Misplaced Pages

#218781

36-548: Mynydd Bach lies between Cors Caron (also known as the Tregaron Bog) to the east and the Cardigan Bay coastline to the west. Llyn Eiddwen is located on its western slope and is preserved as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSI). The mountain is crossed by a country lane that passes near Llyn Eiddwen, through Bontnewydd and connects Trefenter and Blaenpennal. Villages on Mynydd Bach include: The mountain

72-580: A Site of Special Scientific Interest ( SSSI ) since December 1997 in an attempt to protect the rare and unique features and species within it. This SSSI has been notified as being of both geological and biological importance. It is protected by law. The site has an area of 778.18 hectares and is managed by Natural Resources Wales . The catchment of the river is estimated to be 1,008 square kilometres (389 sq mi) yielding an average flow at Glan Teifi , just upstream of Llechryd Bridge, of 29.126 m³/s. The maximum recorded flow between 1959 and 2011

108-598: A medieval abbey stand at Strata Florida with some excellent examples of encaustic tiles on the floors. The river flows near to the Lampeter campus of the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David , its predecessor, the University of Wales, Lampeter (est. 1822) having been the oldest university established in Wales. The river forms the southern boundary of the hamlet of Pen-y-wenallt . Between Cenarth and Cardigan, there

144-818: A Bro Eiddwen [ Mynydd Bach and the Eiddwen Neighbourhood ] (in Welsh). Cymdeithas Lyfrau Ceredigion. Edwards, Emyr, ed. (1999). Bro a Bywyd: Beirdd y Mynydd Bach [ Country and Life: Poets of Mynydd Bach ] (in Welsh). Cyhoeddiadau Barddas. ISBN   978-1-900-437-349 . Stephens, Meic, ed. (1997). Cydymaith i Lenyddiaeth Cymru [ Companion to the Literature of Wales ] (in Welsh). Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru. ISBN   978-0-708-313-824 . 52°16′44″N 4°02′13″W  /  52.279°N 4.037°W  / 52.279; -4.037 Cors Caron Cors Caron

180-467: A series of small upland lakes left by past glacial activity. The lakes are acidic in nature. Some have been enlarged by damming and now provide a source of drinking water. The very extensive raised mire above Tregaron acts as a huge sponge at the head of the river and evens out extremes in flow. Rapids and waterfalls are uncommon but the examples at Henllan and, especially at Cenarth, are noteworthy and have been extensively photographed and painted because of

216-650: Is a raised bog in Ceredigion , Wales . Cors is the Welsh word for "bog". Cors Caron covers an area of approximately 349 hectares (862 acres). Cors Caron represents the most intact surviving example of a raised bog landscape in the United Kingdom . About 44 different species groups inhabit the area including various land and aquatic plants, fish, insects, crustaceans, lichen, fungi, terrestrial mammals and birds. Cors Caron began to be formed 12,000 years ago, at

252-585: Is a 3 km circular path using a boardwalk , and a 7 km riverside walk on a raised path. Alongside the reserve is a cycle path using the disused trackway of the former Aberystwyth to Carmarthen railway, which forms part of the Ystwyth Trail . In 2005, construction started on a state-of-the-art bird hide at Cors Caron. Opened in February 2006, the hide provides a viewing point to observe wildlife, especially birds at close range. The bird hide

288-406: Is an ancient tradition of fishing and travel using coracles – very simple light-weight boats made of bent sticks covered with waterproofed hide or skins. These are paddled by a single oar used at the front of the craft which requires great skill. The principal use for coracles is for salmon fishing using nets. This form of fishing is now very tightly controlled and the right to fish in this way

324-511: Is connected to four notable poets from local villages who competed at the National Eisteddfod . They include: T. Hughes Jones (1895-1966), B. T. Hopkins (1897-1981), J. M. Edwards (1903-1978) and Edward Prosser Rhys (1901-1945). A stone memorial to these four sits just south of Trefenter near Llyn Eiddwen. Ellis, T. I., ed. (1952). Y Mynydd Bach (in Welsh). Cyfres Crwydro Cymru. Jones, Evan (1990). Y Mynydd Bach

