Parc Dowlais

A marshy grassland situated amid wet deciduous woodland and natural, seasonal ponds which neighbours the Nant Dowlais. This mosaic of habitats makes for a wonderfully biodiverse site.

Kingfisher | © Tate Lloyd

Habitat

This wonderful site is home to wildflower-rich marshy grassland, wet woodland and the Nant Dowlais. This is a habitat for an amazing diversity of flora, fungi and fauna. The ‘cut and collect’ grass management ensures wildflowers flourish here, while pulling up Himalayan balsam controls this highly invasive species.

When to Visit

The spring is full of bird song. In summer look for ragged robin, southern marsh orchids and meadowsweet, and enjoy the sweet smell of water mint. After dark, glimpse long-eared bats flitting through the trees and in winter, listen for the ‘hooohuhuhuhooo’ calls of tawny owls.

Biodiversity

Parc Dowlais hosts fantastic insect habitat, with large and dingy skipper butterflies, bloody-nosed beetles,
short-winged conehead crickets and brown-banded carder bees. By the stream, the beautiful but very poisonous monk’s-hood blooms in the dappled shade, while bullheads swim below and are hunted by otters. In the marsh you’ll find greater bird’s-foot trefoil and angelica. You may be lucky enough to spot a treecreeper climbing mouse-like up a tree with their long-clawed feet and stiff tail feathers, while their curved bills explore the bark for tasty insects.