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The West Glamorgan Flora website is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in the wild plants, fungi, bryophytes, and lichens of West Glamorgan (covering Neath Port Talbot and Swansea). Created by the Chair of NPT LNP Dr Charles Hipkin alongside Barry Stewart of Celtic Wildflowers , the site brings together detailed species information, photographs, and distribution maps, making it easy to explore the rich biodiversity of the area. Visitors can search by species name or habitat, view the distributions of the species in the region, browse recent sightings in the photo gallery, and learn from a wealth of knowledge about the flora of the region. It’s a practical, well-organised tool for naturalists, researchers, and anyone curious about local wildlife. It's a mammoth task populating each species with information, so the site is still in development, but there is already a tremendous amount of information available to browse. A big thank you and congratulations to Barry and Charles for their hard work and dedication in building this resource. It’s a valuable contribution to understanding and protecting the natural heritage of West Glamorgan.

We’re excited to unveil the new logo for the Neath Port Talbot Local Nature Partnership ! This design reflects the unique character of our county—where industrial heritage meets natural beauty. The logo brings together elements of our rich history and the vibrant landscapes we work to protect, symbolizing the harmony between people, wildlife, and place. Our aim was to create a visual identity that celebrates both the resilience of nature and the community’s commitment to conservation. You’ll start seeing this logo on our projects, events, and communications as we continue working to enhance biodiversity across Neath Port Talbot. How many species and habitats can you identify in our logo? Comment below!

We had a fantastic time at the Nature Unearthed event on Sunday 13 July 2025 , at the stunning Margam Country Park . The weather couldn’t have been better—blue skies and sunshine set the perfect scene for a day of celebrating nature. This special event was part of Wales Nature Week and was proudly supported by the Welsh Government’s Local Places for Nature fund . It was a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to connect with the natural world through a variety of engaging activities. A huge thank you goes out to all our amazing partners who hosted stalls and ran activities throughout the day. From wild yoga and bug hunts to fungi walks and river discoveries, your enthusiasm and dedication made the event truly memorable. If you’d like to get involved and be part of future events like this, why not join the NPT Local Nature Partnership ? You can also visit our What's On page to see what other events we have coming up.

This large park in the Afan Valley, 48 square miles in area, has lots of tracks and trails that allow visitors to experience nature at any time of year. A Visitor Centre is situated on the A4107 near Cynonville where there is a car park and other facilities including visitor information and refreshments. From here you can take a number of walks, many of which are suitable for families. < Back Afan Forest Park Parc Coedwig Afan This large park in the Afan Valley, 48 square miles in area, has lots of tracks and trails that allow visitors to experience nature at any time of year. A Visitor Centre is situated on the A4107 near Cynonville where there is a car park and other facilities including visitor information and refreshments. From here you can take a number of walks, many of which are suitable for families. Mae’r parc mawr hwn yng Nghwm Afan, sy’n 48 milltir sgwâr o ran ei arwynebedd, yn cynnwys nifer o lwybrau a thrywyddau gwahanol sy’n caniatáu i ymwelwyr fwynhau natur ar bob adeg o’r flwyddyn. Lleolir Canolfan Ymwelwyr ar ffordd yr A4107 ger Cynonville lle mae maes parcio a chyfleusterau