360-521: Is passed down from father to son. There is also an age-old tradition of illegal salmon and sea-trout fishing in the lower Teifi. In 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis observed what is thought to have been the last colony of European beaver in England or Wales on the Teifi. In modern times, the river Teifi is still important to the population that surrounds it and currently serves as the complete water source for

396-521: Is tidal below Llechryd , descending through the steep-sided Cilgerran Gorge to Cardigan. West of Cardigan and St Dogmaels , the river broadens into a wide estuary with Poppit Sands on its west bank and Gwbert on its east bank as it enters Cardigan Bay . On the lower parts of the river the wildlife is rich. There is a large variety ranging from water-crowfoot to Atlantic salmon as well as otters, wetland birds and multi fruited river moss . There have also been sightings of bottle-nosed dolphins where

SECTION 10

#1732772399219

432-964: The Rhynchosporion described as : occurring in complex mosaics with lowland wet heath and valley mire vegetation, in transition mires, and on the margins of bog pools and hollows in both raised and blanket bogs. The vegetation is typically very open, usually characterised by an abundance of white beak-sedge Rhynchospora alba , often with well-developed algal mats, the bog moss Sphagnum denticulatum , round-leaved sundew Drosera rotundifolia and, in relatively base-rich sites, brown mosses such as Drepanocladus revolvens and Scorpidium scorpioides . The nationally scarce species brown beak-sedge Rhynchospora fusca and marsh clubmoss Lycopodiella inundata also occur in this habitat. On lowland heaths in southern and eastern England this habitat occurs on humid, bare or recently exposed peat in three distinct situations: The habitation of otter ( Lutra lutra ) at Cors Caron

468-482: The area. The wetlands attract a variety of wild fowl such as the teal , curlew , and water rail . Snipe , red grouse , tree pipit , grasshopper warbler and whinchat can be seen more in the drier areas and the common redstart and willow warbler nest in the willow scrub. Visitor facilities at Cors Caron include three car parking areas, accessed from the B4343 road between Tregaron and Pontrhydfendigaid . There

504-450: The banks of the Teifi ). From here the river descends through pastures and bogs forming meanders on farmland below. Several small tributaries join from the valley with gorges, rocky and tree-lined sections also in the area. Over the next 30 miles (48 km), the Teifi meanders southwest in a gentle arc passing through Tregaron , Llanddewi Brefi , Cwmann , Lampeter , Llanybydder , Llandysul , Newcastle Emlyn , and Cenarth . The river

540-514: The beauty of the landscape. A dramatic painting of the falls was made by Frank Miles and is now at Nottingham City Museum. Miles's father inherited Cardigan Priory from his father, Philip John Miles, but lived in Nottinghamshire as Rector of Bingham. The river enters a narrow gorge between Llechryd and Cilgerran, the sides of which are thickly wooded with a distinctive under-storey flora of wood rush . The Teifi has been designated as

576-455: The bog-mosses Sphagnum magellanicum and S. pulchrum . Extensive areas with a high cover of heather Calluna vulgaris and deergrass Trichophorum cespitosum are also present, while purple moor-grass M. caerulea is particularly prominent on the more modified bog margins. Although present as an important peat-former until as recently as the 18th century, Sphagnum imbricatum is absent from the contemporary bog flora. Bog woodland designation

612-417: The centre of the wetland. Trees in the area that died (in about 3000 BC) and were preserved by the conditions in the bog are being studied by scientists looking for information on the past climate of the area. For many centuries the peat in bogs was cut out and harvested for use as a heating fuel. Many bog ecosystems were completely destroyed by this practice. As a result of international concern, Cors Caron

648-566: The component bog mesotopes are regularly flooded and support vegetation that includes reed canary-grass Phalaris arundinacea , soft rush Juncus effusus , purple moor-grass Molinia caerulea and, more rarely, water sedge Carex aquatilis . Substantial areas of the surface of each of the three component bogs still retain good quality active raised bog vegetation mainly referable to NVC type M18 Sphagnum papillosum – Erica tetralix community, with frequent bog-rosemary Andromeda polifolia and white beak-sedge Rhynchospora alba and, more locally,

