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.

These are some some of the interesting sites for nature that you can visit around NPT. There are many other sites to discover! Special Sites in NPT 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. Read More Bryn Tip Tomen y Bryn Bryn Tip is an area of grassland on the edge of the village of Bryn. In the early 20th century it was the site of the Bryn Navigation Colliery, once a busy and prosperous coal mine which provided employment for hundreds of people. Like many local mines, the colliery ceased operation in the 1960s, leaving behind an imposing, sharply pointed, pyramid-like tip of coal spoil. To stabilise it and render it safe from landslip, the tip was eventually landscaped into a lower mound shape, capped and seeded with a remedial grass and legume mixture. Since then, over the decades, Bryn Tip has developed into a species rich open mosaic site that is now designated a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC). Read More Conifer Plantations Planigfeydd Conifferau Woodland and scrub occupies about 40% of the land area of NPT and the greatest part of that is conifer plantation. Large blocks of conifer forest occur in Crynant, Rheola, Glyncastle, Margam and Afan Forest Park (which includes the Michaelston and Pelenna forests). Read More Cwm Du Glen Dyffryn Cwm Du Cwm Du Glen is close to Pontardawe Town Centre and may be accessed from a number of points, but most people use the main (signposted) trail which starts near Pontardawe Cross. The site is well known as an area of high aesthetic and biodiversity value with its steep-sided riparian woodland that dresses the lower section of the Upper Clydach Valley. Read More Gnoll Estate Country Park Parc Gwledig Ystâd y Gnoll The Gnoll Estate, once the 18th century seat of the entrepreneurial Mackworth family, sits prominently on a low hill overlooking Neath town centre. With its wooded landscape, 4 lakes and spacious grassland, it is today an important resource of urban greenspace and a popular venue for the town’s residents and visitors. There is plenty of wildlife to see here at any time of year. Read More 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. Read More Pant y Sais Fen and the Tennant Canal Ffen Pant y Sais a Chamlas Tenant Pant y Sais Fen is an area of reed-dominated wetland which has almost contiguous connectivity with Crymlyn Bog, the largest lowland fen in Wales. Combined, they make up one of the most important wetland habitats in south Wales. Read More Roadside Verges and Roundabouts Lleiniau Ymyl Ffordd a Chylchfannau As a result of changes in farming practises, modernisation and development, species-rich mesotrophic grasslands, such as traditional hay meadows, have become very rare in NPT and are a dwindling resource in Wales in general. Roadside verges can fulfil a similar role for biodiversity if they are managed properly and although they are not a perfect solution they are becoming important refuges for grassland floras and the insects that live in them. Read More Sand Dune Systems of Baglan Burrows and Crymlyn Burrows Systemau twyni tywod Twyni Baglan a Thwyni Crymlyn The coastal edge of NPT sweeps around Swansea Bay, from Swansea University Bay Campus near Jersey Marine, to Morfa Beach at the mouth of the River Kenfig. Two hundred years ago this coastal strip was composed of pristine sand dunes, but much of that has since been lost to industrial development. Only Crymlyn Burrows and Baglan Burrows, which are situated on either side of the Neath river mouth, survive as significant areas of sand dune ecosystems in NPT today, although smaller areas of dunes also occur in the vicinity of Aberavon and Morfa. Read More Some notable ancient deciduous woodlands in the vicinity of Neath and Briton Ferry Rhai coetiroedd collddail hynafol nodedig yn ardal Castell-nedd