eraill gan gynnwys lluniaeth a gwybodaeth i ymwelwyr. O’r fan hon, gallwch ddilyn sawl llwybr, llawer ohonynt yn addas i deuluoedd. One of the best and easiest will take you from the centre along a disused railway track, past the old Cynonville Halt towards Dyffryn Rhondda and Cymmer. Here, in spring and early summer, you can experience a chorus of birdsong from summer migrants like Willow Warbler, Chiff Chaff, Blackcap and Garden Warbler, as well as all the common resident species such as Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Song Thrush, Blackbird and Robin. House Martins are frequently seen buzzing around in the mid-summer sky above Cynonville in the evenings. The banks and ditches along this track are full of mosses and liverworts, with carpets of beautiful Shining Hookeria in places and tufts of Fingered Cowlwort, a tiny hyperoceanic liverwort, on the bark of willow trees. Between Cynonville and Dyffryn Rhondda there are some biodiverse grassy areas on the coaly spoil of the levelled Dyffryn Tip; these are the Dyffryn Rhondda Railway Meadows. Devil’s-bit Scabious is common in the large meadow, its flowers often visited by the handsome wasp mimic hoverfly, Sericomyia silentis . Other conspicuous flowering plants to note here are Southern Marsh-orchid, Chicory and Pearly Everlasting. Look out for Adder that are sometimes found basking on the woodpiles. They are shy creatures, not aggressive and will always seek to move quickly away from you if they are disturbed. On sunny days you will see lots of butterflies, including Dark Green Fritillary which are on the wing in late spring and early summer. Other things to note in the vicinity include a large population of Round-leaved Wintergreen and further along towards Cymmer there is an established heronry. Goosander are often seen flying along the river in this part of the Afan Valley. Other areas of the forest park can be accessed from Rhyslyn, Gyfylchi, Abercregan, Glyncorrwg and Blaengwynfi. The Rhyslyn entrance in Pontrhydyfen has a large, free car parking area. Ash trees along the banks of the River Afan here have notable colonies of the Atlantic lichen, Sticta limbata, and little pools in the ditches along the tracks often have tadpoles and small numbers of Palmate Newts that usually predate them. Grey Wagtail and Dipper frequent the river hereabouts, where foamy water bounces off rocks covered in dark mossy cushions of River and Broadleaf Grimmia. In many parts of the park large amounts of Japanese Larch became infected with Ramorum disease and have been removed. The clear-felled areas that have resulted from this have become occupied by Nightjar and Tree Pipits, and on balmy summer evenings the churring sound of male Nightjars can often be heard in the Pelenna Valley. The River Afan has recovered significantly from the mine water pollution that turned its waters black and orange in the past. Now in much better condition, it is able to support populations of Brown Trout, Sea Trout and a run of Atlantic Salmon, although there are still issues with mine water pollution and eutrophication in some places. Most of the park is dominated by large stands of Sitka Spruce where Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Crossbill and Goshawk are found. These forests are often dark and sometimes impenetrable, but they have a large diversity of fungi which includes colourful species such as Fly Agaric and an assortment of Brittlegills like Ochre Brittlegill and the much rarer Russula fuscorubroides , one of NPT’s Priority Species. Bydd un o’r llwybrau gorau a hawsaf yn eich tywys o’r ganolfan ar hyd yr hen reilffordd, heibio i Arhosfan Cynonville tuag at Ddyffryn Rhondda a’r Cymer. Yma, gallwch fwynhau côr yr adar yn ystod y gwanwyn a’r haf, sy’n cynnwys mudwyr haf fel Telor yr Helyg, y Siff Siaff, y Telor Penddu a Thelor yr Ardd, yn ogystal â’r holl rywogaethau preswyl cyffredin megis y Titw Mawr, Titw Tomos Las, y Titw Penddu, Telor y Cnau, y Fronfraith, yr