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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.

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 Multiple Dates 28 Jan 2026, 09:00 – 16:00 Discover the Craft of Hedgelaying / Pontardawe, Pontardawe, Swansea SA8 3HZ, UK Learn more 28 Jan 2026, 09:00 – 16:00 Pontardawe, Pontardawe, Swansea SA8 3HZ, UK 30 Jan 2026, 10:00 – 13:00 Healthy Herds; Free Livestock Checkers Course / Port Talbot, Brynhyfryd, Maesteg Rd, Bryn, Port Talbot SA13 2RY, UK Learn more 30 Jan 2026, 10:00 – 13:00 Port Talbot, Brynhyfryd, Maesteg Rd, Bryn, Port Talbot SA13 2RY, UK Want to learn simple livestock checking skills to support Bryn Tip LNR and other nature spots? 11 Mar 2026, 19:10 – 21:00 To Antarctica and back with Arctic Terns - a Gower Ornithological Society event / See GOS website RSVP 11 Mar 2026, 19:10 – 21:00 See GOS website Dr Chris Redfern will talk to us about Arctic terns. Arctic terns are renowned for the global scale of their migration. The routes taken by individuals can be determined using small electronic ‘geolocators’ attached to a leg ring. These devices have been fitted to Arctic terns ... 15 Apr 2026, 19:10 – 21:00 Cudyll Cymru – a new dawn for monitoring raptors in Wales - a Gower Ornithological Society event / See GOS website RSVP 15 Apr 2026, 19:10 – 21:00 See GOS website Charlotte will talk to us about Cudyll Cymru, BTO’s Welsh Raptor Monitoring Project. Her role for the last couple of years has been to develop and co-ordinate raptor population monitoring efforts and obtain greater understanding of the populations of some of our commoner species in particular. 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.

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. < Back 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. Mae Dyffryn Cwm Du yn agos at Ganol Tref Pontardawe a cheir mynediad iddo o sawl man ond mae’r rhan fwyaf o bobl yn defnyddio’r prif lwybr (ag arwyddion) sy’n dechrau ger y Groes. Mae’r safle’n adnabyddus fel ardal werthfawr o safbwynt estheteg a bioamrywiaeth gyda’i choetir serth ar lannau’r afon sy’n gorchuddio rhan isaf pen Uchaf Cwm Clydach. Both sides of the Glen support semi-natural ancient deciduous woodland with a rich flora. Glanrhyd Plantation, which occurs above the Glen on the western side, is dominated by a mixture of native and non-native trees. More than 230 species of plants have been recorded in the Glen, which includes vascular plants (flowering plants and ferns) and a rich assemblage of bryophytes (approximately 90 species). The river is an important habitat for Dipper and Grey Wagtail and the occasional Kingfisher, which are commonly seen from the main access path. The occurrence of spraint on the riverside rocks indicates that the site is also used by Otter. Wet rocks on the banks support a diverse bryophyte flora which includes common, conspicuous species such as Overleaf Pellia, Great Scented Liverwort, Greater Water-moss and Flagellate Feather-moss, as well as nationally scarce species such as Beck Pocket-moss, Broad-leaf Grimmia and Yellowish Fork-moss. The riparian woodland that occurs along the banks of the river is dominated by Alder, with Ash and Wych Elm prominent in places. A number of notable ancient woodland indicator species such as Bluebell, Sanicle, Yellow Archangel and Wood Anemone are conspicuous here. Other conspicuous species include Remote Sedge, Pendulous Sedge, Great Wood-rush and Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage. The steep-sided valley woodland is dominated by Sessile Oak but also includes Birch, Ash, Sycamore, Holly, Rowan, Beech and small amounts of Hazel. Neither Sycamore nor Beech are native in the glen, but both are represented by some large mature trees. Plant species in the herb layer here include Wood Sorrel, Enchanter’s Nightshade, Bluebell and various species of ferns. Palmate Germanderwort, an uncommon liverwort in South Wales, occurs on decorticated logs in the valley. Woodland on the east side, in the vicinity of Gelligron waterfall (and