Rhos Pil-Bach a Pennar Fawr, Plump, Ceredigion

Purple Moor Grass and Rush pasture with ancient hedgerows, a tract of lowland wet heath, and ponds. Notified SSSI.

Location

Plwmp.

OS Map Reference

Grid References: O.S. Explorer map 198 Cardigan and New Quay. Main entrance: SN369528, Site centre: SN368529.

View on What3Words

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Know before you go

Size

27 hectares

Entry fee

Free

Access

Public transport: The X50-554 between Aberystwyth and Cardigan stops in Plwmp about 0.5km from the reserve.

Turn north off the A487 at the Post Office in the village of Plwmp, bearing right after a short distance. After 300 m from the village, you will see a track leading down to the fields at SN369527. Inaccessible for wheelchairs.

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Open access reserve.

Best time to visit

Spring and summer.

About the reserve

Rhos Pil Bach is made up of five pasture fields enclosed by ancient banks and hedgerows. The two north-eastern fields are examples of ridge and furrow pasture, with the eastern field of the two being the most species rich, with up to 28 species of flowering plant per 1 m sq.

he sward is characterised by Brown Bent, Purple Moor Grass, Sweet Vernal Grass and Yorkshire Fog with Common Sedge and Carnation Sedge.

The site is rich in orchids, particularly Heath Spotted Orchid, but also Common Spotted and Northern Marsh Orchid. Other notable flowering plants include Bog Asphode, Bog Pimpernel, Devil’s-bit Scabious (the food plant of Marsh Fritillary butterfly, Meadow Thistle, and Ragged Robin. The diversity of the site is increased by the presence of three ponds.

Pennar Fawr is similar in nature but more tussocky in structure. It is a single open compartment of just over 16 ha and provides a refuge for many snipe in the winter months. There is also some drier heath to the north east of the reserve.