a Llansawel Woodland occupies about 40% of the land area of NPT and although most of this is conifer plantation there is also a substantial amount of ancient, semi-natural Oak woodland. In most there are good paths and trails, and many of these woodlands can be accessed easily. Read More The Dulais Valley Marshy Grasslands Glaswelltiroedd Corsiog Cwm Dulais Species-rich marshy grasslands have suffered badly in Wales as a result of agricultural improvements, conifer afforestation, development, inappropriate management and neglect and, unfortunately, there are now few good examples of this extremely important habitat in NPT. However, some parts of the northern sector of the county, particularly in the Dulais and Aman Valleys, still retain marshy grasslands that support significant, biodiverse communities. Read More The Neath Canal Camlas Nedd The Neath Canal is the longest canal in NPT, stretching for Briton Ferry to Glyn Neath in the Vale of Neath, more or less following the direction of the Neath River, which it crosses in a small aqueduct near Clyne. Read More The Nedd Fechan and Pyrddin Valleys Dyffrynnoedd Nedd Fechan a Phyrddin From the little village of Pontneddfechan in the north-east corner of NPT, there is a very popular riverside walk that will take you into a temperate rainforest environment that is renowned for its biodiversity and scenic beauty. Parking is available along Pontneathvaughan Road and from there you can access the trail behind the Angel Inn which takes you into the lower Nedd Fechan Valley. Read More 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. Read More

Check out this page to find out about nature and wildlife events, volunteering and activities in Neath Port Talbot, South Wales. These events are run by the Local Nature Partnership and its members. What's On Upcoming Nature Events in NPT 16 Oct 2026, 10:00 – 15:00 Hidden Life of the Woods: Discovering Woodland Invertebrates / Cwm Du Glen & Glanrhyd Plantation LNR, James St, Pontardawe, Swansea SA8 4LR, UK RSVP 16 Oct 2026, 10:00 – 15:00 Cwm Du Glen & Glanrhyd Plantation LNR, James St, Pontardawe, Swansea SA8 4LR, UK Join entomologists Liam Olds and Christian Owen for a hands-on training day exploring the hidden world of woodland invertebrates at Cwm Du Glen & Glanrhyd Plantation Local Nature Reserve. 20 Oct 2026, 10:30 – 12:30 Autumn Fungi Foray at Gnoll Country Park / Gnoll Country Park, 134 Fairyland, Cimla, Neath SA11 3EF, UK Learn more 20 Oct 2026, 10:30 – 12:30 Gnoll Country Park, 134 Fairyland, Cimla, Neath SA11 3EF, UK Learn how to identify fungi and help record the species found in Gnoll Country Park. Led by NPT LNP Chair Dr Charles Hipkin 22 Oct 2026, 18:30 – 19:30 NPT for Nature Webinar: Amphibian Habitat Management / Microsoft Teams Webinar RSVP 22 Oct 2026, 18:30 – 19:30 Microsoft Teams Webinar Join Peter Hill from Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust to learn all about amphibian habitat management. We'll explore the key features of successful amphibian habitats and discuss management techniques that support breeding, shelter, movement, and population resilience. +2 more 27 Oct 2026, 10:30 – 12:30 Horrors of Marine Nature Trail / Aberavon Beach, Aberavon Beach SA12, UK RSVP 27 Oct 2026, 10:30 – 12:30 Aberavon Beach, Aberavon Beach SA12, UK Come and take Beach Academy's trail to learn some nasty and gory facts about our Welsh marine animals! 28 Oct 2026, 18:30 – 21:00 Wild about Film: Fantastic Fungi / Hwb y Gors, Heol-Y-Gors, Cwm-gors, Gwaun-cae-Gurwen, Ammanford SA18 1RF, UK RSVP 28 Oct 2026, 18:30 – 21:00 Hwb y Gors, Heol-Y-Gors, Cwm-gors, Gwaun-cae-Gurwen, Ammanford SA18 1RF, UK Narrated by Brie Larson, Fantastic Fungi is a descriptive time-lapse journey about the magical, mysterious and medicinal world of fungi and their power to heal, sustain and contribute to the regeneration of life on Earth that began 3.5 billion years ago. 29 Oct 2026, 11:00 – 13:00 Halloween Bug Hunt at Margam Country Park / Margam Country Park, Port Talbot SA13 2TJ, UK RSVP 29 Oct 2026, 11:00 – 13:00 Margam Country Park, Port Talbot SA13 2TJ, UK Get ready for a spooky wildlife adventure this Halloween! Join Glo i Natur CIC at Margam Country Park for a family-friendly bug hunt exploring the fascinating world of creepy crawlies. 