Graig Fawr, Pontardulais

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.7446, -4.0012

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West Glamorgan County

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Peatland

Peat habitats store centuries of carbon and depend on a stable, waterlogged water table. Warmer, drier summers dry out peat, making it far more vulnerable to wildfire and to carbon release — a pressure that can undo years of restoration work regardless of how well the site is otherwise managed.

Geology & landscape

Landscape processes: Peatland / Mire

Description

Description An area supporting good examples of the range of plant communities to be found in the uplands of the county. These include dry acidic grasslands dominated by Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus and ericaceous shrubs; poorly drained acid grasslands predominantly comprised of Molinia caerulea and Eriophorum vaginatum; and infrequent soligenous mires in which Wahlenbergia hederacea, Chrysosplenium oppositifolium and Anagallis tenella are prominent species.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
purple moor grass Molinia caerulea LC grass poaceae
bog pimpernel Anagallis tenella Not listed in GB list herb primulaceae
opposite-leaved golden- saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium LC herb saxifragaceae
ivy-leaved bellflower Wahlenbergia hederacea LC herb campanulaceae
hare's-tail cottongrass Eriophorum vaginatum LC sedge cyperaceae
billberry Vaccinium myrtillus LC shrub ericaceae
bell heather or ling Calluna vulgaris NT shrub dwarf ericaceae