Cors Erdreiniog National Nature Reserve

Cors Erddreiniog National Nature Reserve

This large rich fen system, located between Bryn Teg and Capel Coch in eastern Anglesey, is the largest of a suite of wetlands internationally famed for their unusual and diverse vegetation. The chief feature of the site is the large area of fen - characterised by rustling stands of common reed, great fen sedge, blunt flowered rush and black bog rush. Amidst this initially uninspiring sounding collection of plants is a profusion of orchids, insectivorous plants, rare giant algae or stoneworts, dazzling dragonflies, grasshopper warblers, ..... and whatever else you can find when you look closely. There are areas of acid wet heath with brilliant blue marsh gentians in late summer and nodding heads of monk's hood (Aquilegia) and devil's bit scabious.

Cors Erddreiniog is one of the last sites for the Marsh Fritillary in Anglesey, and still holds an isolated population of the southern damselfly

There is a residual area of open water, Llyn yr Wyth Eiddion, named after the eight oxen of a plough team that is reputed to have bolted into the deep waters - along with the unfortunate ploughman!.

There is no public right of way into the fen, but CCW is intending to declare the reserve open access land to enable people to experience this superb open area . A boardwalk is being constructed to enable people to enter the dense fen areas, though in parts it is floating over deep soft peat so Wellington boots may be advisable at times! Access can be obtained down a long track from Capel Coch (by the side of a white cottage opposite the Ger y Felin chicken farm) - marked by the red arrow on the map.

The land is grazed with Welsh Mountain ponies, Welsh blacks and Highland cattle to maintain the natural vegetation and there are deep ditches, so care is needed.