The Ystradgynlais area has, perhaps surprisingly, very good habitats for wildlife and a number of rare species of plants, insects, reptiles etc can be seen if you are quiet. 100 years ago this area was the hotbed of the Industrial Revolution with coal mines scarring the countryside and iron works belching out smoke and steam. How quickly nature has reclaimed the land!
Wern Plemys Caches
The reserve is managed by Brecknock Wildlife Trust and consists of three wildflower meadows and a large area of woodland. The reserve lies on the site of a former coal-mine and is a wonderful example of how nature can reclaim an area.
Just below the main meadow are the crumbling walls of an old farmhouse. The farmer would have used the meadow for grazing his animals. The Trust continues this traditional form of management by grazing the meadows with Exmoor ponies.
Excellent views of the meadows, woodland and Ystradgynlais can be seen from the disused railway line running along the eastern boundary of the reserve. The line can be accessed from the upper right-hand corner of the main meadow.
The meadows feature a range of uncommon plants such as ragged robin, great burnet and devil's bit scabious. The damper parts provide excellent habitat for frogs.
The woodland contains trees such as oak, ash, hawthorn and alder and provides home to a range of woodland birds. If you are lucky, you may see a green woodpecker with its green and yellow colouring, red head and undulating flight.
The Mimosa was the ship that carried 153 Welsh people Patagonia in 1865. The 153 passengers came from all parts of North and South Wales, many of them following their preacher (there were three), and most had never traveled beyond their villages. The fare for adults was twelve pounds, six for children, although inability to pay was not a barrier and anyone willing to go was accepted. No one knew how long the voyage would take, and provisions sufficient for a six-month voyage were supplied.
This cache is reached from the cycle track opposite the memorial to the Mimosa. You may hear the cuckoo calling in April and May throughout the woodlands on this trail. While the cycle way is wheelchair accessible, wheelchair users may need help to retrieve the container.
Please leave the information cards in the containers when you have signed the log and replace carefully as you found it. If heading to WCT-Green Woodpecker next a drier if less direct route is to continue along the cycle track for nearly 600m (Waypoint R0). Here you will find a firmer path sharply to your right. It will bring you out into the top of Diamond Park. Keep left and follow the wood edge to another path into Wern Plemys over a couple of board walks.
Well done to WELSHMAN65 on being First to Find.
Placed with kind permission from Wild Communities Project, Brecknock Wildlife Trust