Coed Gawdir, Aberdulais, Neath/Port Talbot

Long tailed tit

Long tailed tit.  Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography

Coed Gawdir, Aberdulais, Neath/Port Talbot

An acidic pond, within an ancient woodland site under restoration.

Location

Aberdulais.

OS Map Reference

Grid References O.S. Explorer map 165 Swansea. Site centre: SN783007.
A static map of Coed Gawdir, Aberdulais, Neath/Port Talbot

Know before you go

Size
1 hectare
z

Entry fee

Free

Access

Location and Access Notes
1.5 km north east of Aberdulais. Take a westerly track from the A4109, park on the edge of the forestry track. Inaccessible to wheelchairs.

Public transport
Bus number 63 from Swansea Quadrant Bus Station to Aberdulais or train to Neath, then bus 154 to Aberdulais.

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Open access reserve.

Best time to visit

Spring, summer and autumn.

About the reserve

The Trust’s reserve is a small part of a much larger planted ancient woodland site.

The pool used to lie within a mature plantation of Scots Pine and European Larch, interspersed with Oak, Silver Birch, and Alder, with a shrub layer dominated by Rhododendron. Over the last 35 years, the conifer trees and Rhododendron have been cleared to let in light, and promote the natural regeneration of native broadleaved tree seedlings.

The site is centred on a pond, which occupies about one third of the reserve area. It is fed by a stream, which enters the pool on the eastern side, and has an outflow in the western bank. The aquatic vegetation is dominated by Flote-grass, and rush species line the margins. The eastern side of the pool has silted up and supports an area of Sphagnum bog, with a small developing area of Alder/Sallow carr.

The principle interest of the site is amphibians breeding in spring, and the resident bird life, such as Wren, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Siskin and Robin.

Common Frog

Common frog (Rana temporaria). Mark Hamblin/2020VISION