Anglesey Fens; The Fens are designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), they are home to many birds in the winter and also provide breeding habitat for a number of species in the spring and summer.
1. Cors Erddreiniog is the largest, and is a National Nature Reserve (NNR), Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Ramsar (ascribed to wetlands of international importance). This type of wetland is now extremely rare in the UK and Europe. The site is managed by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) is located between Capel Coch and Bryn Teg. The fen contains reed beds, woodland, heathland and small lakes, this rich biodiverse habitat has rare orchids, rare stonewort’s , butterflies, moths, damsel flies and dragonflies, toads adders, water voles, otters and brown hares. The area attracts a variety of birds including hen harriers , lapwing and grasshopper warblers.
2. Cors Bodeilio is a nationally important nature reserve due to its unique mire, which lies in a shallow limestone valley between Llangefni and Pentraeth. The reserve is managed by The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW).
3. Cors Goch, this Nature Reserve has been owned and managed by North Wales Wildlife Trust (NWWT) since 1963, and became a National Nature Reserve in 1994. located near Pentraeth and Llanbedrgoch . The area has heathland and calcareous fenland, which support rare plants and numerous birds, insects (up to 19 butterflies species have been recorded on the site) and other wildlife.
Source; www.northwaleswildlifetrust.org
Cemaes Valley – Nant y Scrwngi, is named after the brook that runs through Cemaes out to the harbour, a small patch of land with woodland and meadow and a habitat for a small population of Red Squirrels and a large Rookery amongst other animals. The land is owned and managed by Anglesey County Council with the support of a local volunteer group Cemaes Bay Nature For All. The land also forms the old disused Cemaes Brick Works buildings, which are thought house Pipestrel bat’s, HAWCS conducted a 1st study on both of these areas, which can be found on this website. Under HAWCS SPECIES POPULATION PROTECTION PROJECT , North Anglesey Bat Population Survey phase 1
Cemlyn – Area of Outstanding Beauty (AONB), Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Areas (SPA). Is on the north coast of Anglesey. The area is protected and wardens patrol the area and support the nesting colonies of Sandwich, Common and Arctic terns, returning migrant birds, sea fowl and waders. The area also contains important aquatic and plant species such as sea kale, sea campion, and yellow horned-poppy and is habitat for range of butterflies, hares , stoates and weasles. Off the coast, Bottlenose dolphins and seals can often be seen. Source;www.visitanglesey.co.uk
Cors Ddyga is situated at Tai’r Gors, Pentre Berw, Gaerwen four miles from Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. The area comprises of lakes and ponds and contains more than 30 scarce wetland plants. Bitterns, Marsh Harriers, wetland warblers and wildfowl live in the reedbeds, while the grassland supports one of the largest colonies of Lapwing in Wales. Source; www.rspb.org.uk
Coed Porthamel is located near Brynsiencyn it is made up of two separate woodland blocks. Coed Chwarel is the largest and more southerly part; Coed Brain, to the north, is mainly open woodland. After quarrying ceased, Coed Chwarel was used as landfill in the 1960s, it is now mature broadleaf woodland, managed by the North Wales Wildlife Trust the area is kept wild with little intervention. Source; www.northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk
Dingle/Nant y Pandy; this is a 10 hectare (25 acre) wooded valley. The area is located along the banks of the Cefni in Llangefni. The woodland is comprised of Oak, Ash, Wild Cherry, Beech, Sweet Chestnut , Scott’s Pine, ferns, mosses and woodland flowers and boasts an abundance of blue bells and daffodils in the spring. Frogs and newts, adders and lizards are present and many butterfly and moth species can be found here. Birds include blue tits and great tits nest here and moorhens, wrens and grey wagtails and kingfishers are common. Larger birds, ravens, buzzards and herons and tawny owls fly in and out . Eight of the sixteen species of bat found in Britain can be seen here at dusk and red squirrels bank voles and wood mice. This area is also home to a population of Red Squirrel. Source; www.anglesey.gov.wales/en/Residents/Countryside/Dingle-Nant-y-Pandy-Nature-Reserve-Llangefni.
