Whiteford National Nature Reserve

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Overview

At least 250 species of flowering plants have been recorded on the Whiteford NNR on the Gower peninsula, making it one of the richest dune systems in the UK. Special flowers to look out for include dune and autumn gentian, petalwort and marsh helleborine. The abundance of wildflowers at Whiteford make it a good place for butterflies such as the common blue, small blue, dark green fritillary and the grayling. The scarlet tiger moth can also be seen flying on the damp dune slacks at Whiteford, usually feeding on comfrey. Whiteford Burrows also contains the UK’s largest known population of the rare narrow-mouthed whorl snail. The mudflats and saltmarsh habitats at Whiteford make it a very important wintering ground for wildfowl and wading birds. Some of the species found here include oystercatcher, curlew, lapwing, redshank and snipe, and in the reedbeds, reed and sedge warblers and reed buntings can be seen.

Location

Llanmadoc

About the area

There’s no getting away from it – when it comes to image, Swansea is a bit of a mixed bag. During its heyday in the 19th century, as king of the copper industry, it was known as ‘Copperopolis’.

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Whiteford National Nature Reserve

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Whiteford National Nature Reserve

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