Graig Fawr, Pontardulais
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Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
Peat habitats store centuries of carbon and depend on a stable, waterlogged water table. Warmer, drier summers dry out peat, making it far more vulnerable to wildfire and to carbon release — a pressure that can undo years of restoration work regardless of how well the site is otherwise managed.
Geology & landscape
Landscape processes: Peatland / Mire
Description
Description An area supporting good examples of the range of plant communities to be found in the uplands of the county. These include dry acidic grasslands dominated by Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus and ericaceous shrubs; poorly drained acid grasslands predominantly comprised of Molinia caerulea and Eriophorum vaginatum; and infrequent soligenous mires in which Wahlenbergia hederacea, Chrysosplenium oppositifolium and Anagallis tenella are prominent species.
Species mentioned
Show the 7 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| purple moor grass | Molinia caerulea | LC | grass | poaceae |
| bog pimpernel | Anagallis tenella | Not listed in GB list | herb | primulaceae |
| opposite-leaved golden- saxifrage | Chrysosplenium oppositifolium | LC | herb | saxifragaceae |
| ivy-leaved bellflower | Wahlenbergia hederacea | LC | herb | campanulaceae |
| hare's-tail cottongrass | Eriophorum vaginatum | LC | sedge | cyperaceae |
| billberry | Vaccinium myrtillus | LC | shrub | ericaceae |
| bell heather or ling | Calluna vulgaris | NT | shrub dwarf | ericaceae |
Insects to look out for
These moths, butterflies and beetles are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.
| Species | Status | Via host-plant |
|---|---|---|
| Speckled footman Coscinia cribraria |
Critically Endangered | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Chequered skipper Carterocephalus palaemon |
Endangered | Molinia caerulea |
| Shoulder-striped clover Heliothis maritima |
Endangered | Calluna vulgaris |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Large heath Coenonympha tullia |
Vulnerable | Eriophorum vaginatum, Molinia caerulea |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris |
| True lover's knot Lycophotia porphyrea |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris |
| Silver studded blue Plebejus argus |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris |
| The anomalous Stilbia anomala |
Vulnerable | Molinia caerulea |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Rosy marsh moth Coenophila subrosea |
Near Threatened | Eriophorum spp., Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Silver barred Deltote bankiana |
Near Threatened | Molinia caerulea |
| Grey scalloped Dyscia fagaria |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris |
| The Silurian Eriopygodes imbecilla |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris |
| Weaver's wave Idaea contiguaria |
Near Threatened | Calluna vulgaris |
| Scotch burnet Zygaena exulans |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.