CYNGOR CEFN GWLAD CYMRU

COUNTRYSIDE COUNCIL FOR WALES

SITE OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST: CITATION

ANGLESEY GWENFRO & RHOS Y GAD

National Grid Reference: SH501790 and SH511790

Site Area: 43.6 ha

Description:

This site has been selected primarily as an example of a rich-fen habitat, which supports certain nationally uncommon vegetation types.

Gwenfro and Rhos y Gad comprises two distinct wetland areas which are linked hydrologically. Both sections are supplied with base-rich water and support a range of rich-fen mire and meadow plant communities. In the Gwenfro compartment stands of tall fen vegetation, with species such as saw sedge Cladium mariscus and tufted sedge Carex elata, are present together with fen scrub and meadow communities. The latter meadow vegetation, in which species such as black bog rush Schoenus nigricans, blunt-flowered rush Juncus subnodulosus and purple moor-grass Molinia caerulea are often abundant, also occurs in the Rhos y Gad section where it is notably species-rich in places; a variety of associated species are present, including yellow sedge Carex lepidocarpa, saw-wort Serratula tinctoria, petty whin Genista anglica, fly orchid ophrys insectifera, lesser butterfly orchid Platanthera bifolia and lesser club moss Selaginella selaginoides. There are also populations of three nationally uncommon plant species: narrow-leaved marsh orchid Dactylorhiza traunsteineri, fen pondweed Potamogeton coloratus and a dandelion Taraxacum palustre.