marsh bedstraw.

The neutral grassland on the drier, free draining fields to the east of the site is characterised by grasses such as crested dog’s tail, common bent, sweet vernal grass and red fescue. Typical herb species in this community include black knapweed, common bird’s foot trefoil and rough hawkbit.

Small stands of acid grassland are scattered across the site, characterised by the grasses sheep’s fescue and red fescue and forbs including the heath bedstraw, tormentil and devil’s bit scabious.

Aberbargoed Grasslands SSSI also supports a range of other semi-natural vegetation, including acid flush, wet heath, bracken, woodland and scrub.

The SSSI has been designated for its nature conservation value.

Key Management and Policy Issues:

The following operations are all likely to damage the SSSI:

1. Dumping, spreading or discharge of any waste material:
2. Drainage including moor gripping or other artificial drains;
3. Modification to the structure of water courses including streams, springs, ditches and drains, including their banks and beds, as by realignment, regarding, damming or dredging;
4. Erection of permanent or temporary structures, or the undertaking of engineering works, including drilling or the laying, maintenance or removal of pipelines and cables above or below ground;
5. Destruction, construction, removal, rerouting or regarding of roads, tracks, walls, fences, hardstands, banks, ditches or other earthworks, including soil and rock exposures.

Grid Ref: ST 121 956

Site Area: 27.7ha

Date of Designation: 30^th March 1989

---

Description:

Nelson Bog is a valley mire receiving relatively base-poor waters from the underlying Coal Measure rocks and adjoining wet pastures associated with marginal hill farming activities typical of the South Wales coalfield.

The major interest of the site is in the range and diversity of mire communities to be found. These extended poor fen, through mesotrophic grasslands to be areas of alder carr and upland sessile oak and hazel woodland.

The poor fen communities are characterised by common reed Phragmites australis and a range of sedges Carex spp.

In addition, it is a very rich ornithological site with over 90 species to date.

This SSSI is designated for its nature conservation value.

Key Management and Policy Issues:

The following operations are all likely to damage the SSSI:

1. Dumping, spreading or discharge of any waste material;
2. Modification of field drainage including the introduction of artificial drains;
3. Modification to streams, ditches, dykes, drains, canals, including their banks and beds, by realignment, regrading, dredging or cleaning;
4. Infilling of ditches, dykes, ponds, pools or marshes;
5. Extraction of minerals, including peat;
6. Construction, removal or destruction of roads, tracks, walls, fences, hardstands, banks, ditches or other earthworks;
7. Erection of permanent or temporary structures, or the undertaking of engineering works, including the laying, maintenance or removal of pipeline and cables

Grid Ref: ST 167 962

Site Area: 8.9ha

Designation Date: 26^th January 1989

---

Description:

A mosaic of habitats including west acid grassland, woodland, scrub and tall herb vegetation comprises this site.

The soils are thin acid loamy podzols over Upper Pennant Sandstone with peat deposits on the low-lying ground.

The principal interest is the extensive area of species-rich Molinia grassland representing the Junus acutiflorus – Erica tetralix sub-community of the Molinia caerulea – Cirsium dissectum fen meadow type that is of very local distribution and confined to South Western Britain. In addition to purple moor grass and meadow thistle, this community type is characterised by saw-wort and devil’s bit scabious, all of which are well represented at this site. Other interesting and characteristic species include petty whin, flea sedge and heath spotted-orchid.

Other parts of the habitat mosaic are woodland dominated by oak, beech, birch and ash, and scrub dominated by alder, hawthorn and gorse.

The very rare wood horsetail occurs in the scrub and woodland areas. Other notable species include bitter vetch and ivy-leaved bellflower.

This complex range of habitats supports a diversity of macro-invertebrate communities. More than 12 species of butterfly and 90 species of macro-moths have been recorded for this site including colonies of the rare marsh fritillary butterfly, silver hook moth and the lead-coloured pug. These and a number of other species are found at only one or two other sites in the country.

This SSSI has been designated for its nature conservation value.

Key Management and Policy Issues:

The following operations are all likely to damage the SSSI:

1. Dumping, spreading or discharge of any waste material;
2. Modification of field drainage including the introduction of artificial drains;
3. Modification to streams, ditches, dykes, drains, canals, including their banks and beds, by realignment, regrading, dredging or cleaning;
4. Infilling of ditches, dykes, ponds, pools or marshes;
5. Extraction of minerals including peat, top soil and sub soil;
6. Construction, removal or destruction of roads, tracks, walls, fences, hardstands, banks, ditches or other earthworks;
7. Erection of permanent or temporary structures, or the undertaking of engineering works, including the laying, maintenance or removal of pipeline and cables, above or below ground.

Grid Ref: ST 122 963

Site Area: 3.84ha

Designation Date: 13^th May 1987

---

Description:

A large area of unimproved grassland made up of four fields, which are the remnants of a traditionally managed farm unit now completely surrounded by built development.

