Valley Wetlands

Partial reserve closure due to critical infrastructure repairs, mid-week from 7 November to 12 February. See Nature Trail section for full details.

There are lots of interesting and rare plants at Valley Wetlands which is why its home to two Sites of Special Scientific Interest SSSIs. It’s home to one of the most important reedbeds in Wales, which alongside the surrounding marshes, make this patch perfect for a rich variety of wetland birds, plants and bugs. Keep your eyes out for Tufted Ducks, Pochards, Shovelers, Gadwalls and grebes bobbing along the water and investigating the reeds. The wetlands are scattered with grassland patches and rocky knolls, so just by exploring small areas, you can experience a huge variety of habitats.

The aquatic plants here are at risk from poor quality, especially in Llyn Penrhyn. We’ve been working with the MoD and Natural Resources Wales to investigate, monitor and tackle the issue. And it’s paying off - we’ve recently found plants that haven't been found here since the 1960s.

We manage the patch particularly for the breeding Bittern and other reedbed wildlife. We’ve been creating ditches & pools, planting and managing reeds, clearing scrubs, and helping to control water levels. All these steps mean the wetland plants are doing really well, and that’s helped the breeding and wintering wildfowl that spend time and live here.