Red Jacket Fen, Llandarcy, Neath/Port Talbot

Open water, lowland fen, and wet woodland.

Location

Llandarcy.

OS Map Reference

Grid References O.S. Explorer map 165 Swansea. Main entrance: SS719942, Site centre: SS722945

Know before you go

Size

3 hectares

Entry fee

Free

Access

Location and Access Notes

Between Jersey Marine and Llandarcy. Parking is available at the Pant y Sais LNR car park, and access is obtained by crossing the board walk to the Tennant Canal towing path, and turning left (north) and walking towards the railway bridge. Immediately after going under the bridge, turn left up the slope, before the second bridge, and the reserve starts on your left hand side, and extends as far as the Transco Security fence. Not accessible to wheelchairs.

Public transport
Bus numbers X6 and 224 to Jersey Marine and then walking along the tow path.

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Open access reserve.

Best time to visit

Spring and summer.

About the reserve

This is a lowland fen situated in a narrow valley between Pant y Sais fen and the Neath Estuary. The site is bordered by railway embankments on two sides which are in the ownership of Network Rail. The Trust’s property is a rectangular strip on the western side between the railway and the Tennant Canal.

The site is called Red Jacket because it was the site of a copper works making casings for armaments.

The wetland vegetation is dominated by Bulrush and provides a nesting habitat for Cetti’s Warbler, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, and Sedge Warbler in spring and summer.

Water Vole benefit from the open water and dense Bulrush to breed, and Fen Raft Spider stand and wait for prey along the waterside. There is an abundant population of dragonflies, including Common Blue Damselfly Large Red Damselfly and Common Darter.