Wildlife around Blaentrothy cottage and in the locality
The Black Mountains, forming the eastern part of the Brecon Beacons National Park, are home to a wide variety of wildlife. Numerous well-kept ancient hedgerows in the area make this the perfect habitat for many species. They also provide sustenance for the birds of prey: kestrels, hawks, merlins, buzzards and red kites thrive here, the latter having increased in number recently. Widen the net to include the Brecon Beacons themselves, and the South Wales Valleys, and you will find some of the best wildlife reserves in Wales.
The red sandstone uplands comprise moorland populated by raven, wheatear and red grouse. In parts of the hillscape, where sheep cannot penetrate, some unusual northern alpine flowers can be found.
The steeper sides of the fertile river valleys are clothed in wonderful ancient woodlands of oak, ash and hazel. They are alive with the song of woodland birds. The two major rivers, the Wye and the Usk are well-known for salmon, and brown trout is a staple of all their tributaries.
Meadowlands, such as at Blaentrothy Farm overlooking the Black Mountain range (a Site of Special Scientific Interest and home of Blaentrothy Cottage), where nitrates have never been used nor the soil ploughed, are rich with wildflowers. Growing in profusion where the fields are set aside for hay and where sheep do not graze are bee orchids, globeflowers, ox-eye daisies, violets, harebells and vetches, amongst many other species.
A recent visit to Blaentrothy Farm by the Gwent Ornithological Society revealed sightings of the following: sparrow hawk, buzzard, pheasant, curlew, stock dove, collared dove, wood pigeon, greater spotted woodpecker, skylark, robin, pied wagtail, blackbird, fieldfare, song thrush, redwing, long-tailed tit, marsh tit, coal tit, blue tit, great tit, nuthatch, tree creeper, magpie, rook, carrion crow, starling, raven, chaffinch, greenfinch, bullfinch, and red poll.
Close by, up on the Craig, a hill overlooking the Black Mountain range, ancient woodlands are filled with a mist of bright blue when the bluebells are out in April and May. Yew trees seem to grow wild here as well, although there is a local story that they were once planted for their wood for the manufacture of bows for the archers stationed at the local Norman castles.
Pwll y Wrach, an SSSI, is one of the best wildlife reserves in the area about half a mile south-east of Talgarth. There are interesting and well-marked walking trails through some of the most significant woodland in the whole of Wales, including the fascinating Geological Trail. Keen birders should visit Brechfa Pool, a small lake eight miles north-east of Brecon. Migrating wading birds visit in spring and autumn, and teal populate it in winter. But it is also a stopping-off point for many an interesting species.
A superb site for bird-watching, the Magor Marsh Reserve is the last precious remnant of fenland on the Gwent levels and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is a perfect example of the progression of plant communities from open water to marsh and scrub woodland. It is also an important Bronze-age site. (Situated near Magor Village on the B4245 near junction 23A on the M4.)
The Silent Valley Reserve is positioned just south of Ebbw Vale and is one of the best reserves in the area. It proves, interestingly, that beautiful and important countryside can thrive cheek-by-jowel in post-industrial areas of the country, reclaiming what was until recently a landscape left scarred by mining. A large part of this wildlife reserve was designated in 1984 as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is open woodland, interspersed with wet areas and former meadowland. The woods form part of one of the most westerly and highest natural beech woods in Britain.