Valley Wetlands, is manged by the RSPB. This reserve has two SSSIs and 20 hectares of reed being one of the most important reedbeds in Wales. It has grasslands and rocky knolls home to a rich diversity of species of plants and invertebrates , the wetlands attracts a variety of wetland birds, tufted ducks, pochards, shovelers, gadwalls and grebes are around the reeds. Source; www.rspb.org.uk
Wylva – is owned and managed by Horizon Nuclear Power, the decommissioned site has a wooded area and coastal beaches. It is home to many species including bats water voles , otters, great crested newts and European eels, chough, adders, brown hares, red squirrels and hedgehogs .Threats of a new plant and housing development at Wylffa could threaten not only wildlife in the vicinity but also potentially at the neighbouring reserve at Cemlyn.
Horizon employ a nature friendly approach to development and have for example built bat a barns at three locations in Wylva woodlands, Cemaes and neighbouring Tregelle. It has been discussed that further consultations would take place for the relocation of wildlife if developments go ahead. Source;www.visitanglesey.co.uk
Porth Diana ,North Wales Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve, Trearddur Bay.
This reserve has a mix of grassland and heathland , Orchids , Iris , other small plants and lichen. The open space is maintained by grazing ponies and cattle.
Source; www.northwaleswildlifetrust.or
Puffin Island, (Ynys Seiriol ) This island is located at the North East entrance of the Menai Straits and is the ninth largest island off the Welsh coast,. 69 acres (0.28 km2). The island is privately owned by the Baron Hill estate. Puffin Island is a bird sanctuary with Special Protection Area status, (SPA).
There are organised tourist boats that visit offshore from the Spring to Autumn.
The Island is resident home to, Cormorants, Shags and Atlantic Grey Seals, with other species during breeding season Razorbills, Guilemot, Kittiwakes and Pufins.
Holy Island
Penhros Coastal Park; is a 200 acre coastal and woodland park with ANOB and SSSI status. It was previously a nature reserve and had it’s own wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre. This was formerly the Penrhos estate owned by the Stanley family, and then Anglesey Aluminium company, it is now privately owned, access to the public remains available. This is an area which comprises of woodland and coast with a rich diversity of wildlife including the Red Squirrel. There are ancient trees, a pond and some historical buildings on the land.
Voted in 2022 as the United Kingdom’s Favourite Park, Source; www.fieldintrust.org.
Anglesey County Council granted planning permission on the land for the development of a holiday park, shops and car park, there are campaigns to try to stop this devolpment going ahead. Achub Parc Arfodirol Penrhos Caergybi/Save Penrhos Coastal Park Holyhead have a just giving page on Facebook to raise funds to support for legal fees to help to protect Penrhos from holiday home development . Threats from development may include the felling of trees, pollution to the coastal area, noise pollution, light pollution and disruption to wildlife and their habitats and loss of wildlife habitat.
Parc Gwledig Morglawdd Caergybi, Breakwater Country Park, Holyhead.
At the site of an old quarry. Part of the park is situated within an area of an AONB. The park has a rocky coastline and Llyn Llwynog with moorhens and mallards, Chough and Peregrine Falcons can be spotted above the quarries. Source; www.anglesey.gov.wales
Arfordir Treftadaeth Mynydd Twr, Holyhead Mountain. and Cymru Ynys Lawd, RSPB South Stack Cliffs and Lighthouse, on Holy Island. – comprising health land and farmland and sea cliffs. The mountain is the highest point on Holy Island at 722feet (220m) the summit and slopes are covered in heather. Views from the summit are extensive, birds nesting there are Atlantic Puffins , Stonechats, Eurasian Oystercatchers, Razorbills and Guillemots. Grey seals can also be seen offshore. Potential threats to this area include a proposed marine turbines.
