Ynys Môn (Anglesey) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales it includes Holy Island across the Cymyran Strait and some islets and Skerries. The Island covers 260 square miles and has a population of approximately. 69,751 including 13,659 on Holy Island. The Island has a varied landscape of low cliffs, sandy and pebble beaches, sand dunes, wooded areas and rolling farmed land and wet land sites and ocean sites. The main sources of income for the Island are farming and tourism with some fishing. The waters around the Islands are rich in marine life and nesting birds. The Island has been known as Mam Cymru (Mother of Wales) due to the fertile soil which produces food for the North of Wales, and it’s micro-climate due it’s separation by the Menai Strait and Snowdonia mountains from the rest of North Wales. Tourism accounts for a large income on Anglesey with an estimated 2 million people visiting each year, a popular holiday destination with 125 miles of coastal path and nature reserves.
Anglesey as with other areas have measure’s in place to both identify and protect biodiversity habitats and Anglesey wildlife habitats and wildlife has been managed and protected by Natural Resources Wales, Anglesey County Council, Local Nature Partnership ,Wales Biodiversity Partnership and Non Government Organisations and Charities.
Measures that are in place to protect and conserve wildlife habitat and nature include;-
Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)- is defined under the EU Habitats Directive. There have been seven SAC’s on Anglesey and one marine SAC.
Special Protection Areas (SPA’s) – the strongest and most effective site protection areas, There are 3 Special Protection Areas on Anglesey.
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s) designated under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981- areas of land and water that are considered to best represent natural heritage in terms of their flora and fauna. There are 31 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI.) and 60 SSI’s on Anglesey.
RAMSAR Sites and National Parks- National Nature Reserve (NNR)and (RAMSAR) Wetland Fens. 75 Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAM)
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) –The entire island of Anglesey is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, making it the largest AONB in Wales. It also has a sections of coastline designated as Heritage Coast, which cover 31 miles of coastline, the locations are:-
- North Anglesey 28.6kms (17 miles)
- Holyhead Mountain 12.9kms (8 miles)
- Aberffraw Bay 7.7kms (4.5 miles)
