Cae Eglwys Nature Reserve

This reserve is a good example of a traditional wildflower meadow, a rare habitat in these days of intensively managed farmland where large quantities of both fertiliser and grazing animals are applied to meadows that may have once looked like this, but are now bright green with very few plant species surviving.

Location

Sarnau.

Nearest town postcode: LD3 9PR.

OS Map Reference

SO 025 333

Know before you go

Size

3 hectares

Entry fee

Open access reserve

Parking information

You can park either by the reserve entrance (both in or outside the reserve), or in Sarnau. BUT please do not block roads, property entrances or use private parking spaces.

Grazing animals

Please keep dogs on a lead. There may be livestock 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 this with care.

Access

Unsuitable for wheelchairs.

An open access reserve, you are allowed to visit the reserve on foot for your quiet enjoyment of the wildlife present. There are no site paths and the site can be wet in places at any time of year.

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Open access reserve

Best time to visit

Spring and summer

About the reserve

The meadow is home to a range of colourful and less common plants. In spring look out for adder’s tongue fern and flower spikes of common spotted orchids. In the summer, knapweed, bird’s foot trefoil, fleabane and the delicate flowers of harebell provide a kaleidoscope of colour.

All these wildflowers attract a wide range of butterflies and brown hare lie up in the dense grass cover. In winter birds come to feed on the seedheads still standing and on the many insects living in the sward.

The meadow also affords stunning views across to both the Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains.