| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
  Location within Carmarthenshire | |
| Location | Carmarthenshire |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | SN310110 |
| Coordinates | 51°43′42″N4°24′15″W / 51.72846°N 4.40403°W Coordinates: 51°43′42″N4°24′15″W / 51.72846°N 4.40403°W |
| Area | 1,494.3 hectares (15 km2; 5.8 sq mi) |
| Notification | 2002 |
Aber Taf (English: Taf Estuary) is a large Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Carmarthenshire, Wales, [1] [2] and forms part of the Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries Special Area of Conservation.
Aber Taf is located in the central northern section of Carmarthen Bay in the south-west of Wales. The estuary forms the mouth of three rivers - the Taf, Tywi and Gwendraeth. The SSSI covers the tidal rivermouths of each of these; on the Tywi, north as far as the south of Carmarthen, where it meets the Afon Tywi SSSI; on the Taf, to a point just north of the A477 road and on the Gwendraeth as far east as the A484 road. The site extends across the saltflats of Carmarthen Bay, including Ginst Point, Cefn Sidan Sands, Laughame Sands, East Marsh and Pendine Sands, and covers approximately 1,494.3 hectares (3,692 acres). [1] [2]
Aber Taf is listed as an SSSI for its saltmarsh vegetation, and for two sorts of migratory fish, allis shad (Alosa alosa) and twaite shad (Alosa fallax), as well as for the wider marine and intertidal habitats of the area which support wintering wildfowl. The site has a number of graduated zones of saltmarsh, their composition and species dependent on the amount of tidal inundation and grazing. Fine muds predominate in the upper reaches of the three river estuaries; muddy sands are found in the midsections, and clean sand in the mouth of the estuary. [2]
The seaward fringe of the site is dominated by common cord-grass (Spartina anglica), with patches of common saltmarsh-grass (Puccinellia maritima), common glasswort (Salicornia europaea), sea aster (Aster tripolium) and annual sea-blite (Suaeda maritima). Mid and upper marsh communities are composed of sea aster, common saltmarsh-grass, sea rush (Juncus maritimus) and red fescue (Festuca rubra) together with sea plantain (Plantago maritima), sea arrowgrass (Triglochin maritimum), sea-milkwort (Glaux maritima) and English scurvygrass (Cochlearia anglica). Less grazed areas, such as Laugharne and Ginst Point have stands of sea-purslane (Atriplex portulacoides). Swampy areas have sea club-rush (Bolboschoenus maritimus) or the common reed (Phragmites australis). [2]
The site is notable for occurrences of two other rare plant species, the rock sea-lavender (Limonium procerum ssp. procerum) and bulbous foxtail (Alopecurus bulbosus). [2]
Dyfed is a preserved county in southwestern Wales. It is a mostly rural area with a coastline on the Irish Sea and the Bristol Channel.
Carmarthenshire is a county in the south-west of Wales. The three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford. Carmarthen is the county town and administrative centre. The county is known as the "Garden of Wales" and is also home to the National Botanic Garden of Wales.
Bridgwater Bay is on the Bristol Channel, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north of Bridgwater in Somerset, England at the mouth of the River Parrett and the end of the River Parrett Trail. It stretches from Minehead at the southwestern end of the bay to Brean Down in the north. The area consists of large areas of mudflats, saltmarsh, sandflats and shingle ridges, some of which are vegetated. It has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) covering an area of 3,574.1 hectares since 1989, and is designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. The risks to wildlife are highlighted in the local Oil Spill Contingency Plan.
Carmarthen Bay is an inlet of the South Wales coast, including notable beaches such as Pendine Sands and Cefn Sidan sands. Carmarthen Bay is partially within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee list Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries as a Special Area of Conservation.
The River Towy is one of the longest rivers flowing entirely within Wales. Its total length is 120 km (75 mi). It is noted for its sea trout and salmon fishing.
The River Tâf is a river in West Wales. It rises in the Preseli Hills, Pembrokeshire, and continues through Carmarthenshire to Laugharne. It is one of the three rivers to enter the sea on the east side of Carmarthen Bay. The other two are the River Gwendraeth and River Tywi,
The River Loughor is a river in Wales which marks the border between Carmarthenshire and Swansea. The river is sourced from an underground lake at the Black Mountain emerging at the surface from Llygad Llwchwr which translates from the Welsh as "eye of the Loughor". It flows past Ammanford and Hendy in Carmarthenshire and Pontarddulais in Swansea. The river divides Carmarthenshire from Swansea for much of its course and it separates Hendy from Pontarddulais at the point where the river becomes tidal. The Loughor meets the sea at its estuary near the town of Loughor where it separates the south coast of Carmarthenshire from the north coast of the Gower Peninsula. Among its tributaries is the River Amman, which joins the Loughor near Pantyffynnon. The area of the catchment is some 262 square kilometres (101 sq mi).
The River Gwendraeth is a river in Carmarthenshire in West Wales.
Horseshoe Bend, Shirehampton is an 11 acre biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Bristol, England, on the north bank of a lower, tidal stretch of the River Avon, 1.9 miles (3 kilometres) downstream from the Avon Gorge, and just east of the village of Shirehampton. It was notified as an SSSI in 1999.
The River Cleddau consists of the Eastern and Western Cleddau rivers in Pembrokeshire, west Wales. They unite to form the Daugleddau estuary and the important harbour of Milford Haven.
Portencross is a hamlet near Farland Head in North Ayrshire, Scotland. Situated about three kilometres west of Seamill and about two kilometres south of Hunterston B nuclear power station, it is noted for Portencross Castle.
Birdshill Quarry is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Carmarthenshire, Wales.
Coed Cochion Quarry is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Carmarthenshire, Wales, in which the geology of the site has preserved rare Precambrian fossils.
Mynydd Llangyndeyrn is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Carmarthen & Dinefwr, Wales, and a hill reaching 263 metres, which is a Marilyn.
The Tamar–Tavy Estuary is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) covering the tidal estuaries of the River Tamar and the River Tavy on the border between Cornwall and Devon in England, UK. Part of the Tamar estuary also forms the Tamar Estuary Nature Reserve, owned by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. The site was designated in 1991 for its biodiversity and varying habitats that support many wader and wildfowl species, as well as the special interest of its marine biology.
Gweunydd Glan-y-glasnant is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Carmarthenshire, Wales, designated in 1993 for its botanical features.
Machynys Ponds is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Carmarthenshire, Wales, designated in 1993 for its botanical features.
Alnmouth Saltmarsh and Dunes is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Northumberland, England. It is the largest saltflat on the north-east coast, located on the south bank of the River Aln estuary, and notable for the varied plant community found on the interface between the saltflats and the dunes. It overlaps with and forms part of the much larger Northumberland Shore SSSI.
Milford Haven Waterway, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on Milford Haven Waterway in Pembrokeshire, South Wales, designated since 2002. The site is protected for a wide range of reasons, including its geology, marine environment and ecosystems, and to protect a diversity of flora and fauna.