above), supports abundant Hard Fern and attractive patches of Wood Horsetail. A large sward of Great Horsetail occurs in the section above the waterfall where there is also a population of Common Cow-wheat. A good time to visit Cwm Du Glen is late spring and early summer when all our common woodland birds can be seen and heard, plus some notable migrants such as Wood Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher. Cwm Du Glen supports habitats which are suitable for roosting bats, and the whole site provides exemplary opportunities for feeding. Some nationally scarce moths such as Blomer’s Rivulet and Double Line were recorded by the Glamorgan Moth Recording Group in Cwm Du Glen in 2002. The Double Line is a BAP priority species which depends on the occurrence of Wych Elm in the Glen. Other moths of local significance which have been recorded in Cwm Du Glen include the Sharp-angled Peacock, Scorched Wing, Small Elephant Hawk-moth, Coronet and Beautiful Snout. Mae dwy ochr y Dyffryn yn cynnal coetir collddail hynafol lled-naturiol sy’n cynnwys cyfoeth o blanhigion. Cymysgedd o goed brodorol ac anfrodorol a geir yn bennaf ym Mhlanhigfa Glanrhyd, uwchben y Dyffryn ar yr ochr orllewinol. Cofnodwyd mwy na 230 o rywogaethau o blanhigion yn y Dyffryn, gan gynnwys planhigion fasgwlaidd (planhigion blodeuol a rhedyn) a chasgliad cyfoethog o fryoffytau (oddeutu 90 o rywogaethau). Mae’r afon yn gynefin pwysig ar gyfer Bronwen y Dŵr a’r Siglen Lwyd ac ambell Las y Dorlan, sydd i’w gweld yn gyffredin o’r prif lwybr mynediad. Mae’r baw dyfrgi a welir ar greigiau ar lan yr afon yn arwydd bod Dyfrgwn yn defnyddio’r safle hefyd. Mae’r creigiau gwlyb ar y glannau’n cynnal amrywiaeth o fryoffytau, gan gynnwys rhywogaethau cyffredin, amlwg fel y Ffrydlys Cyffredin, yr Afuad Mawr Pêr, y Dyfrfwsogl Mawr a’r plufwsogl Hyocomium armoricum , yn ogystal â rhywogaethau sydd i’w canfod yn anfynych ar lefel genedlaethol megis Fissidens rufulus , Schistidium platyphyllum a’r Fforchfwsogl Melynaidd . Prif nodwedd y coetir ar lannau’r afon yw coed Gwern, ynghyd â choed Ynn a Llwyfennau Llydanddail amlwg mewn mannau. Mae’n werth nodi bod nifer o rywogaethau dangosol coetir hynafol yn amlwg yma, megis Clychau’r Gog, Clust yr Arth, y Farddanhadlen Felen a Blodyn y Gwynt. Ymhlith y rhywogaethau eraill amlwg mae’r Hesgen Blodau Anghyfagos, yr Hesgen Bendrom, y Goedfrwynen Fawr a’r Eglyn Cyferbynddail. Derw Mes Di-goes yw nodwedd amlycaf y coetir ar lethrau serth y dyffryn, ond mae coed Bedw, Ynn, Sycamorwydd, Celyn, Criafol, Ffawydd ac ychydig o goed Cyll yma hefyd. Nid yw’r Sycamorwydd na’r Ffawydd yn frodorol i’r Dyffryn, ond cynrychiolir y ddwy rywogaeth gan rai coed llawn dwf mawr. Mae’r rhywogaethau yn yr haen lysiau yma yn cynnwys Suran y Coed, Llysiau Steffan, Clychau’r Gog ac amrywiaeth o rywogaethau o redyn. Mae’r Saetslys Palfog, sef math o lys yr afu sy’n anghyffredin yn ne Cymru, i’w ganfod ar foncyffion dirisgl yn y dyffryn. Mae’r coetir ar ochr ddwyreiniol y dyffryn, ger (ac uwchben) rhaeadr Gelligron yn cynnal Gwibredyn toreithiog a chlystyrau deniadol o Farchrawn y Coed. Ceir gweirdir helaeth o Farchrawn y Coed ar dir uwchben y rhaeadr lle ceir poblogaeth o’r Gliniogai hefyd. Mae diwedd y gwanwyn a dechrau’r haf yn amser da i ymweld â Dyffryn Cwm Du pan fydd modd gweld a chlywed ein holl adar coetir cyffredin, ynghyd â rhai adar mudol nodedig, megis Telor y Coed a’r Gwybedog Mannog. Mae Dyffryn Cwm Du yn cynnal cynefinoedd sy’n addas ar gyfer ystlumod sy’n clwydo ac mae’r safle cyfan yn cynnig cyfleoedd bwydo rhagorol. Cafodd rhai gwyfynod sy’n brin ar lefel genedlaethol, megis Crych Blomer a’r Wensgod Fawr, eu cofnodi gan Grŵp Cofnodi Gwyfynod Morgannwg yn Nyffryn Cwm Du yn 2002. Mae’r Wensgod Fawr, sy’n rhywogaeth â blaenoriaeth yn y Cynllun Gweithredu Bioamrywiaeth, yn dibynnu ar y Llwyfenni Llydanddail sy’n tyfu yn y Dyffryn. Mae gwyfynod eraill ag arwyddocâd lleol a gofnodwyd yn Nyffryn Cwm Du yn cynnwys y Seffyr Sgolpiog, yr Adain Ddeifiog, Gwalch-wyfyn Bach Helyglys, y Bidog Yswydd a Thrwynog y Rhos. Gallery Previous Next