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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.

Heathland and Moorland provides habitats for almost 1/5 of NPT's Priority Species, but only a small proportion of it is in good condition. Large amounts of habitat have been lost due to land use changes and neglect and, apart from the northern sector of the county, overall connectivity is poor. Heathland and Moorland Marshy grassland, heathland, moorland and ffridd (coed cae) The State of Nature in Heathland and Moorland in Neath Port Talbot Heathland and Moorland provides habitats for almost one fifth of NPT's Priority Species, but only a small proportion of it is in good condition. Large amounts of habitat have been lost due to land use changes and neglect and, apart from the northern sector of the county, overall connectivity is poor. Marshy grassland and rhos pasture in particular have suffered badly and many species that were once widespread are now very scarce. In some places invasive non-native species are a significant problem. There is insufficient data available at this time to assess the health of our surviving ffridd habitats, but much has been lost to forestry plantation. In view of these issues the resilience and state of nature of heathland and moorland in NPT has been assessed as poor. OVERVIEW This broad habitat category consists of marshy grassland, acid grassland/ heathland and moorland and ffridd (coed cae). The upland landscape of NPT has changed significantly over the last 70 years. Much of the moorland and heath that was once extensive there has been planted with conifers and other parts have been converted to improved grazing land. However, some significant areas of moorland remain, particularly in the northern sector of the county, e.g. Gwrhyd, Sarn Helen. These habitats are often dominated by Purple Moor-grass, Sheep’s Fescue and other calcifuge grasses/ sedges with areas of dwarf shrub heath containing Heather and Bilberry. Petty Whin and Dyer’s Greenweed still survive in a few places and wetter areas often contain colourful swards of Bog Asphodel. Marshy grassland (including rhos pasture) is an important specific habitat in this category which can support unique and diverse communities of plants with Devil’s-bit Scabious, Saw-wort, Meadow Thistle, Heath Spotted-orchid, Whorled Caraway, Ivy-leaved Bellflower and Bog Pimpernel. A few marshy grasslands in the northern sector have Marsh Fritillary meta-populations. Where there is base-rich flushing, these habitats may also contain Butterwort, Marsh Valerian and Fen Bedstraw, which are all scarce species in NPT. Ffridd habitats have largely been planted with conifer plantations. They are important for bird species such as Cuckoo where they exist and invertebrates such as Dark Green Fritillary. Heathland and moorland fauna of conservation importance in NPT include Brown Hare, Skylark, Linnet, Cuckoo, Adder, Grass Snake, Hornet Robber-fly and a number of bees such as the Moss Carder Bee. The resilience of heathland and moorland in NPT is under pressure from lack of appropriate management, broken connectivity and invasive non-native species, e.g. Rhododendron, Sitka Spruce. Actions for the recovery of Heathland and Moorland habitats in NPT Responsibility for these actions lie with all of us and as such, we have not sought to assign actions to particular organisations or groups. Instead, it is our hope that this document will provide the guidance and inspiration for anybody, or any group or organisation, to undertake the actions that are within their capability to deliver. The Secretariat of NPT LNP (NPT Council) are providing a facilitation role to support, collate and monitor work towards these actions. If you would like to discuss your potential involvement in delivery of these actions, please get in touch with biodiversity@npt.gov.uk . Management for Marsh Fritillary Maintain and enhance current management and monitoring of sites in the Dulais Valley and extend into additional sites where possible to continue to support the Marsh Fritillary meta-population Inventory of marshy grasslands Undertake an inventory of grasslands and assess their condition where possible. Identify opportunities for restoring sites Respect for Reptiles Raise awareness to prevent persecution of adders in areas where human/ adder interaction is more likely. Adder Recording Increase adder recording in the north of the county where understanding of populations and their distributions is low Prevent damage from tree planting Prevent tree planting on heathland and moorland habitats in NPT and raise awareness of the value of these habitats Restore heathland and moorland habitats Where possible, habitat creation and restoration should be considered. For example, clear-felled conifer coupes should be assessed for their potential in marshy grassland (or peatbog) restoration. Removal of invasive non-native species (e.g. Rhododendron, Sitka Spruce) from some sites is a matter of urgency Heathland and Moorland Highways Maintain the strips of heathland and moorland habitat which can be found in the coniferised uplands along forest road verges and banks. These remnant habitats need to be maintained with the appropriate management to maintain the species which can be found here e.g. clubmosses. Rare and important plant species Promote the recovery of key axiophytes including Globe Flower, Meadow Thistle and Dyer’s Greenweed. Re-introductions may be necessary if appropriate. Promote Connectivity of Marshy Grassland Work with partners to promote better connectivity between marshy grassland, to benefit species such as the Marsh Fritillary