29 Oct 2026, 18:30 – 19:30 NPT for Nature Webinar: Reptile Habitat Management / Microsoft Teams Webinar RSVP 29 Oct 2026, 18:30 – 19:30 Microsoft Teams Webinar Join Peter Hill from Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust to learn how to manage habitats for the UK's reptiles. This session will cover the key features reptiles need to survive and how habitat management can create the diverse, connected landscapes that support thriving populations. +1 more 25 Nov 2026, 18:30 – 21:30 Wild about Film: Whispers in the Woods / Hwb y Gors, Heol-Y-Gors, Cwm-gors, Gwaun-cae-Gurwen, Ammanford SA18 1RF, UK RSVP 25 Nov 2026, 18:30 – 21:30 Hwb y Gors, Heol-Y-Gors, Cwm-gors, Gwaun-cae-Gurwen, Ammanford SA18 1RF, UK Celebrated wildlife photographer Vincent Munier invites us into the heart of the Vosges forests. It is here Vincent’s father Michel, a naturalist, taught him everything. Now, it is time for them to pass on this wisdom to Vincent’s son, Simon. Volunteer Opportunities in NPT Below are some of the current volunteer opportunities in NPT - if you like the sound of one, click the link to find out more. Afan Environment Volunteers Work days on 1st Wednesday of the month in the Afan Valley, including habitat management and wildlife surveys. Learn more. Bryncoch Environment Group Nature activities in the locality of Bryncoch, including toad patrols and litter picks. Learn more. Crymlyn Burrows Rare plant monitoring, beach cleans, invasive species control. Keep an eye out for upcoming events here . Learn more. Friends of Craig Gwladus Volunteer work parties and events at Craig Gwladus Country Park. Learn more. Friends of the Earth NPT A small friendly local group who campaign on issues which affect the environment in NPT Learn more. Upland Water Vole Project 2025-2028 Help to find water voles in the uplands of Glamorgan. Learn more. South Wales Miners Museum Help required to help visitors discover the nature of Afan Forest Park. Contact Jeff Lewis-Jones. Learn more. Afan Angling and Conservation Club Management of the River Afan, including works to remove barriers to fish migration. Learn more. Bryn Residents Action Group (BRAG) Work parties in and around the village of Bryn, including Bryn Tip LNR. Learn more. Coed Cadw Woodland management activities at Woodland Trust woodlands in the county. Learn more. Friends of Gnoll Country Park Volunteer work parties and events at Gnoll Country Park. Learn more. Glamorgan Bat Group Bat surveys and research, affiliated with Bat Conservation Trust. Learn more. NPT Wildlife A place to find out about wildlife and nature in Neath Port Talbot. Learn more. Working with Nature NPT Nature activities and volunteering across NPT. Learn more. Buglife Natur am Byth Buglife Cymru is working with partners and communities across Swansea Bay to undertake timely and specific conservation interventions for 13 rare species identified as being at risk of local, and regional extinction. Learn more. Butterfly Conservation Marsh Fritillary surveys and habitat management in locality of the Dulais valley. Learn more. Coed Lleol Workshops and volunteering at sites across NPT Learn more. Friends of Jersey Park Volunteer work parties and events at Jersey Park. Learn more. Gower Ornithological Society Bird-focussed walks, talks and surveys in Swansea and NPT. Learn more. Lost Peatlands Wildlife surveys, assisting with conservation tasks and supporting at events. Learn more.

