Famous Eryri beauty spot in danger of being overrun by foreign invaders

-Credit: (Image: Gari Morris/NRW)
-Credit: (Image: Gari Morris/NRW)


Invasive plant species are being cleared from a North Wales beauty spot that has attracted visitors for more than two centuries. Rhododendron, cherry laurel, yellow azalea, and western hemlock are being removed from Fairy Glen near Conwy Falls to stop them crowding out native plants, fungi and lichen.

Local contractors using roped access are controlling vegetation in the steep river gorge to prevent further spread of non-native plants. The aim is to prevent the gorge becoming too shaded, endangering native species.

These provide shelter and food for breeding birds such as wood warbler and dipper as well as several species of bat. Fairy Glen is also home to otters, badgers, wood ant colonies, salmon and the scarce alder leaf beetle.

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The work, by Natural Resources Wales (NRW), has already uncovered a species of lichen known to exist in one other place in Britain. The “extremely rare” species, Porina atlantica, has been previously found only in another gorge in Eryri (Snowdonia) at Ceunant Llennyrch, a national nature reserve in the Vale of Ffestiniog.

The orange-brown lichen prefers old oaks, and occasionally rocks, in ancient woodland. Other examples have been identified in temperate rainforests in southwest Ireland.

The rarity was discovered during a recent survey which identified 209 lichen species at the site, with 94 classed as “nationally scarce”. This figure is almost double the number previously recorded in the gorge.

Rob Booth, NRW’s biodiversity restoration officer, said: “Fairy Glen and Conwy Falls have been an enduring attraction for visitors for more than 200 years. By gradually and sensitively removing non-native invasive plant species, we are ensuring rare mosses, as well as other wildlife and plants, found in the gorge are not adversely affected.” Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community

Image of the rare Porina atlantica lichen taken by Dave Lamacraft who carried out the lichen survey in Fairy Glen
Image of the rare Porina atlantica lichen taken by Dave Lamacraft who carried out the lichen survey in Fairy Glen -Credit:Dave Lamacraft/NRW
Dense stands of beech trees are shading out rare mosses and lichens below
Dense stands of beech trees are shading out rare mosses and lichens below -Credit:Gari Morris/NRW

Fairy Glen (Ffos Noddyn), near Betws-y-Coed, is a narrow, tree-framed ravine with spellbinding rock formations and tumbling cascades of water. Steeped in folklore, in recent years it’s become a photographers’ favourite.

NRW’s clearance work is being carried out in partnership with National Trust Cymru and Eryri National Park Authority. It’s being funded by the Welsh Government’s Nature Network Fund, which aims to strengthen the resilience of Wales’s protected land and marine sites.

This autumn and winter, small-scale halo-felling of conifers and beech around veteran oak trees will take place. This aims to help sunlight to reach the area’s lichen. Work will also continue to remove invasive non-native species.

Footpaths will remain open, but visitors are asked to follow guidance on signs in place during the works. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox

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