684-651: The drainage pattern which leads eventually to the loss of the bog community. The habitat type has not previously been well described in the UK, and consequently knowledge of its ecological characteristics is limited. The principal tree species in this form of Bog woodland is Scots pine Pinus sylvestris . Pine bog woodland types are likely to be intermediate in character between NVC type W18 Pinus sylvestris – Hylocomium splendens woodland and more open mire types such as M18 Erica tetralix – Sphagnum papillosum mire or M19 Calluna vulgaris – Eriophorum vaginatum blanket mire. Cors Caron

720-409: The end of the last glacial period . A raised bog of this type develops from a lake or flat marshy area, over either non-acidic or acidic substrates. Over centuries there is a progression from open lake, to marsh and then fen (or on acidic substrates, valley bog), as silt or peat fill the lake. Eventually, peat builds up to a level where the land surface is too flat for ground or surface water to reach

756-537: The final 3 miles (4.8 km) of its total length of 76 miles (122 km), the boundary between Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire . Its estuary is northwest of Cardigan , known in Welsh as Aberteifi, meaning 'mouth of the Teifi'. Teifi has formerly been anglicised as " Tivy ". The Teifi has its source in Llyn Teifi , one of several lakes known collectively as the Teifi Pools . These are situated towards

SECTION 20

#1732772399219

792-512: The floodplain of the Afon (River) Teifi in mid-Wales now represents the most intact surviving example in the UK of a raised bog landscape (macrotope). The three main extant domes are hydrologically isolated by the River Teifi and associated surface drainage features, and all three have suffered extensive damage as a consequence of past drainage and peat-cutting. The river terraces associated with

828-413: The ice ages. The resultant landform is one of gently rolling hills supporting a range of agriculture in which dairy and sheep farming dominate. Ceredigion had the reputation of supplying London with its milk in the 19th century. The landscapes of the Teifi valley are very attractive and the Teifi is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful rivers in Wales. Teifi Pools, the source of the Teifi, are

864-467: The last UK strongholds of the European Polecat was in this area. Among the birdlife which can be seen at Cors Caron are buzzard , peregrine falcon , merlin , Eurasian sparrowhawk and hen harrier . There have also been rare sightings of Montagu's harrier . The reserve provides a habitat for the endangered red kite . Once nearly extinct, the bird of prey has made a dramatic resurgence in

900-467: The local area of Mid & South Ceredigion. Concern over the health of the river has been reported, which include the levels of phosphates, nitrates, and sewage pollution. Following an analysis of data collected by environmental agencies, it has been stated the River Teifi has the most sewage discharges in Wales. A report of this analysis concluded the river Teifi as the 9th most polluted river in

936-543: The mire occupies a physically transitional location between bog and fen vegetation, as for example on the marginal lagg of raised bog or associated with certain valley and basin mires. In other cases these intermediate properties may reflect the actual process of succession, as peat accumulates in groundwater-fed fen or open water to produce rainwater-fed bog isolated from groundwater influence. Many of these systems are very unstable underfoot and can therefore also be described as 'quaking bogs'. Depressions on peat substrates of

972-581: The north of the county of Ceredigion; the source is in the Cambrian Mountains at 1,493 feet (455 m). This wide area of Mid-Wales , with a very sparse population, is part of what is sometimes called the " Desert of Wales ". The river flows past Strata Florida Abbey and then through Pontrhydfendigaid before turning broadly southwest. Here it passes through Cors Caron , one of the great raised mires of Britain also known as Tregaron Bog or Cors Goch Glanteifi (translates from Welsh as red bog on

1008-611: The reserve and adjoining farmland. On 2 September 1992, Cors Caron was put on a list of wetland sites of international importance under the Ramsar Convention . The bog is now maintained by Natural Resources Wales , successor body to the Countryside Council for Wales. The assessment designated the primary feature for the selection of Cors Caron as active raised bog described as: The Cors Caron sequence of peat domes (also known as Tregaron Bog) developed on

1044-659: The river opens into the estuary. It is sometimes asserted that the Afon Tywi at 75 miles (121 km) and Afon Teifi at 76 miles (122 km) are the longest rivers wholly in Wales though at about 78 miles (126 km), the River Usk exceeds both. The river is susceptible to flooding and there were some heavy floods in 2007 and 2008. If the swollen river is backed up by a high tide, flooding can occur in Cardigan and as far up river as Llechryd. The most recent flooding