butterfly Ffridd / Coedcae Increase our understanding of the extent and condition of ffridd habitats in Neath Port Talbot. Work with partners to retore and protect it. MARSH FRITILLARY The Marsh Fritillary butterfly has undergone a significant decline in numbers in Wales and this picture is reflected in the dramatic loss of populations from NPT over the last 50 years. Its favoured habitat in the county is marshy grassland or rhos pasture with Devil's-bit Scabious, which the caterpillars feed on, and plants that provide nectar for flying adults, e.g. Meadow Thistle. Loss of appropriate habitat followed by broken meta-population connectivity have probably played a major role in the decline. IVY LEAVED BELLFLOWER Due to the large losses of its native habitats which have occurred in the last 100 years, Ivy-Leaved Bellflower is an endangered species of some concern. In NPT, it is found in a few unimproved marshy grassland and heathland habitats but also in humid banks above streams and ditches in conifer plantations where it is protected from intense grazing. The plight and conservation of this charming species has been ignored in Wales while it has continued to shrink in its abundance due to habitat loss. Populations in NPT require careful consideration and management. ADDER The Adder is the only venomous snake in the UK but is not an aggressive species. Adders are mostly found in areas of rough countryside with edge habitats. They are variable in colour but always have a distinctive dark zig-zag down the spine. The best way to find them is to move slowly along the edge of a path through bracken but even then you will need to be very quiet and have a keen eye to spot them. Adders unfortunately still suffer from some persecution in NPT. Where to explore heathland and moorland in NPT Publicly accessible sites where you can see heathland and moorland habitats in NPT Heathland and Moorland Projects in NPT HABITAT MANAGEMENT FOR MARSH FRITILLARY Habitat management projects such as the large-scale conservation grazing programme taking place in the Dulais Valley are helping to restore marshy grasslands suitable for supporting Marsh Fritillary meta-populations. WIND FARM HABITAT MANAGEMENT PLANS Habitat management plans covering these habitats are in place as part of mitigation for the Llynfi Afan and Pen y Cymoedd Windfarms. gwrhyd MEADOWS Habitat management agreement is in place for management of acid grasslands and marshy grasslands at Gwrhyd Meadows SSSI. Notable plant species recorded here include Ivy-leaved Bellflower. payment for results on common land This Project is investigating a potential payment system which aims to encourage positive action to conserve and enhance habitat on common land. CILYBEBYLL SSSI Discussions taking place to determine habitat management plan for Cilybebyll SSSI. Cilybebyll is of special interest for its species-rich grasslands and wet pastures, which are host to several uncommon plant species. CASE STUDY Monitoring and conservation management of Marsh Fritillary in NPT Historical records indicate that the Marsh Fritillary was widespread in NPT 50 years ago, with colonies scattered in both the northern and southern sectors of the county. At that time, species-rich marshy grasslands with Devil's-bit Scabious, Meadow Thistle, Heath Spotted-orchid and other significant species were more common in our landscape than today. The Marsh Fritillary has a limited dispersal ability and requires a network of connected habitats and colonies that allow some interchange between otherwise discrete colonies. At any one time within this meta-population network some habitats may not be occupied, but their presence and potential for colonisation is nevertheless a major factor in Marsh Fritillary meta-population dynamics. The significant losses of marshy grassland habitat that have occurred in Neath Port Talbot in the last 50 years have not only removed breeding grounds for this colourful butterfly but have also broken the habitat connectivity that is crucial for dispersal and meta-population maintenance. The availability of suitable marshy grasslands in an appropriately connected landscape is key to the success and conservation of the Marsh Fritillary in NPT. Under the leadership of Butterfly Conservation and a dedicated group of organised volunteers, a large amount of effort has been put into finding, surveying and monitoring Marsh Fritillary sites in NPT and neighbouring areas of Carmarthenshire. It has become clear that the Marsh Fritillary is largely, if not entirely, confined to the Dulais and Amman Valleys, in the northern sector of the county. Each year known and potential breeding sites in these areas are monitored for the presence of larval webs and their condition is assessed. Butterfly Conservation have also worked in partnership with Natural Resources Wales to reclaim and manage marshy grassland suitable for Marsh Fritillary in the Dulais Valley, on NRW owned land previously planted with Sitka Spruce or intensively grazed. An important part of the conservation management strategy throughout has been the organisation of sympathetic grazing regimes to keep habitats in a condition favourable for Marsh Fritillary. At present we have 7 occupied Marsh Fritillary sites in NPT as well as a number of suitable sites that have not been colonised. There are strong populations in the Dulais Valley in the vicinity of Blaendulais but the largest populations are found in the Amman Valley and particularly near Tairgwaith and Cwmgors. Connectivity analysis reveals that these habitats are parts of larger, complex meta-population networks that reside mainly in Dyfed and Powys.

