Our vision for the Gogledd Eryri, Pen Llŷn ac Ynys Môn Priority Landscape

From the summit of Yr Wyddfa/Snowdon to the coast of the Irish Sea, our vision for the Gogledd Eryri, Pen Llŷn ac Ynys Môn (Northern Eryri, Llŷn Peninsula and Anglesey) Priority Landscape sees its special habitats offer people a strong connection to nature. 

This will be achieved through regular encounters with species such as Ring Ouzels and Choughs, and supporting local communities through sustainable agriculture, resource management and tourism.   

Gogledd Eryri, Pen Llŷn ac Ynys Môn is a diverse landscape shaped by people and its underlying geology, altitudinal range and climatic conditions.  

There are strong cultural ties to farming and mining, which have provided upland habitats suited to Choughs and Ring Ouzels. The area’s remaining breeding Lapwings and Curlews depend on grazing livestock to create suitable nesting and chick-rearing sites on wetlands. 

The coastline of Ynys Môn/Isle of Anglesey is a refuge for breeding Arctic, Roseate and Sandwich Terns. We aim to protect these nesting sites on our reserves and explore opportunities to create new ones through the Priority Landscape programme. 

Gogledd Eryri, Pen Llŷn ac Ynys Môn Priority Landscape covers most of the mountains, wetlands and coastline of north-west Wales. 

The Priority Landscape covers several Special Protection Areas (SPAs) including Glannau Aberdaron ac Ynys Enlli/Aberdaron Coast and Bardsey Island, Morwenoliad Ynys Môn/Anglesey Terns, Mynydd Cilan, Trywyn y Wylfa ac Ynysoedd Sant Tudwal and Ynys Gybi/Holy Island Coast. 

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) include Eryri and Malltraeth Marsh/Cors Ddyga. 

During the last national survey of Choughs, 300 breeding pairs were recorded in the UK. 42% of these nested in the Gogledd Eryri, Pen Llŷn ac Ynys Môn Priority Landscape. The complex spatial ecology of Choughs means maintaining habitat connectivity across upland and lowland habitats is crucial to conserving the breeding population in north-west Wales. 

Eryri National Park also accounts for 72% of the nesting Ring Ouzels population in Wales. Yr Wyddfa, alongside the Carneddau, Glyderau and Eifionydd mountain ranges, provides a stronghold for the species and a focus for future conservation management. 

Lapwings were once a widespread breeding bird in Wales, with confirmed nesting in 92% of 10km squares surveyed between 1968 and 1972. The Britain and Ireland Breeding Bird Atlas for 2007-2011 found that less than 50% were occupied. However, Lapwing colonies persist on and off reserves within the Gogledd Eryri, Pen Llŷn ac Ynys Môn Priority Landscape. 

Curlews have declined even more drastically than Lapwings in Wales. In 1986, there were over 400 locations for breeding Curlews on Ynys Môn. There could be less than double figures now, but the Cefni Valley remains as one of the last lowland breeding sites in Wales with at least seven pairs. 

Finally, Ynys Môn provides the only Welsh nesting sites for Arctic, Roseate and Sandwich Terns. As well as protecting existing colonies, there are several additional measures that would improve the resilience of both these species, including the creation of new breeding areas and the safeguarding of marine foraging grounds. 

The Gogledd Eryri, Pen Llŷn ac Ynys Môn Priority Landscape has breeding bird populations of local, national and global importance that are likely to decline without current and future conservation management. Our focus is on maintaining these populations by working in partnership with local communities and other important stakeholders to deliver conservation interventions.

1. Monitor key species and their habitats through traditional and novel survey methods. 
2. Maintain and improve the condition of special habitats. 
3. Deliver species-specific conservation interventions. 
4. Provide land management advice and support. 
5. Facilitate connections with nature for local communities. 

• Between 2020 and 2025, we were a member of the Carneddau Landscape Partnership, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to help conserve the mountain range’s cultural and natural heritage. 

• As part of the partnership, seven Choughs have been tracked for the first-time in the UK with GPS technology. 

• At least 100ha (hectares) of land have been managed off reserves for rare and endangered species in north-west Wales with input from the RSPB. 

• We have provided advice and support to over 20 land managers through projects within the Gogledd Eryri, Pen Llŷn ac Ynys Môn Priority Landscape. 

• Volunteers have supported annual Chough counts around the coast of Ynys Môn for over 30 years. 

• We’re involved in a nationwide species recovery programme called ‘Natur am Byth!/Nature Forever!’, uniting Natural Resources Wales and nine environmental charities that is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The RSPB is leading on a project covering Pen Llŷn ac Ynys Môn to conserve 17 rare and endangered species, including Choughs and Curlews, and provide local communities with an opportunity to connect with nature on their doorstep. 

• We have monitored Curlew nests in the Cefni Valley on Ynys Môn to protect them with electric fencing, and provide safe chick-rearing habitat through Natur am Byth! / Nature Forever!. 

• In spring – summer 2026, we conducted a breeding survey of Ring Ouzels in Gwynedd to provide a robust population estimate, assess current trends, and identify target areas for future conservation management. This project is supported by the Gwynedd Local Nature Partnership.  

• The RSPB is a partner in a project on Pen Llŷn to trial collaborative approaches between farmers to conserve local wildlife at a landscape-scale through a Welsh Government Initiative called the Integrated Natural Resources Scheme.  

Keep an eye on this page for updates or contact Jack Slattery, the Gogledd Eryri, Pen Llŷn ac Ynys Môn Conservation Officer, at jack.slattery@rspb.org.uk for more information.  

To find volunteering opportunities with the RSPB, visit here.

Partners in the Gogledd Eryri, Pen Llŷn ac Ynys Môn Priority Landscape include Buglife Cymru, Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru/Natural Resources Wales, Cyngor Sir Ynys Môn/Isle of Anglesey County Council, Cyngor Gwynedd/Gwynedd Council, National Trust, Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri/Eryri National Park, Plantlife Cymru, Menter Môn, Tirwedd Cenedlaethol Llŷn/Lleyn National Landscape, Tirwedd Cenedlaethol Ynys Môn/Anglesey National Landscape and Ymddiriedolaeth Natur Gogledd Cymru/North Wales Wildlife Trust.

• Partneriaeth Tirwedd Y Carneddau/Carneddau Landscape Partnership

• Natur am Byth!/Nature Forever! 

• Gylfinir Cymru/Curlew Wales 

The following RSPB nature reserves form part of Gogledd Eryri, Pen Llŷn ac Ynys Môn/Northern Snowdonia, Lleyn Peninsula and Isle of Anglesey Priority Landscape:

• Conwy

• Cors Ddyga

• South Stack

• Valley Wetlands