Aderyn Du a’r Robin. Ganol haf, mae Gwenoliaid y Bondo i'w gweld yn hedfan yn brysur gyda’r nos. Mae’r cloddiau a’r ffosydd ar hyd y llwybr hwn yn llawn mwsoglau a llysiau’r afu, gyda charpedi hardd o Hookeria Lucens mewn mannau a thuswau o’r Cwfl-lys Byseddog, sef math o lys yr afu pitw, hypergefnforol, ar risgl rhai o’r coed helyg. Rhwng Cynonville a Dyffryn Rhondda, mae Dolydd Rheilffordd Dyffryn Rhondda, sef llecynnau glaswelltog bioamrywiol ar rwbel glo Tomen y Dyffryn sydd wedi’i lefelu. Mae Tamaid y Cythraul yn gyffredin ar y ddôl fawr, lle mae’r pryfed hofran tebyg i wenyn meirch deniadol, Sericomyia silentis, yn ymwelwyr mynych. Mae planhigion blodeuol eraill sy’n werth eu nodi yn cynnwys Tegeirian-y-gors Deheuol, yr Ysgellog a’r Edafeddog Hirhoedlog. Cofiwch sylwi ar y Gwiberod sydd i’w gweld yn torheulo ar domenni coed o bryd i’w gilydd. Nid yw’r creaduriaid swil hyn yn ymosodol a byddant bob amser yn ceisio symud i ffwrdd yn gyflym os bydd rhywbeth yn tarfu arnyn nhw. Ar ddiwrnodau heulog, gallwch weld nifer o loÿnnod byw, gan gynnwys y Fritheg Werdd, sydd yn yr awyr ar ddiwedd y gwanwyn a dechrau’r haf. Ymhlith nodweddion eraill gwerth eu nodi yn y cyffiniau, mae poblogaeth fawr o Lesyn-y-gaeaf Deilgrwn ac ymhellach ar hyd y llwybr tuag at y Cymer, mae crëyrfa wedi’i sefydlu. Yn aml, gellir gweld Hwyaid Danheddog yn hedfan ar hyd yr afon yn y rhan hon o Gwm Afan. Gellir cael mynediad i rannau eraill o’r parc coedwig o Ryslyn, Gyfylchi, Abercregan, Glyncorrwg a Blaengwynfi. Mae maes parcio mawr di-dâl ger mynedfa Rhyslyn ym Mhontrhydyfen. Ceir cytrefi hynod o gen Iwerydd, Sticta limbata , ar goed ynn ar hyd glannau afon Afan yma, ac mae’r pyllau bach yn y ffosydd wrth ymyl y llwybrau yn aml yn cynnwys penbyliaid a niferoedd bach o’r Madfallod Dŵr Palfog sydd fel arfer yn eu bwyta. Mae’r Siglen Lwyd a Bronwen y Dŵr yn ymweld â’r afon yn yr ardal hon, lle mae dŵr ewynnog yn tasgu oddi ar greigiau lle ceir clustogau mwsoglyd o schistidium rivulare a schistidium platyphyllum . Mewn sawl rhan o’r parc, mae nifer mawr o Larwydd Japan a gafodd eu heintio ag afiechyd Ramorwm wedi cael eu clirio. Mae’r ardaloedd sydd wedi’u llwyrgwympo o ganlyniad i’r gwaith hwn bellach yn gartref i’r Troellwr Mawr a Chorhedyddion y Coed ac yn aml ar nosweithiau braf o haf mae’r Troellwyr Mawr gwryw i’w glywed yn troelli yng Nghwm Pelenna. Mae cyflwr afon Afan wedi gwella’n sylweddol ers y dyddiau pan fyddai llygredd dŵr o’r pyllau glo a’r mwyngloddiau yn troi ei dyfroedd yn ddu ac yn oren yn y gorffennol. Bellach, mae’r afon mewn cyflwr llawer gwell ac yn gallu cynnal poblogaethau o Frithyll, Sewin a rhediad Eog Iwerydd, er bod llygredd dŵr o’r pyllau glo a’r mwyngloddiau ac ewtroffigedd yn dal i achosi problemau mewn rhai mannau. Mae clystyrau o goed Sbriws Sitka yn nodwedd amlwg iawn yn y rhan fwyaf o’r parc lle mae’r Pila Gwyrdd, y Llinos Bengoch Fechan, y Gylfingroes a Gwalch Martin i’w canfod. Mae’r coedwigoedd hyn yn aml yn dywyll ac weithiau’n ddyrys, ond mae amrywiaeth mawr o ffyngau yn tyfu ynddynt, gan gynnwys rhywogaethau lliwgar megis Amanita’r Gwybed a chasgliad o Degyll fel y Tegyll Brau Melyn a’r Russula fuscorubroides llawer prinnach, sy’n un o’r Rhywogaethau â Blaenoriaeth yn CNPT. Gallery Previous Next

A short walk from the village of Melincwrt, near Resolven, will take you along the Melincwrt Brook into a little nature reserve managed by The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. It is an easy walk that takes you into the lower Melincwrt Valley as far as the photogenic waterfall, Sgwd Rhyd yr Hesg, which falls spectacularly into a jumble of sandstone boulders at its base. < Back Melincwrt Valley and Cwm Caca Dyffryn Melin-cwrt a Chwm Caca A short walk from the village of Melincwrt, near Resolven, will take you along the Melincwrt Brook into a little nature reserve managed by The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. It is an easy walk that takes you into the lower Melincwrt Valley