Parc Slip Nature Reserve – Bridgend

A restored opencast site consisting of grassland, woodland, wetlands, including lakes with bird hides. Green Flag Accredited Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre.

Location

Bridgend.

OS Map Reference

Main entrance: SS881841, Site centre: SS880840
A static map of Parc Slip Nature Reserve – Bridgend

Know before you go

Size
125 hectares
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Parking information

Parking on site at our Visitor Centre.

Walking trails

For Wildlife Enthusiasts

During the summer, the fields near to the Visitor Centre are ablaze with colour as oxeye daisy, ragged robin, orchids, fleabane, red bartsia and numerous other beautiful wildflowers come into bloom.

Open water ponds, the wader scrape and wetlands provide habitat for many species of water bird, including teal, lapwing and water rail. There are a number of open access hides and viewing areas throughout the reserve, overlooking the wetland areas and ponds and the lapwing breeding area.

Deciduous and coniferous woodland provide home to green woodpecker and jay, tawny owls, foxes and wood mice. Please see the Wildlife page for more details on the species that can be found on the reserve.

After you’ve taken in the wildlife out on the reserve, report your sightings to our friendly staff in the Visitor Centre and relax with a cup of tea in the Coffee Shop overlooking the dipping ponds and wildflower meadows. Wildlife watching from the comfort of an armchair!

For Cyclists

A 4km stretch of the Sustrans National Cycle Route 4 and Celtic Trail East passes through Parc Slip Nature Reserve. This stretch of track is well-maintained, traffic free and tranquil, passing through grassland and woodland. Cyclists are also welcome at the Parc Slip Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre, where a bike rack, toilets and refreshments are available. Stop off and say hello on your way from London to Fishguard!

For Dog Walkers

Dogs are permitted on the reserve. Over 10km of footpaths are available for dog walking, with litter bins along the routes for disposing of doggy bags. Car parking is available adjacent to the Visitor Centre. There are areas available for securing dogs on leads outside the Visitor Centre, with water bowls available at this location. Pick up your free doggy bags from the Visitor Centre. If you are thinking of bringing your dog along with you to Parc Slip, please read and conform to our guidelines for dog walking on nature reserves. This will help us to keep the nature reserve a safe place for wildlife and people.

For Families

The Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre both provide a safe area for families to discover and enjoy nature. Activities such as pond dipping, bug hunting and making bird boxes are run regularly from the centre through Wildlife Watch. Please see our events pages for more details of the activities running for families coming up soon.

Additionally, the refreshments available in the Coffee Shop are reasonably priced so that you can enjoy a fun, affordable day out. Pop into the Centre and ask one of our friendly members of staff for ideas for nature themed activities to do with children on the reserve or even rent an Explorer Backpack from the centre, packed with fun things to do out on the reserve.

For People With Disabilities

The site has a number of easy access routes which can be approached via wheelchair, there are a number of other routes which are accessible for people with a sight problems or who require walking sticks etc. The cafe and centre are both fully accessible, with lift to the upstairs conference room, which also has a hearing loop.

Access

1 km west of Aberkenfig, adjacent to the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales headquarters building. Tourist sign posts indicate the route from junction 36 of the M4, car park off Fountain Road. Access for wheelchairs. The site is on the route number 4 of the National Cycle Network. 

Bus number 63 from Bridgend bus station stops outside the Fountain Inn at the bottom of Fountain Road, and there is a train station at Tondu.

Dogs

On a lead
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Facilities

Visitor centre
Bird hides
Electric car charging point
Disabled parking
Accessible trails

When to visit

Opening times

Open access reserve with Visitor Centre.

Best time to visit

Full season

About the reserve

Parc Slip Nature lies in a valley bottom on the watershed between the Ogmore and Afon Kenfig catchments, and has had a history of mining from the nineteenth century to the present day.

Restoration of the landform from colliery coal tips and opencast mining had been completed by the mid 1980s, and a five-year plan was undertaken to enhance natural succession and recreate semi-natural habitats, such as wildflower meadows, ponds, reedbeds, a wader scrape, and broadleaved woodland.

The Park is made up of broadleaved and coniferous plantations, improved grassland, and four flower rich fields, which are being managed as pasture.

These grassland areas provide feeding and roosting habitat for Snipe in winter, and nesting sites for Lapwing, Meadow Pipit, and Skylark in summer.

There are four bird hides, overlooking three wetland sites, a wader scrape, a small lake with an island, and Park Pond. A further three wetlands and open water areas add further interest.

The wader scrapes which were added in 2013 have attracted a wide range of wildlife which can be observed from the Mary Gillham raised hide.

Mute Swan, Mallard and Tufted Duck breed within the Park, and Teal, Wigeon, Gadwall, Pochard, Red-breasted Merganser and Water Rail are seen in winter. Twenty species of dragonfly have been recorded, including the Emperor, Four Spot Chaser, and the Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly.

The site supports seven species of orchid, including Bee, Common Spotted, Southern Marsh, Twayblade and Broad-leaved Helleborine.

Download the site map

Go WILD About Parc Slip with Iolo Williams and Lizzie Daly