The Wetlands

Why Cwmbach Community Wetlands?

Cwmbach Community Wetlands will be an environmental asset and public amenity for the whole community across the Cynon Valley and to all who wish to benefit from its establishment and open to visitors from elsewhere. Our members and investors will primarily be drawn from the Cynon Valley – the community, alongside local schools, specialist colleges, businesses and community organisations across South Wales – who will benefit from the recreational and educational opportunities our community wetlands will provide.

Directions to Cwmbach Community Wetlands

Overarching road map of the Cynon Valley with route filled in.

What 3 Words pin drop click here

Please note that the Wetlands main path is accessible for wheelchair users however at the railway in Cwmbach, there is a level crossing with a gate.

Environmental Benefits

Climate change is one of the greatest issues facing the world today. Cwmbach Community Wetlands will make a valuable contribution to tackling it. All of our plans in which you will have a say if you become a shareholder have the environment and the climate at its heart. It is our intention to ensure that this remains an area for nature to thrive and to nurture biodiversity for many generations to come.

Although this is a small project, it will have a massive impact. Simply by coming together, we are sending a signal to all of the decision makers in the government that we, as a community, care, and that we all, young and old, want to play our part in protecting the future. At the heart of every project and powerful movement, there are people just like us (ordinary people). If all us ordinary people come together and stand strong to protect nature by using our own money, energy and time, the more we will show that we are a force to be reckoned with, and governments and businesses will have to take notice.

Reducing Flooding

Historically, this land is known for flooding. It runs alongside the length of the River Cynon, which regularly bursts its banks. The land serves as a floodplain as well as a wetlands, and therefore protects many homes from the floods. It is a natural flood defence system. Please familiarize yourself with our flood management plan (on our website). And check the NRW website for flood alerts before travelling to the location.

Further Benefits

Maintenance of habitats and species already present on Wetlands
Protection of nature from those who would wish to harm it
Creating new habitats to encourage further species
Opportunities for training and volunteering, as well as educational visits
Increased footfall to Aberdare town centre and to the valley
Support of local businesses
Improvement of physical and mental health and well being

Cwmbach Community Wetlands is an example of community empowerment and Valleys values at their finest. When purchased, it will be truly owned by the people of the Cynon Valley.

What can you find in the Wetlands?

Bats

Rivers and ponds provide bats with drinking water and they also attract midges and many other flying insects. Daubenton’s and pipistrelle bats in particular often feed over open water on a variety of water insects. The NBN Atlas shows a scatter of records of bats close to Cwmbach Wetlands and it is therefore likely that bats will use the river, ponds, marshes, swamps, woodlands and grasslands here for foraging.

Otter

Otters are known to visit the area for feeding in the ponds and in the adjacent river. Along the riverbanks, there are numerous suitable places for holts or for lying up. The fallen trees, up-ended root plates, rocks and other structures could all provide shelter for otters. The NBN Atlas shows a scatter of 12 records of otters close to Cwmbach Wetlands. Otters have been recorded at the site by local naturalists.*This year we have discovered at least one set of breeding otters on the wetlands.

Water Vole

The NBN Atlas shows a record of water vole close to Cwmbach Wetlands in an area of habitat very similar to that at Cwmbach. It is therefore likely that water voles will be present on the site, however, no evidence of water vole presence was found during thesurvey.*We have found evidence of water vole on the wetlands since the survey, the specimen we discovered was deceased but we believe that they may be present due to this discovery.

Reptile & Amphibian (Herptile) species

There are grass snakes. Amphibians including newts, frogs and toads are likely to be common. The ponds and wetland areas provide a large extent of suitable habitat for amphibians. The NBN Atlas shows a large cluster of great crested newt records southwest of Merthyr Tydfil to the north of Cwmbach Wetlands and it is, therefore, possible that this species is present here too.

Badgers

The NBN Atlas shows two records of badgers close to Cwmbach Wetlands and it is, therefore, possible that this species uses the woodlands and grasslands here for foraging, however, no evidence of badger presence was found during the survey. No suitable sites for setts are present due to the site being for the most part too wet and, in the drier areas, being too disturbed by walkers, anglers and dogs. It was not possible to be certain if some of the many “unofficial” (anglers?) paths leading to the river may also be used by mammals such as badgers, otters or foxes but no evidence in the form of footprints of dung was seen.

Birds

Twenty-seven Birds of Conservation Concern (BOCC) are known from the site (12 Red Listed species and 15 Amber Listed species) many of which breed here-see Appendix2. No further species were noted during the survey. All of the habitats here have the potential to support these and other nesting birds. *We have recently welcomed our visiting Egret, Glossy Ibis and Rosy Starling back to the Wetlands. This survey was conducted over two days and the ecologist pointed out that with careful management the wetlands could be a habitat to so many more species.

Flora

There is also a wide range of Flora, Fauna and Funghi and we are discovering new species constantly. The wetlands is also rich in wildflowers and many of the insects and pollinators that rely on them. Moss is another in which has an important part to play and provides a home and water to insects.