1080-478: Was 373.6 m³/s on 18 October 1987. The average annual rainfall varies from 1,552 millimetres (61.1 in) in the upper catchment to 1,176 millimetres (46.3 in) in the lower catchment, which is higher than the average for United Kingdom at 1,101 millimetres (43.3 in). The Teifi valley has been inhabited since pre-history. There are many remains of Iron Age and Stone Age man including cromlechs (burial chambers) and standing stones . The remains of

1116-428: Was a qualifying feature present described as: Under certain combinations of physical circumstances in the UK, scattered trees can occur across the surface of a bog in a relatively stable ecological relationship as open woodland, without the loss of bog species. This true Bog woodland is a much rarer condition than the progressive invasion of bogs by trees, through natural colonisation or afforestation following changes in

Mynydd Bach - Misplaced Pages Continue

1152-546: Was additionally assessed as possessing the following qualifying, non-priority habitats: Transition mires and quaking bogs described as : The term 'transition mire' relates to vegetation that in floristic composition and general ecological characteristics is transitional between acid bog and 7230 Alkaline fens, in which the surface conditions range from markedly acidic to slightly base-rich. The vegetation normally has intimate mixtures of species considered to be acidophile and others thought of as calciphile or basophile. In some cases

1188-560: Was constructed from sustainably harvested materials, such as Welsh oak . The £80,000 cost of the project was covered by the European Union's Objective One Programme . River Teifi The River Teifi ( English: / ˈ t aɪ v i / ; Welsh : Afon Teifi , pronounced [ˈavɔn ˈtei̯vi] ) in Wales forms the boundary for most of its length between the counties of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire , and for

1224-764: Was designated as a national nature reserve in 1955. Formerly in the ownership of the Trawsgoed Estate , and the Earl of Lisburne , the bog is located in the 2,000-acre (8.1 km ) Cors Caron National Nature Reserve. In 1956, the 7th Earl of Lisburne entered into a management agreement with the Nature Conservancy Council , and the reserve lands were sold to the Countryside Council for Wales in 1986. The estate retains grazing and sporting rights over some 700 acres (2.8 km ) of

1260-1053: Was in December 2015. The principal tributaries of the Teifi (ordered from source to sea) are as follows: Afon Mwyro, Nant Glasffrwd, Afon Meurig, Afon Fflur, Camddwr Fach, Camddwr, Brennig, Nant Carfan, Afon Brefi, Nant Digonest, Nant Clywedog, Ffrwd Cynon, Nant Gou, Nant Dulas , Nant Hathren, Nant Eiddig, Nant y Gwragedd, Nant Dolgwm, Afon Granell, Afon Duar, Nant Hust, Nant Ceiliog, Nant Caradog, Nant Cwm-du, Nant Cledlyn, Nant Fylchog, Afon Clettwr, Nant Wern-macwydd, Gwenffrwd, Afon Cerdin, Afon Tyweli, Nant Merwydd, Hoffnant, Afon Gwr-fach, Afon Siedi, Camnant, Nant Bachnog, Nant Iago, Nant Bargod, Afon Cynllo, Afon Cwm-wern, Nant Halen, Afon Arad, Nant Sarah, Afon Ceri, Afon Nawmor, Afon Hirwaun, Afon Cych , Afon Eifed, Nant Arberth, Afon Morgenau, Afon Plysgog, Nant Rhyd-y-fuwch, Afon Piliau, Afon Mwldan, Nant Degwen, Nant-y-ferwig. The Teifi and its tributaries are underlain by ancient Ordovician and Silurian mudstones which have been extensively glaciated during

1296-435: Was the primary species listed in the assessment. Cors Caron is one of the largest wetland areas in Wales and feeds into the River Teifi . Historically it is a very important site for otters and has been an important source of breeding for the otters of the River Teifi and other catchments such as the rivers Severn and Dyfi . Cors Caron also provides an important amphibian food resource for breeding otters in spring. One of

#218781