as far as the photogenic waterfall, Sgwd Rhyd yr Hesg, which falls spectacularly into a jumble of sandstone boulders at its base. Bydd taith fer ar droed o bentref Melin-cwrt, ger Resolfen, yn eich arwain ar hyd glan Nant Melin-cwrt i warchodfa natur fach sy’n cael ei rheoli gan Ymddiriedolaeth Bywyd Gwyllt De a Gorllewin Cymru. Mae’n dro hawdd sy’n eich arwain i mewn i ran isaf Dyffryn Melin-cwrt mor bell â rhaeadr ffotogenig Sgwd Rhyd yr Hesg sy’n disgyn yn drawiadol dros y casgliad o greigiau tywodfaen oddi tani. In places, the perpendicular walls of the valley are covered in mosses and liverworts, with sheets of Straggling Pouchwort draped over the wet rocks which are splashed by the cascading water, while Royal Fern clings on to the rock behind the waterfall. The path-side river bank is wooded with Wych Elm and Small-leaved Lime in places, and a rather inaccessible, north-facing vertical slab of rock here is covered with Tunbridge Filmy-fern in its only known location in NPT. The steep wooded sides of the valley are dominated by Sessile Oak, with a ground flora that includes Common Cow-wheat, Bluebell and Wood Sorrel. In previous decades, Pied Flycatcher bred in this woodland but they haven’t been recorded here in recent years. However, Grey Wagtail and Dipper are commonly found along the brook, and further upstream, above the waterfall, Spotted Flycatcher and Redstart are often seen. The steep, gorge-like upper Melincwrt Valley, above the waterfall, is little explored, but wet rocks and splash zones there support interesting liverworts such as Compressed Flapwort and the exquisite Handsome Woolywort. Where the brook meanders through Cwm Caca there are banks of Ivy-leaved Bellflower and a large area of marshy grassland filled with rushes and bog mosses. Base-rich flushes in this vicinity have attractive swards of Thick-nerved Apple-moss, and small amounts of Beech Fern reside in the shade of rocky outcrops. Mewn mannau, gorchuddir waliau unionsyth y dyffryn gan fwsoglau a llysiau’r afu, gyda haenau o Godlys Traphlith wedi’u taenu dros y creigiau gwlyb lle mae’r rhaeadr yn tasgu a Rhedyn Cyfrdwy yn glynu at y graig y tu ôl i’r rhaeadr. Mae glan yr afon ar ochr y llwybr yn goediog gyda Llwyfenni Llydanddail a Phisgwydd Dail Bach mewn mannau, ac mae darn o graig fertigol sy’n wynebu’r gogledd ac sy’n anodd iawn ei gyrraedd wedi’i orchuddio gan Redynach Teneuwe Tunbridge, unig leoliad hysbys y rhywogaeth yn CNPT. Derw Mes Di-goes yw’r nodwedd amlycaf ar ochrau coediog serth y dyffryn, gyda fflora daear sy’n cynnwys Gliniogai, Clychau’r Gog a Suran y Coed. Mewn degawdau blaenorol, roedd Gwybedogion Brith yn bridio yn y coetir hwn ond nid ydynt wedi’u cofnodi yma yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Fodd bynnag mae Siglennod Llwyd a Throchyddion i’w canfod yn gyffredin ar hyd y nant ac ymhellach i fyny’r nant, uwchben y rhaeadr, mae Gwybedogion Mannog a Thingochion i’w gweld yn aml. Nid yw rhan uchaf Dyffryn Melin-cwrt a’i hochrau serth, fel ceunant, uwchben y rhaeadr wedi cael ei harchwilio’n fanwl, ond mae’r creigiau gwlyb a’r parthau lle mae’r dŵr yn tasgu yn cynnal mathau diddorol o lysiau’r afu megis yr Ysgol-lys Cywasg a’r Gwlanlys Hardd. Lle mae’r nant yn ymdroelli trwy Gwm Caca, ceir llethrau o Glychlys Dail Eiddew ac ardal helaeth o laswelltir corsiog llawn cyrs a migwynau. Mae’r llaciau tra-fasig yn y cyffiniau hyn wedi denu clystyrau o afal-fwsogl Philonotis calcarea ac mae ychydig o Redyn Corniog i’w canfod yng nghysgod y creigiau bargodol. Gallery Previous Next

