Nature and Wildlife in Rural Swansea

Penllergare Valley Woods

Penllergare Valley Woods (SA4 9GS) dates back a few hundred years, it was originally a large estate owned by the Dillwyn Llewellyn family who had a keen interest in horticulture and nature. These days it consists of 250 acres of woodland and heathland with two lakes and a picturesque waterfall.

The area features several different types of habitat including ancient woodland, wet woodland and open freshwater. Otters, a water vole and the European Eel have been spotted in the lakes. Above ground you may see kingfishers, dippers, willow warblers and bats. Flowers such as bluebells and rhododendron thrive alongside over 30 different species of fungus and traditional trees such as oak, hazel and willow.

Penllergaer Woods Waterfall

Lliw Valley

The Lliw Valley ( SA5 7NP)  to the north of Swansea is known for its unspoiled landscape and reservoir. The area consists of a lower and upper reservoir and is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation supporting rare and diverse fauna and habitats including bracken and acid grassland.

Bird watchers can enjoy spotting peregrine, kestrel, raven, red kite, curlew, wheatear, meadow pipit and skylark and a range of fish live in the reservoirs, the most common being trout.

Lliw Reservoir

Spring Safari in Swansea Bay with Iolo Williams - Rural Swansea

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Nature and Wildlife

The Swansea Bay area is special when it comes to the nature and wildlife on offer, its geographical location covers coast and countryside, within half an hour you can go from swimming in the sea with seaweed tickling your feet to standing on top of a mountain with buzzards and kites circling above…