Cors Bodeilio is a nationally important nature
reserve due to its unique mire, which lies in a shallow limestone
valley between Llangefni and Pentraeth, on the Isle of Anglesey.
Water from the surrounding Carboniferous limestone rocks feed the
mire, and this in turn has encouraged the development of a range of
different wetland fen species, which prosper over the bed of fen
peat. Together with other Anglesey fens, this type of threatened
wetland is very rare – in fact, because of the incredible range of
wildlife it plays host to, the reserve has a number of designations
at hand to protect it.
The reserve is at once recognized as:
· A wetland of international importance (Anglesey and Llyn Fens
RAMSAR)
· A Site of Special Scientific Interest (Cors Bodeilio SSSI)
· A Special Area of Conservation (Corsydd Môn/Anglesey Fens
SAC)
How to get there
The reserve lies off an unclassified road between Pentraeth and
Talwrn, with the entrance being about one-and-a-half kilometres
west of Pentraeth village.
A surfaced car park has space for six vehicles, while one spot
is reserved for disabled visitors.
Public Transport
A regular bus service – service number 62 - stops in Pentraeth on a
half-hourly to hourly basis.
For more information contact Traveline Cymru on 0871
2002233.
Photo by
Mike McCabe, ©CCW
The reserve is managed by CCW.
You can contact the northern region reserves team via the CCW
enquiries help line on 0845 1306229 or by email at
enquires@ccw.gov.uk. You can also write to us at the address under
‘Contact the team’.
Wildlife
Photo ©CCW
Clearly, the main habitat is lime-rich fen characterised by such
species as great fen sedge and bottle brush sedge. In some areas
the fen is spread by springs and flushes, where other plants
thrive, such as:
- Black bog rush
- Sweet gale
- Small flowered rush
The fen also supports many uncommon plants, such as:
- Fen pondweed
- Several species of stonewort including the rare dwarf
stonewort
- The olive earthtongue (a fungus)
- Narrow-leaved marsh orchid
- Fly orchid
- Other orchid species
The diverse plant life in turn supports a range of
invertebrates, which in turn attract large numbers of wetland
birds.
The invertebrate life is particularly rich with many:
- True flies
- Aquatic beetles
- Moths
Photo ©CCW
In addition, there are populations of uncommon invertebrates
including:
- Rare fly species
- The medicinal leech
- The variable damselfly.
It’s no surprise then that the reserve hums and rattles in
spring and summer with the calls of feeding birds like:
- Breeding warblers
- Curlews
- Lapwings -which breed on the bog
- Snipe -the reserve is one of only two sites on Anglesey where
breeding snipe are found
RELATED ARTICLES...
SEE ALSO...
Outdoor
Wales onLine Map
for a more detailed map of the area showing access information
including:
Promoted routes, national trails, and CROW access land.
Protected Sites
Map
for a more detailed map of the area, also showing
special sites including:
national parks, reserves and Areas of outstanding natural beauty
(AONB).
OTHER WEBSITES...
Traveline Cymru
Traveline Cymru, your one-stop shop, in Wales, for bus, coach and
rail journey planning and timetable information.