NPT is fortunate to have a number of important wetland sites which added together support a fifth of the county’s priority species. Specific habitats in this category include fen, swamp, and ombrotrophic mires (bogs). Wetland Fens, bogs, springs and seepages The State of Nature in Wetland in Neath Port Talbot Lowland fen habitats in NPT support diverse communities of plants and animals and are generally well connected to other lowland wetland systems. However, their condition is poor in places with evidence of eutrophication and pollution and also problems with successional scrub encroachment and invasive non-native species, e.g. Rhododendron on Pant y Sais Fen and Sea Buckthorn in the marsh and fen habitats near Kenfig Marshalling Yards. Some upland wetland systems such as Gors Llwyn are in reasonable condition but the loss of other upland wetland habitats through neglect, afforestation, development and agricultural improvements has compromised their connectivity. Overall, wetland habitats in NPT are small, fragmented and not well connected. In view all this, the resilience of wetlands as a whole in NPT is viewed as significantly less than good and, consequently, their state of nature has been assessed as poor . OVERVIEW NPT is fortunate to have a number of important wetland sites which added together support a fifth of the county’s priority species. Specific habitats in this category include fen, swamp, and ombrotrophic mires (bogs). Fen habitats dominated by reeds and other tall graminoids are well represented in NPT with Crymlyn Bog (east of the Glan y Wern Canal) and Pant y Sais Fen being preeminent examples. Slender Cottongrass, a nationally rare Red Data Book species, is found at both sites along with a long list of other notables like Greater Spearwort, Least Bur-reed, Lesser Bulrush, Mares-tail, Marsh Cinquefoil, Mash Fern, Marsh Lousewort, Royal Fern, Saw-sedge and Yellow Loosestrife. Smaller areas of fen-like habitat occur in many places between Jersey Marine and Aberdulais which are connected by the Tennant Canal and large patches of Reed-dominated marshland also occur on and near the grazing marsh between Neath and Tonna and on Margam Moors. An interesting fragment of coastal fenland occurs in the vicinity of Kenfig Marshalling Yards, near Morfa. Cyperus Sedge, Round-headed Club-rush, Saw-sedge and Tubular Water-dropwort are found here, the latter at one of its few sites in South Wales. All these habitats are important for marshland birds such as Cetti’s Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Marsh Harrier, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Water Rail as well as reptiles such as Grass Snake and Common Lizard. Insects are well represented too and particularly damselflies (e.g. Variable Damselfly) and dragonflies (e.g. Hairy Dragonfly). The population of Fen Raft Spider on the Tennant Canal between Crymlyn Bog, Pant y Sais and Red Jacket clearly benefits from the connectivity between fen and aquatic habitats here. Large areas of ombrotrophic mire are uncommon in NPT, but parts of Gors Llwyn near Onllwyn have a raised bog structure. Tufted Sedge and Greater Tussock-sedge are conspicuous on this site, which also contains Marsh Lousewort, Marsh St John’s-wort and an interesting inland population of Marsh Helleborine. Swampy tall herb fen areas here and in ecologically connected habitats nearby have huge populations of Bogbean with Bottle-sedge, Water Horsetail and Yellow Loosestrife. Decades ago, in post-war years, Globe Flower also occurred on Gors Llwyn but it has not been seen in recent times. The lowland raised bog at Fforest Goch near Rhos is also notable for the range of wetland communities it contains, which includes a population of Bog Notchwort, a liverwort that is rare in South Wales. Smaller areas of flushed boggy ground are widespread in the moorland landscapes of the upper Dulais Valley and in the Gwrhyd area between Cwmllynfell and Rhyd-y-Fro where Greater Tussock-sedge, Many-stalked Spikerush, Marsh St John’s-wort and White Sedge are found. During the last 70 years, extensive areas of upland habitat on deep peat in NPT have been ploughed, drained and planted with conifers. This has contributed to substantial losses of wetland habitat in the county, which now only represent 1% of the county's land area. However, some fragments of wetland habitat survive within plantations and projects aimed at recovering other lost peatlands are in progress. Actions for the recovery of Wetland 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 . Peatland Restoration Opportunities to restore degraded peatlands should be pursued whenever possible Protect and Restore Protect and restore wetland habitat where possible. Fforest Goch