Habitats and Wildlife

Coastal Grassland

We have both calcareous and neutral grassland on the coast rich in plant life specific to soil type. Our rangers are busy managing these areas to encourage the growth of a diverse range of flora that would otherwise be smothered by scrub. 

Common Species: Clustered Bellflower, Purple Gromwell and Tuberous Thistle.

Reedbeds

To maintain this precious habitat the Ranger Service remove scrub vegetation and rotationally manage the reedbeds to attract as many wildlife species as possible and who knows, we may attract the rare Water Vole to Cosmeston in the near future.

Reedbeds

Location: Cosmeston Lakes Country Park

Common Species: Reed Mace, Yellow Flag Iris, Purple Loosestrife and Greater Spearwort, Emperor and Migrant Hawker Dragonfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Bittern, Sedge Warbler and Reed Bunting.

Meadows

The grassland meadows at Cosmeston are cut once a year after the flowers have gone over and the cuttings removed, the dovecot fields are lightly grazed by cattle from October through to March, then also cut after the flowers have gone over and the cuttings removed. This management regime has helped to encourage growth and species diversity year on year. 

Meadows

Location: Cosmeston Lakes Country Park

Common Species: Common Blue, Brimstone, Red Admiral and Grayling butterflies / Yellow Cowslips, Primrose, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Pink Willow Herb and the Forget-me-not.

Lakes and Ponds

The two flooded quarries have become the main lakes at Cosmeston over 12ha in size with many smaller ponds found throughout the country park for you to discover. 

Lakes and Ponds

Locations:  Cosmeston Lakes Country Park /  Porthkerry Country Park

Common Species: Teal, Tufted Duck, Widgeon, Pochard, Shoveler ducks and Bittern.

Woodland

Along the coast woodlands are scarce because of the harsh environment. Trees are often stunted due to the salt winds. Where woodlands are found there is often a good ground covering of spring flowers such as bluebells and wild garlic.

Woodlands

Locations:  Dunraven Park /  Porthkerry Country Park / Cosmeston Lakes Country Park

Common Species: Oak, Ash, Elm, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Rabbits, Brown Rats, Voles and Hedgehogs. 

Rocky shores

Beaches on the coast range from rocky shores to expansive areas of sand. Discover abundant marine life adapted to the harsh intertidal conditions of our exposed shores such as sea anemones, barnacles, periwinkles and many more. Dunraven Bay is a good beach for families to explore and search for edible and shore crabs.

Locations: Heritage Coast

Common Species: Prawns,  Sea Anemones, Barnacles and Periwinkles

Dunes

Merthyr Mawr National Nature Reserve is part of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast now managed by Natural Resources Wales. Its spectacular sand dunes are rated the second highest in Europe. This area is rich in plant life. It is also an area of special interest for fungi like the highly prized Morel.

Location: Glamorgan Heritage Coast

Common Species: Butterflies, Moths, Beetles and Glow Worms.

Cliffs

The majority of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast cliffs are made up of Liassic limestone and shale. The cliffs are used by nationally important bird species.

Location:  Glamorgan Heritage Coast

Common Species: Peregrine and Chough

Farmland

Most of the land within the Glamorgan Heritage Coast designation is privately owned. From Aberthaw to Llantwit major farmland is mostly arable and mixed farming from Llantwit Major to Southerndown. 

Location:  Glamorgan Heritage Coast

Common Species: Sheep and Hare

Commons

These include Ogmore Common and areas adjacent to the Glamorgan Heritage Coast.The main management is sheep grazing and some vegetation cutting.

Locations: Glamorgan Heritage Coast /  Cosmeston Lakes Country Park / Porthkerry Country Park

Common Species: High Brown Fritillary Butterfly and Adder.