Parc Slip is a 305 acre reserve managed by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales.
It is made up of woodlands, wetlands and meadows which have been created for the benefit of wildlife as well as walkers and cyclists. A number of rare and/or protected species now make their home here, including great crested newts, brown hare, lapwing, bullfinch, linnet, adders and the brown banded and shrill carder bee.
Although Parc Slip Nature Reserve is a recent creation, the history of the site goes back much further. In the 19th century there was a deep mine for coal, but when 112 miners were killed in 1892 the site was temporarily abandoned. Coal extraction resumed in the form of open cast mining from the 1940s until the 1990s. When the reserves were depleted, British Coal set about restoring the site with the help of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales.
Evidence of the reserve's origins can still be seen today. One of the ponds has been made out of the 4 lagoons which were used to clean the water coming out of the opencast mine.
The reeds which were planted have become a haven for insects, including 20 species of dragonfly and 26 species of butterfly, and as a consequence, birds abound. Residents, including little grebe, skylark, mallard, and tufted duck, are joined in winter by teal, goosander, pochard and snipe. An artificial bank made out of railway sleepers has been installed for breeding sand martins. These can be viewed from the hides at either end of the pond.
Another clue to the site's past can be found in the soil - or lack of it. Native willow flourishes, as do gorse and alder because they have bacteria in their roots which enable them to produce their own nourishment.
Other species, like the Corsican pine planted 30 years ago, have not fared so well in the nutrient-poor conditions. It is hoped that over the next 50-60 years the soil will develop naturally as deciduous trees such as larch lose their needles and enrich the soil.
South of the wetland area, the butterfly ride is a small area of grassland which has been untouched by mining. As a result it is rich with plants and insects, including the common spotted-orchid and ringlet and dingy skipper butterflies.
Co-ordinates: SS879835
Contact: Fountain Road, Tondu, Bridgend, CF32 0EH
Location: Leave the M4 at junction 36 and follow the B4281 towards Aberkenfig. Turn right by the Fountain Restaurant onto Fountain Road, and the reserve car park is up on the left.
Telephone: 01656 724100
Website: www.welshwildlife.org
your comments
We're making some changes to the sites shortly and although this form will be closing, you will have other opportunities to contribute on our new-look site.
John R Jones from Warton, Preston
Going back to what the land looked like prior to the opencast mining by Shand it looked like normal countryside.While the opencast mining was going on it didn't look too good though and I wondered what it was going to end up like. However, now it has all been done it looks lovely. So after all this work it has something better which should last for much longer.
Clayton Armstrong, Bridgend
In reply to Gaynor Ball of PACT, I beg to differ with you as needs must. I myself worked as a driver and labour at this site - many of us were to glad to work and have a job. I do agree that there are problems with tearing up the land, but at the end of it all it is put back tidier than it was. The Park slip and Fountain Sites are a credit to all the animal conservationists that take care of it.
Lashes Thomas, Tondu.
My husband and I have recently moved to Wales and cant admire the area enough, we have two dogs who adore the walks of Parc Slip and give us all the exercise we need, as a keen photographer my husband is looking forward to having more time to spend studying the site and taking some shots. Beautiful and peaceful place.
Mags Lloyd, Bridgend
We only had a very short time to walk Parc Slip. There seemed to be lots of birds about and we got a photo of a reed bunting. We will certainly visit again as our hobby is photography and we enjoy countryside walks.
C Lewis from Kenfig Hill
On the surface all looks well. Look closer and you will see what a detremental effect opencasting has had on the wildlife, the community, and the health of the local population.
Barry Sims from Barry
Looks very interesting - will arrange to visit the site.
Gaynor Ball , secretary of PACT--Anti- opencast gr
Much of Parc Slip is restored land and restoration is never successful and cannot replace what has been destroyed. In comparison, the area that is earmarked for further destruction is rich in bio-diversity, containing ancient woodlands and hedges, a river and agricultural land. We are disappointed that Parc Slip should feature on one of your programmes when the fight against further opencast destruction is ongoing. This programme could be seen to be promoting opencast as a way to provide nature reserves, instead of it being one of the most environmentally destructive processes being carried out in the UK today.