The extent and connectivity of Inland Rock and Cliff in NPT has hardly changed for hundreds of years. However, there has been some deterioration in the condition of Craig y Llyn in recent decades. Inland Rock and Cliff Exposed crags, scree The State of Nature in Inland Rock and Cliff in Neath Port Talbot The extent and connectivity of Inland Rock and Cliff in NPT has hardly changed for hundreds of years. However, there has been some deterioration in the condition of Craig y Llyn in recent decades. Invasion of scree and cliff by Sitka Spruce regenerating from seed that has rained in from surrounding plantations has become a significant problem and traffic pollution originating from the nearby Rhigos Mountain Road may also be a problem. The construction of a zipline above nearby Llyn Fawr is a reminder that many upland cliff habitats in South Wales are under pressure from tourist developments. Overall, we have assessed the resilience and state of nature in Inland Rock and Cliff in Neath Port Talbot as fair. OVERVIEW The north-facing sandstone cliffs of Craig y Llyn above Llyn Fach are the most important example of this type of habitat in Glamorgan and although this habitat only supports a small proportion of NPT’s priority species, there is a community of northern boreal and arctic-montane plants here which has a unique place in the county. For example, species such as Cowberry, Crowberry, Lesser Meadow-rue, Stone Bramble, Fir Clubmoss, Wilson’s Filmy-fern, Oak Fern, Brittle Bladder-fern, Beech Fern, Parsley Fern, Mountain Male-fern, Black Rock-moss and Stiff Apple-moss are either only found here or are very uncommon elsewhere in NPT. Smaller north-facing outcrops such as those at Craig y Pant in the Neath Valley and above Cymmer in the upper Afan Valley also support interesting bryophyte assemblages with Hill Notchwort, Trunk Paw-wort and Neat Silk-moss and the only occurrence of Lanceolate Spleenwort in NPT. In the past these habitats have provided breeding grounds for Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Whinchat and Ring Ouzel, although the latter has not bred in the county for over 50 years. Actions for the recovery of Inland Rock and Cliff habitats in NPT Responsibility for these actions lie with all of us and as such, we have not sought to assign actions to particular organisations or groups. Instead, it is our hope that this document will provide the guidance and inspiration for anybody, or any group or organisation, to undertake the actions that are within their capability to deliver. The Secretariat of NPT LNP (NPT Council) are providing a facilitation role to support, collate and monitor work towards these actions. If you would like to discuss your potential involvement in delivery of these actions, please get in touch with biodiversity@npt.gov.uk . Remove invasive tree species Remove any conifers which have self-seeded onto the cliff features e.g. at Craig y Llyn SSSI Monitor breeding birds Monitor breeding birds on this habitat Monitor important plant species Monitor the important plant species (as detailed in the overview) that can be found in this habitat. ©Richard Pryce ©Vaughn Matthews FERNS The crags of Craig y Llyn are home to a number of fern species that are scarce or rare in south Wales and of conservation concern. One of them is Wilson’s Filmy-fern, a small plant with thin, translucent fronds that form a mat on shady, vertical rocks. This Atlantic species is confined to humid ravines and north-facing cliffs in south Wales and is only known from Craig y Llyn in NPT. That is also true of Mountain Male-fern, a northern montane species at the southern limit of its British range in Glamorgan. Other ferns worthy of note here are Oak Fern and Beech Fern. These two Boreo-temperate species make attractive displays in the hardy plant communities of Craig y Llyn and have few other locations in the county. KESTREL The Kestrel is now Red Listed in Wales following a widespread decline across the country. The reasons for this decline are thought to be related to increased mortality with juvenile birds unable to find sufficient insect food, predation by Goshawks and also poisoning by rodenticides. The Kestrel was once a fairly common breeding resident in NPT, its main habitat being rough grassland, where it preys on voles, and also coastal areas. For many years they bred in the roof of the Fords factory near Jersey Marine (now Bay Studios) and on some inland cliffs but the species has declined dramatically in recent years with few breeding records. CLUBMOSSES NPT has 3 species of clubmosses; Alpine, Fir and Stag‘s-horn. They are integral and iconic features of the county’s upland biodiversity. Contrary to their misleading name, they are not mosses at all but vascular plants which are related closely to ferns. In the past, when the high ground of NPT was dominated by moderately-grazed, unimproved moorland and dwarf-shrub heath, Fir and Stag’s-horn Clubmoss species would have been relatively widespread. Today, they are uncommon in the intensively grazed uplands of NPT. Fir Clubmoss is only found on north-facing sandstone ledges and scree and in banks of un-grazed dwarf-shrub heath in conifer plantations. Alpine and Stag’s-horn Clubmoss are confined to these banks of heather and bilberry in plantations. Alpine Clubmoss, which is our rarest clubmoss, occurs at its UK southern limit in NPT. All our clubmoss species are vulnerable and endangered. CASE STUDY CRAIG Y LLYN Craig y Llyn SSSI consists of two north-east-facing hollows that were cut by Pleistocene ice or snow into the edge of the Pennant Sandstone Plateau and also includes the lake below, Llyn Fach. Here, the high cliffs, ravines and flushes support many montane species such as Wilson's Filmy Fern, Fir Clubmoss, Oak-fern, Mountain Male-fern and a number of upland bryophytes which are otherwise uncommon in south Wales. Llyn Fach has a suite of uncommon aquatic species that are associated with upland oligotrophic lakes such as Water Lobelia, Quillwort and Floating Bur-reed. Many of these species are near or at their southern distribution limit in Britain in this site. Analysis of the pollen preserved in Ffos Cenglau has yielded data on the post-glacial sequence of woodland types in South Wales. Llyn Fach and its surrounds are managed by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW) who organise surveys and monitoring of the lake and grassland habitats which inform management decisions. For example, survey rafts are used to monitor the population of Water Vole that has recently been discovered here and occasional, humane trapping is carried out to remove predatory American Mink. Other management practices include the introduction of cattle in summer for conservation grazing, scrub clearance and the removal of encroaching conifers (mostly Sitka Spruce) which are regenerating onsite. WTSWW is also working towards increasing the public understanding of the importance of the species at this reserve and reducing anti-social behaviour.

