Reserves in Ceredigion
1. Aberstrincell Limekilns
Coastal flora, Blackthorn. Six derelict limekilns on the coast, of which four remain visible.Aberstrincell Limekilns is part of a fragmented boulder clay glacial deposit. It has a soft rock sea cliff frontage which is eroding. The 1.6 acre site is important historically with the impressive remains of four disused limekilns. This industry is probably responsible for the development of a more calcareous flora in an area where the soils are predominantly acidic.
2. Allt Grug Garn
Relic lowland heathland with oak and birch invasion. The southern third of the site contains the remains of an old plantation, while the northern two thirds is made up of tall old heathland growing on 80cm of peat.
3. Allt Pencnwc
This relatively long and narrow reserve comprises a steep, ancient semi-natural woodland that drops from improved pasture to the north, down to the Afon Gwili which runs along the southern boundary.
4. Caeau Llety-Cybi
Steep neutral lowland meadows, enclosed and divided by ancient and species rich hedgerows. The reserve consists of four small herb-rich fields of neutral grassland showing some acidic characteristics. It is likely that the relatively steep gradient saved this site from the plough, and thus it has retained botanical interest.
5. Cardigan Island
An island consisting of maritime cliff and slope and grassland plateau, adjacent to northern shore of estuary of river Teifi. There are good views from Cemaes Head & Cardigan Island Farm Park.
6. Coed Maidie B Goddard
This relatively large reserve is a mosaic of woodland and grassland with wide, wooded gulleys. Part of the woodland is mature secondary Ash woodland.
7. Coed Penglanowen
Mixed estate planted woodland. The woodland canopy is varied, including species such as Ash, Beech, Sessile Oak, Holly, Sycamore, Wych Elm, and Grand Fir, typical of woods associated with large country houses in West Wales. Some of these specimens are extremely large, including the county’s tallest tree, a specimen of Sequoiadendron giganteum.
8. Coed Simdde Lwyd
Ancient upland oak woodland. The reserve is a Sessile Oak wood on a steep south-facing slope. The canopy is almost pure Sessile Oak, with Downy and Silver Birch dominant in some areas. A stream, at the eastern end, drains steeply into the Afon Rheidol.
9. Cors Ian
Valley mire and gorsey hillside. Fen plants and water voles. Cors Ian is an upland valley mire with an interesting mosaic of habitats, hiding a wide array of marsh plants. Amongst the molinia tufts and rushes a small population of water voles is thriving, nesting above ground with their territory extending some way from the central overgrown streambed.
10. Cwm Clettwr
The reserve can be divided into two principal areas, a large area of regenerating heath, and the section of broadleaf woodland that is notified SSSI. The heathy area was previously hemlock plantation, which was clearfelled in 2000. This is now dominated by heather and gorse with significant birch regeneration. Some broadleaf species have also been planted to encourage the regeneration process.
11. Llyn Eiddwen
Mesotrophic lake, upland heathland and mire. Natural upland lake, 300m above sea level. The surrounding area of upland heathland and acidic grassland is typical of this part of mid Wales and is common land.
12. Llyn Fanod
Natural upland lake. Aquatic plants, dragonflies. The lake which extends for 4.5 ha, may be aptly described as a sister to Llyn Eiddwen about 2 km away. It is a more sheltered locality, with a steep sloping basin mire at the southern end and heathland on the steep bank nearest the footpath.
13. Old Warren Hill
Mixed woodland and stream on slopes of Old Warren Hill Iron Age hillfort. The reserve comprises mixed woodland covering the top and steep western slopes of Old Warren Hill. A stream running through a wooded dingle forms the western boundary.
14. Pant Da
Upland Oak woodland and planted beech. The woodland historically consisted of Oak coppice. The central area was clear felled in 1950, and replanted with larch in 1954. A strip along the roadside was replaced in the late 1950s with Oak and Beech at the owner’s request. In 1983/84, after acquisition by the Trust, the majority of Larch were clear felled, and the site replanted with native tree species, predominantly Oak.
15. Penderi Cliffs
Maritime cliff and slope, Upland Oak Woodland and Lowland Heathland. Nearly 2 km of cliffs are in the reserve, with unique cliff scrub of Small leaved Lime (Tilia cordata) and coves. The principal biological interest of this site is the steeply west-facing Sessile Oak woodlands, which include an interesting assemblage of other native species.
16. Rhos Fullbrook
The reserve comprises an area of flower-rich unimproved grassland including numerous flushes which are slightly base rich. An area of alluvial marsh borders the Nant Ty’n-y-sŵydd, and there is a small area of woodland and species-rich shrub thicket.
17. Rhos Glandenys
Rhos pasture and stream. Rhos Glandenys can be divided into three compartments of wet, species-rich grassland with a mosaic of communities associated with the varying wetness of the land and is an excellent example of wet Ceredigion ‘rhos’ grassland.
18. Rhos Glyn-Yr-Helyg
Unimproved sedge-rich pasture. Much of the southern half of the site is wet Purple Moor Grass with Sharp-flowered and Soft Rush. Since the site was acquired by the Trust a total of 240 higher plant species have been recorded.
19. Rhos Pil-Bach a Pennar Fawr
Purple Moorgrass and Rush pasture with ancient hedgerows, a tract of lowland wet heath, and ponds. Rhos Pil Bach is made up of five pasture fields enclosed by ancient banks and hedgerows. Pennar Fawr is similar in nature but more tussocky in structure.
20. Rhos-Y-Fforest
Remnants of valley mire with associated wet flushes, and acid grassland surrounded by improved pasture. At only 150m above sea level and 7 km from the coast, it is one of the very few remaining wet hollows of this type which have not been improved.
21. Teifi Marshes
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The reserve is situated on the floor of the wide pre-glacial channel left by the former course of the Teifi and now occupied by the river Piliau, which meanders through the marshes in a narrow but deceptively deep cut. A range of habitats is supported, from open pasture and well wooded hedgerows, through Alder and Willow carr, freshwater marsh with open pools and reedbeds to tidal mudbanks. Water Buffalo are used to graze the site all year round. Teifi Marshes is also home to the Welsh Wildlife Centre