Soils are slowly permeable loams of the Brickfield Series overlying Coal Measure Sandstones; low-lying areas are subject to seasonal waterlogging.

The site supports extensive areas of the meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis sub-community of the black knapweed Centaurea nigra – crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus mesotrophic grassland type, with a diverse range of both grass and herb species. Many of these are characteristic of the ‘old meadow’ type of grassland including meadow foxtail, yellow rattle and bird’s foot-trefoil.

Lower-lying areas with impeded drainage are characterised by the abundance of species such as meadow thistle, marsh bedstraw and marsh marigold.

The site also supports large populations of a number of locally rare species, including greater burnet, lady’s mantle and bisort.

This SSSI is designated for its nature conservation value.

Key Management and Policy Issues:

The following operations are all likely to damage the SSSI:

1. Dumping, spreading or discharge of any waste material;
2. Modification of field drainage including artificial drainage;
3. Infilling of ditches, drains, ponds or marshes;
4. Extraction of minerals, including peat, top soil or sub soil;
5. Construction, removal or destruction of roads, tracks, walls, fences, hard-stands, banks, ditches or other earth works;
6. Erection of permanent or temporary structures, or the undertaking of engineering works, including the laying, maintenance or removal of pipeline and cables.

Grid Ref: ST 146 895

Site Area: 3.3ha

Date of Designation: 5^th June 1986

---

Description:

An old quarry in the Pennant sandstones, which contains permineralised plant remains, showing considerable detail of the internal cell-structure. It is the only upper Westphalian permineralised flora to be found in western or central Europe and provides a valuable insight into the plants of this age.

It is of interest in that the standard of preservation varies considerably here, with specimens showing varying degrees of permineralisation, thus providing a useful guide as to how this type of preservation occurs.

A site of considerable palaeobotanical interest.

This SSSI is designated for its Geological and Geomorphological Value.

This SSSI is also recognised and designated as a Regionally Important Geological/ Geomorphological site (RIGS).

This site has also been included in SINC NH 3.155 Coed y Brain for its biological / nature conservation value.

Key Management and Policy Issues:

The following operations are all likely to damage the SSSI:

1. Dumping, spreading or discharge of any materials;
2. Infilling of quarry;
3. Extraction of minerals;
4. Construction, removal or destruction of roads, tracks, wall, fences, hard-stands, banks, ditches or other earthworks;
5. Storage of materials on quarry floor or against quarry face;
6. Erection of permanent or temporary structures, or the undertaking of engineering works, including the laying, maintenance or removal of pipelines and cables.

Grid Ref: ST 240 091

Site Area: 2.3ha

Designation Date: 27^th February 1986

---

Description:

This landslip back-scar exposes of about 30 metres of Middle Westphalian (Carboniferous) strata. It complements the section seen at Wern Ddu Claypits near Caerphilly extending the sequence up to and into the Rhondda Beds. Together, the two sites provide unique opportunities to observe the condensed succession in the eastern part of the coalfield.

The section here shows both Cefn Coed and Upper Cwm Gorse Marine Banks, two of the most important Middle Westphalian marker horizons, which allow easy correlation with the main part of the coalfield.

A critical site for understanding the geological evolution of the South Wales Basin.

This SSSI has been designated for its Geological and Geomorphological Value.

This SSSI is also recognised and designated as a Regionally Important Geological/ Geomorphological site (RIGS).

Key Management and Policy Issues:

The following operations are all likely to damage the SSSI:

1. Dumping, spreading or discharge of any materials;
2. Construction, removal or destruction of roads, tracks, wall, fences, hard-stands, banks, ditches or other earthworks;
3. Storage of materials against any rock outcrop;
4. Erection of permanent or temporary structures, or the undertaking of engineering works, including drilling.

Grid Ref: ST 232 906

Site Area: 0.6ha

Designation Date: 25^th January 1994

---

Description:

This site lies on a steep, wooded slope that rises to the south of the town of Risca and is situated above the main A467 Newport to Crosskeys Road and the River Ebbw. The quarry is in the area of the South Wales coalfield where the River Ebbw flows out of the coalfield through a gorge in the Carboniferous and Old Red Sandstone rocks.

This locality shows the Oolite Group and Llanelly Formation of the Carboniferous Limestone. It provides the most southerly section of the Llanelly Formation showing fine exposures of peritidal carnoates with algal laminates, evaporates, palaeosols and clay dykes. This is a locality with great research potential for studies of palaeoenvironments in Toutraisian and early Visean times.

This SSSI has been designated for its Geological and Geomorphological Value.

This SSSI is also recognised and designated as a Regionally Important Geological/ Geomorphological site (RIGS).

Key Management and Policy Issues:

The following operations are all likely to damage the SSSI:

1. Dumping, spreading or discharge of any materials;
2. Infilling of quarry;
3. Construction, removal or destruction of roads, tracks, wall, fences, hard-stands, banks, ditches or other earthworks;
4. Storage of materials on quarry floor or against quarry face;
5. Erection of permanent or temporary structures, or the undertaking of engineering works, including the laying, maintenance or removal of pipelines and cables.

Grid Ref: ST 168 857

Site Area: 6ha

Date of Designation: 29^th October 1984

---

Description:

This site shows a condensed sequence of lower and middle Westphalian (Carboniferous) strata, and clearly demonstrates the eastwards thinning of these strata as the palaeo-coastline is approached.

Abundant fossil faunas and floras occur throughout the sequence, allowing detailed correlation with the more thickly developed sequences in the central part of the basin. The rocks here are amongst the few in South Wales to have yielded an assemblage of Westphalian spores, which have proved important for correlating these sections with those in other coalfields.

It is one of the most important sites for helping understand the Westphalian geological history of the southern province of Britain.

This SSSI has been designated for its Geological and Geo-morphological value.

This SSSI is also recognised and designated as a Regionally Important Geological/ Geomorphological site (RIGS).

Key Management and Policy Issues:

The following operations are all likely to damage the SSSI:

1. Dumping, spreading or discharge of any waste material:
2. Infilling of quarry;
3. Storage of materials against faces of the quarry;
4. Erection of permanent or temporary structures, or the undertaking of engineering works, including drilling;
5. Construction, removal or destruction of roads, tracks, walls, fences, hardstands, banks, ditches or other earthworks;

Grid Ref: SO 112 036

Site Area: 3.7ha

Date of designation: 13^th March 2001

---

Description:

Cwmllydrew Meadows once formed part of the former Cwmllydrew Farm and is surrounded by reclaimed coal spoil and old mine workings.

The LNR comprises three fenced meadows, a small-unfenced area of tussocky marshy grassland, woodland coppice and secondary woodland. The woodland is associated with a former railway line that dissects the site and the steep sided valley of the Nant Hir.

The meadows contain several vegetation communities that are of restricted and declining distribution in Britain. These include wet fen-meadow communities with purple moor-grass, meadow thistle, tormentil and angelica, drier neutral grassland with crested dog’s tail and black knapweed, and acid grassland with sheep’s fescue and heath bedstraw.

Management Recommendations:

1. Increase the existing biodiversity of the site;
2. Ensure that visitors to Parc Cwm Darran continue to have access to the meadows for educational purposes;
3. Prevent scrub and woodland from encroaching into the grassland communities;
4. Maintain and enhance the grassland communities.

Grid Ref: ST 177 963

Site Area: 4.5 ha

Date of Designation: 1995

---

Description:

The LNR is made up of grassland divided by hedgerows, a wetland area near the River Sirhowy and several footpaths.

The majority of the site (3.4 hectares) has been designated an SSSI in recognition of its nature conservation value as a remnant of a traditionally managed hay meadow. The area has retained locally rare notable plant species such as Greater Burnet, Lady’s Mantle and Bisort.

The wetland area contains a variety of species including orchids.

The area is surrounded by urban development.

Management Recommendations:

1. Maintenance of the hay meadow and protection of notable species;
2. Enhancement of the site for biodiversity, including sympathetic management of amenity grassland area to increase species diversity;
3. Development of the educational use of the site;
4. Increasing public awareness of the site;
5. Improving the aesthetic quality of the site.

Grid Ref: ST 187 911

Site Area: 16ha

Date of Designation: 12^th August 1993

---

Description:

The LNR is ancient broad-leaved woodland within the boundaries of Sirhowy Valley Country Park.

There are ancient oak, beech and birch trees and some heath-woodland ground flora.

It remains an example of the pre-industrial valley landscape, despite development in the valley bottom and coniferous afforestation adjacent to the site.

The site is important in terms of intrinsic wildlife potential.

Management Recommendations:

1. To maintain and improve the existing broadleaved woodland and encourage heath-woodland ground flora;
2. Encourage the maximum diversity of fauna;
3. Encourage the use of the site for educational, interpretive and recreational uses.

Grid Ref: ST 207912

Site Area: 3.8ha

Date of Designation: 1995

---

Description:

The land abuts a former railway line on higher ground and is managed as part of the Sirhowy Valley Country Park.

The site comprises two meadows, supporting a grass rich sward with the margins dominated by bracken, and elements of heath vegetation in the most easterly field.

The furthermost easterly meadow supports a wetland fed by a stream that flows from the railway embankment, and invaded in places with broom, alder and silver birch.

Management Recommendations:

1. Maximise habitat diversity by retaining and improving the areas of conservation interest;
2. Create easier public access to the meadow and to provide interpretation for the visitors;
3. Prevent the deterioration of the meadow by removing and minimising bracken and broom encroachment, by removing Japanese Knotweed and undertaking regular grass cutting.