The actions that are suggested on this website are our road map to this; our Nature Recovery Action Plan. Nature Recovery Action Plan An assessment of the state of nature in NPT is the first step towards achieving a sustainable, healthy environment, which will provide all of us and future generations of NPT with an inspiring place to live. The actions that are suggested on this website are our road map to this; our Nature Recovery Action Plan. Responsibility for these actions lie with all of us and as such, we have not sought to assign actions to particular organisations or groups. Instead, it is our hope that this document will provide the guidance and inspiration for anybody, or any group or organisation, to undertake the actions that are within their capability to deliver. The Secretariat of NPT LNP (NPT Council) are providing a facilitation role to support, collate and monitor work towards these actions. If you would like to discuss your potential involvement in delivery of these actions, please get in touch with NPT LNP . Actions for the recovery of all habitats in NPT The following actions apply to all habitats across NPT and are listed here to avoid repetition. For specific habitat actions, please click here . Planning Policy Conserve and enhance biodiversity through the planning process Tree Planting Prevent inappropriate tree planting in the county e.g. on important grassland habitats. Encourage natural regeneration in place of tree planting where possible Invasive non-native species Prevent the encroachment of INNS on important habitats in NPT Think before you fly Raise awareness of the dangers of flying drones to nesting birds and contact training companies to encourage the inclusion of species disturbance in their training for those who fly drones professionally Illegal off-roading Report damage to nature sites from illegal off-roading to the police Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) Investigate where ALAN is an issue in the county and determine where improvements could be made Nature Networks Improve the condition, connectivity and resilience of protected sites. Education and engagement Deliver education and engagement activities across all habitats to increase understanding and awareness of their importance for nature and for tackling the nature emergency Recording Continue to record species in NPT and submit to SEWBReC 30x30 Increase the amount of protected or in ‘other effective area based conservation measures (OECMs)’ land in NPT, in line with the 30x30 target and the Biodiversity Deep Dive recommendations. Recognition of Greenwashing Raise awareness of greenwashing and help people to recognise if a project is truly of benefit to nature. Actions for specific categories Click the links below to explore the actions for each category. Heathland and Moorland Read More Semi-natural Grassland Read More Wetland Habitats Read More Coastal Habitats Read More Marine Habitats Read More Inland Rock and Cliff Read More Urban Read More Freshwater Read More Woodland Read More Open Mosaic Habitats Read More Enclosed Farmland Read More Background In 2001 the NPT Biodiversity Forum (now known as the NPT Local Nature Partnership) launched its Biodiversity Action Plan for 2001-2005, which contained details and action plans for 80 species and 15 habitats. In common with most of the Local Biodiversity Action Plans produced in Wales and the rest of the UK at that time, few targets were met and in the decades that have followed, regional and national biodiversity in general has not fared well. In fact, for many important wildlife populations and their habitats, there have been significant losses. Yet, NPT still retains a variety of priority habitats, including 17 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and the county as a whole contains a significant number of Section 7 species and other priority species of local and national value. These precious, dwindling resources deserve our attention and in order to address this there has been a step change in wildlife recording in NPT in the last 20 years. This has helped us to build a large database of habitats and species and that, in turn, has allowed us to understand the biodiversity gains and losses in NPT. At this time, we need to understand how well or how badly nature is coping in NPT so we can protect the natural environment, preserve our wild places and make plans for the future. An assessment of the state of nature in NPT is the first step towards achieving a sustainable, healthy environment, which will provide all of us and future generations of NPT with an inspiring place to live. The actions that are suggested in this document are our road map to this; our Nature Recovery Action Plan.