The most diverse woodland flora in NPT is found in the ribbons of woodland that occur along the banks of the River Neath between Tonna and Glynneath. Wych Elm is a common component of these riparian woodlands, with Ash, Sycamore, Alder, Hazel and Small-leaved Lime. < Back The Vale of Neath Riparian Woodland Corridor Coridor Coetir Glannau Afon Bro Nedd The most diverse woodland flora in NPT is found in the ribbons of woodland that occur along the banks of the River Neath between Tonna and Glynneath. Wych Elm is a common component of these riparian woodlands, with Ash, Sycamore, Alder, Hazel and Small-leaved Lime. Mae’r fflora coetir mwyaf amrywiol yn CNPT i’w canfod yn y rhubanau o goetir ar hyd glannau afon Nedd rhwng Tonna a Glyn-nedd. Mae’r Llwyfen Lydanddail yn gyffredin yn y coetiroedd hyn ar lannau’r afon, ynghyd â choed Ynn, Sycamorwydd, Gwern, Cyll a Phisgwydd Dail Bach. The ground flora is made up of numerous ancient woodland indicator species such as Bluebell, Woodruff, Ramsons, Wood Anemone, Yellow Archangel, Pignut, Sanicle, Wood Speedwell and Toothwort, a diverse assemblage not seen in other types of woodlands in the county. Primroses are particularly common in some parts, and Great Wood-rush, Soft Shield-fern and Hard Shield-fern are often conspicuous. Common Twayblade is also seen occasionally. There are numerous mosses and liverworts in these woodlands; Greater Featherwort, Lesser Featherwort, Hair pointed Feather-moss and Big shaggy-moss are characteristic species of the woodland floor, while Micheli’s Least Pouncewort, Western Pouncewort, Many-fruited Leskea and Blunt Feather-moss are the characteristic epiphytes on the trees along the riverside. A significant population of Meadow Saxifrage occurs all along the banks of the river in the riparian corridor, and near Resolven, Marsh Hawk’s- beard occurs in one of its most southerly locations in Britain. The sandy, alluvial soils that accumulate on the banks of the river also support attractive tufts of Bordered Thyme-moss, which is generally uncommon elsewhere. Dipper and Grey Wagtail are two of the most characteristic river birds in the Vale, but Common Sandpiper may also be seen bobbing in the shingle banks, where they make their nests. Kingfisher also breed here as do Spotted Flycatcher, which sit on riverside trees and dart out every now and then to catch insects. On fine evenings in summer you can watch Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin and Swifts feeding over the river and if you are very lucky you may even spot an Otter. Goosander and Mandarin Duck are among other river birds that you might see. Mae’r fflora daear yn cynnwys nifer o rywogaethau dangosol coetir hynafol megis Clychau’r Gog, Briwydd, Craf y Geifr, Blodau’r Gwynt, y Farddanhadlen Felen, Cneuen y Ddaear, Clust yr Arth, Rhwyddlwyn y Coed a’r Deintlys, casgliad amrywiol nas gwelir mewn mathau eraill o goetiroedd yn y sir. Mae Briallu yn arbennig o gyffredin mewn rhai mannau ac mae’r Goedfrwynen Fawr, y Wrychredynen Feddal a’r Wrychredynen Galed yn aml yn amlwg iawn. Gwelir y Caineirian o dro i dro hefyd. Mae nifer o fwsoglau a llysiau’r afu yn y coetiroedd hyn; mae’r Dueglys Mawr, y Dueglys Bychan, Cirriphyllum piliferum a’r Hylocomiadelphus triquertrus yn rhywogaethau nodweddiadol ar lawr y coetiroedd, tra bo’r Llychlys Cyffredin, Llychlys y Gorllewin, Leskea polycarpa a Homalia trichomanoides yn epiffytau nodweddiadol ar goed ar lannau’r afon. Ceir poblogaeth sylweddol o Dormaen y Gweunydd ar hyd glannau’r afon yn y coridor hwn, a ger Resolfen mae Gwalchlys y Gors yn tyfu yn un o’i leoliadau mwyaf deheuol ym Mhrydain. Mae’r pridd tywodlyd, llifwaddodol sy’n cronni ar lannau’r afon hefyd yn cynnal tuswau o’r Mnium marginatu m deniadol sy’n anghyffredin ym mhobman arall. Dau o’r adar afon mwyaf nodweddiadol yn y Dyffryn yw Bronwen y Dŵr a’r Siglen Lwyd, ond gellir gweld Pibyddion y Dorlan hefyd ar y cerrig mân ar ochrau’r afon lle maent yn nythu. Yn ogystal, mae Glas y Dorlan yn bridio yma, ynghyd â’r Gwybedog Mannog, sy’n eistedd yn y coed uwchlaw’r afon ac yn saethu allan bob hyn a hyn i ddal pryfed. Ar nosweithiau braf o haf gallwch wylio’r Wennol, Gwennol y Bondo, Gwennol y Glennydd a’r Wennol Ddu yn bwydo uwchben yr afon ac os byddwch yn lwcus iawn, fe allech chi weld Dyfrgi. Mae’r Hwyaden Ddanheddog a’r Hwyaden Fandarin ymhlith yr adar afon eraill y gallech eu gweld. Gallery Previous Next