Environment and Conservation at Lake Vyrnwy

Lake Vyrnwy is a 24,000-acre estate situated at the southern end of the Berwyn mountains.  The estate comprises of a number of different habitats which are heather moorland, dry heath, blanket bog, oak woodland, coniferous forest, upland grassland and open water.  Certain habitats are of national and international importance.

It is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for the large area of blanket bog and a Special Protection Area (SPA) for the populations of hen harrier, merlin and peregrine falcon and a Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI) because it provides a habitat for moorland birds in upland Wales that are threatened or in decline.

The Countryside Council for Wales have declared 4,300 hectares of heather moorland on the Vyrnwy estate a National Nature Reserve (NNR).  This status can only be given to areas if they protect the best examples of Welsh habitats and wildlife and are managed in an exemplary way.

Three organisations work in partnership at Lake Vyrnwy and these are Severn Trent Water, who own and manage the estate, RSPB and Forestry Commission Wales.  The RSPB has been present at Lake Vyrnwy since 1977 when the estate became a nature reserve.

The RSPB are responsible for the management of the nature reserve and the Severn Trent Water owned farm.  The RSPB are actively trying to help and protect some bird species that are ‘red’ listed.  This means they are threatened or in decline.  The red listed birds include black grouse and hen harrier.  The farm became organic in 1996 and it uses environmentally friendly farming methods.

Sheep, cattle and ponies are used for habitat management.  Controlled grazing has helped species such as the red listed curlew.  The farm uses a mixture of arable and livestock farming and restores hedgerows and drystone walls.  The heather moorland is managed to help upland bird species such as red and black grouse, merlin, hen harrier, ring ouzel and short-eared owl.

The heather is harvested and seed is sown annually.  This habitat is managed to create different aged heather, which ensures continual growth.  New heather shoots are the main diet for grouse and sheep and older taller heather provides cover for ground nesting birds.

Woodland was planted around the lake in the 1870s and this was to filter water running down the slopes to keep the reservoir as clean as possible.  The Forestry Commission took over managing the woodland after the First World War, when the Government decided that Britain needed to produce more of its own timber.

Nowadays, Forestry Commission Wales aims to have visitor-friendly woodlands, which fit in sympathetically with the landscape and encourages the local community to have their say in what happens to Vyrnwy’s woodlands.  It also encourages wildlife on the estate and protects sites of archaeological importance.

Severn Trent Water has a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), based on a national strategy to protect and enhance the variety of life across the UK.  One important target species is the otter, which is now successfully spreading across Wales, following improvements to habitats and wastewater treatment processes.

Over 90 species of bird breed regularly on the estate.  In spring, there are migrants such as pied flycatcher, redstart, wood warbler breeding in the oak woodland and tree pipits can be seen in the young conifer plantations.  Peregrine may be seen from the Rhiwargor Trail.  In summer, there are golden ringed dragonflies in the forests and siskin can be seen on the feeders at the Coed Y Capel Hide and the RSPB shop.  Goosander, great crested grebe and common sandpiper can be seen on the lake.

In autumn, large flocks of redwing and fieldfare arrive and nuthatch, great spotted woodpecker and mixed flocks of tits can be seen in the woodland.  There is a host of fungi including fly agaric (bright red with white spots).  In winter, there are water birds such as teal, goosander, little grebe and mallard and ravens begin their tumbling displays.  Dipper can be seen throughout the year on rivers on the estate.

Six species of bat have been recorded on the estate including pipistelle, daubenton’s and brown long – eared bat.  Butterflies include purple hairstreak, comma and peacock.  Dragonflies include golden – ringed, common hawker and four-spotted chaser.