Bog SSSI Appropriate vegetation management needs re-instating at this site as the bog is currently in unfavourable condition Water Vole Protection Protect the upland Water Vole populations from the threat of American Mink (c) Steve Dixon WATER VOLE Water Voles were not an uncommon feature of wetland and aquatic habitats in NPT 60 years ago, but they have undergone a catastrophic decline in recent decades. Loss of habitat and predation by American Mink have probably played important roles in this. However, a significant Water Vole population has been discovered recently in wetland areas inside upland conifer plantations in the county. Peat bog habitat restoration projects are now incorporating management for water voles and monitoring the populations here. The video above shows a Water Vole caught on camera at Llyn Fach by The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. SPHAGNUM Sphagnum (also known as bog moss or peat moss) is a bryophyte genus which contains a number of species that are characteristic of wet areas including peatlands and flushes. The typical growth form of these important plants consist of branches, called fascicles, which are held in groups along the stem, and an active growing centre, called the capitulum, at the top. Sphagnum can absorb and hold many times its own dry weight in water and is the ecosystem engineer for peatland habitats. FEN RAFT SPIDER This is the UK's largest spider and one of the rarest. This striking species reaches up to 23mm in body size and has a distinctive pale stripe along its flanks. These ferocious predators, which are capable of catching and eating stickleback fish, are found at very few sites in the UK, including the Tennant Canal near Jersey Marine. They are usually seen in summer, characteristically basking on floating and emergent vegetation. In some years they occur in relatively large numbers. Where to explore wetland in NPT Publicly accessible sites where you can see wetland habitats in NPT Wetland Projects in NPT LOST PEATLANDS PROJECT A National Heritage Lottery Fund funded large-scale peatland restoration project in the uplands of NPT and RCT. The project is restoring habitat, inspire & empower local communities & visitors to discover & learn about their heritage. WETLAND MANAGEMENT Wetland management is taking place at various important sites across the county, for example, at Gors Llwyn SSSI, Red Jacket Fen and at Pant y Sais Fen. CASE STUDY LOST PEATLANDS PROJECT The ‘Lost Peatlands of South Wales’ project is delivered by the Lost Peatlands Partnership comprising NPT Council (Lead) , RCT Council , NRW , Swansea University and Coed Lleol (Small Woods) . The project is providing an exciting programme of environmental improvements and community activities between 2021 and 2025. Once referred to as the ‘Alps of Glamorgan’, the upland area between NPT and RCT in the South Wales Valleys was historically an open moorland landscape of boggy peatland. Today, commercial forestry plantations and renewable energy wind farms are a defining feature of this landscape, but large pockets of peat remain. Peat is invaluable in terms of water storage, carbon storage and as a wildlife habitat. The conservation of peatlands is a critical factor in climate change mitigation and the reversal of biodiversity losses. The main aim of the Lost Peatland Project is to restore and manage more than 490 hectares of this historic landscape and habitats, including heathland, grassland and native woodland. One particular focus will be the direct restoration of 256 hectares of previously afforested peat bogs and pools. Habitat improvements will encourage many local wildlife species currently in decline to thrive again. These include birds like the Skylark and Nightjar; invertebrates like the Dark Green Fritillary and Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary butterflies; and mammals, including the elusive Water Vole. Peat restoration works will be closely monitored and will inform important ongoing research by Swansea University to guide best practice restoration techniques and to understand impacts on biodiversity, water quality and CO2 emissions. Access to this remarkably wild landscape will also be made easier through improved, guided footpaths and interpretation. As part of the project, local people will also be able to experience, learn about and get involved with the heritage on their doorstep through a variety of free activities, events, schools outdoor learning programmes and volunteering opportunities. People will be able to gain new outdoor skills and knowledge via dedicated training programmes. Families and adults will also be able to join or be referred to the project’s health and wellbeing activity programmes.