Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter - Winter 1990/1991
Ian Morgan
Already the Dyfed Wildife Trust is closely involved with the effective conservation and management of one reedbed/fen site in SE Dyfed - the Ffrwd Fen Reserve near Pembrey. Large reedbeds and fens such as Ffrwd are a very scarce, scattered and threatened habitat resource in Dyfed with a concentration on the low-lying coastal plain SE of, and just W of, Llanelli. The observations of George Montagu in 1802, that the marsh harrier is 'the most common of the falcon tribe about the sandy flats on the coast of Carmarthenshire' suggests that fenland habitats were commonplace in this area. However several marshland sites of wildlife importance and which exceed 2ha (ref. Everett, 1989) still remain:-
- Ffrwd Fen itself (SN419025 etc)
- Techon marsh, Llwynhendy (SS540993 excluding nearby subsidary sites).
- Llangennech (SN566013)
- Machynys Ponds (SS512980)
1. is SSSI and mostly owned by the Dyfed Wildlife Trust, 3. is SSSI but 2. and 4. have no formal protection whatsoever. There are two other small reed beds in the Llanelli area, both are used by nesting Acrocephalus warblers and passage hirundines:
- Alongside 'Banc-y-Lord', Kidwelly SN401045
- Adjacent to Pembrey Saltings/Sewage Works SN417001
Their invertebrate interest is unsampled. (Away from the Llanelli area, two other site (both SSSI) are in excess of 2ha:- sub-saline reedbeds (SN292133) below Whitehill Down SSSI s. of St. Clears and the reedbeds and associated extensive mixed fen/carr communities at MOD Pendine SN2703 etc).
The 2. Techon Marsh, Llwynhendy has a significant invertebrate assemblage, particularly fenland beetles such as Silis ruficollis, Anthoco.m.us rufus, Blethisa multipunctata and others, and also an important assemblage of moths. This latter community is dominted by wainscot moths and several species that are local, scarce or rare in Wales occur; bulrush Nonagria typhae, Webb's Archanara sparganii, obscure Mythimna obsoleta, silky Chilodes maritimus, brown-veined Archanara dissoluta, and twin-spotted wainscots A. gemnipunctata.
All these are extremely local in the Principality and the next station for the obscure wainscot is in Gwent. It is a Na species (ie known from less than 30 British sites).
The reedbed holds nesting sedge, reed and grasshopper warblers and is a locally-important staging post for passage warblers and hirundines. Ormerod (1988) has demonstrated the ornithological importance of the Llangennech reed beds and recent work has been undertaken at Ffrwd and Techon marshes by B. Stewart.
Most of the site is dominated by Phragmites but in the N is a diverse fen community holding a range of wetland plants. Prior to c.1970 the site was about twice its present size, much being used far land infill.
There is one (or more) local owner.
It is suggested that efforts are made by the Dyfed Wildlife Trust to secure through local initiatives such wetland habitats in the Llanelli area for conservation purposes, not only for their inherent biological interest and importance but also for their educational and promotional potential in the most heavily populated area of Dyfed, where-arguably-DWT influence is not fully promoted. There may be opportunities for example, in DWT co-operation with Llanelli Borough Council to estbalish wetland reserve areas within the context of the Machynys Peninsula Re-development (or management of the existing Machynys Ponds if they are retained). For this it is imperative that contact and reasonable relations are maintained with the Borough
Council in spite of conflict elsewhere (e.g. Pembrey Saltings). Another future opportunity may arise in the Lower Gwendraeth (Fawr) valley, if open-cast coaling proceeds. At the restoration stage it may well be possible to create wetland areas of potential ornithological importance - an opportunity for British Coal to create a really important wildfowl/wetland reserve and achieve environmental recognition. Such a venture may also be of interest to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, already established in the Llanelli area. Thus, DWT interest in the Lower Gwendraeth valley should be communicated to British Coal at the appropriate time. Smaller pond sites (often of botanical or odontological interest) also provide opportunities for co-operation with the Prince of Wales Committee groups, schools or general urban conservation.
References
Everett, M.J. (1989) Reedbeds - a scarce habitat. RSPB Conservation Review No3 (1989)
Ormerod, S.J. (1988) Ringing around Llanelli. Llanelli Nats. Newsl. Winter 1988-89
