22. Cae Lynden Nature Reserve

Cwm Wanderers once played football on this site. It is now a nature reserve of wet tussocky grassland known as Rhos pasture. It is home to the rare marsh fritillary butterfly.

What to look out for:

In spring look for the bright yellow flash of the brimstone butterfly and in summer the grassland is full of ringlet, meadow brown and gatekeeper butterflies. The marsh fritillary flies in June laying eggs on devil’s bit scabious leaves. In August & September its caterpillars feed on devil's bit scabious within their larval webs amongst mollinia tussocks. Late summer wildflower displays of purple flowering devil's bit scabious and red ragged robin. Woodland birds in the oak woodland and snipe and woodcock in winter.

How to get there:

The reserve is in the Gurnos housing estate off the A4067 Ystradgynlais bypass.

Nearest town Ystradgynlais. Post code SA9 1DW.

OS map sheet 160. Grid reference SN 776 101

Accessing the reserve:

The reserve is an open access reserve, you are allowed to visit on foot for your quiet enjoyment of the wildlife present. Please keep dogs on a lead to prevent disturbing ground nesting birds.

There may be cattle or ponies on site, please do not approach them or feed them. Additionally there may be electric fencing to keep them off parts of the site, please cross this with care.

There are no formal paths and areas can be wet at all times of the year. A small stream runs through the site.

Please visit the site with care.