Anglesey’s hidden gem – RSPB Cors Ddyga

A former working colliery, bursting with spectacular wildlife and rare plants, has just embarked on a new chapter in its history…

RSPB Cymru is delighted to announce that their quiet nature reserve on Anglesey, RSPB Cors Ddyga, formerly named as ‘Malltraeth Marsh’, will be officially opened by Ynys Môn Assembly Member Rhun ap Iorwerth at 1pm on July 17, 2017.

The marshland reserve was awarded funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Gaynor Cemlyn-Jones Trust earlier this year, to improve and preserve the habitat and rare species on the reserve. The project has also been supported by the Sustainable Development Fund, a Welsh Government initiative in the Isle of Anglesey Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Thanks to the recent funding the reserve has benefited in three areas:

1. New interpretation and a two kilometre visitor trail has been built through the wetlands.
2. The RSPB Cors Ddyga team have put in sluices to improve the reedbeds. These will capture more water to keep the existing reedbeds wet, whilst also increasing water levels in other areas to create new reedbeds.
3. Local sculptor, Duncan Kitson has been commissioned to create a wooden bittern sculpture to mark the reserves’ recent celebration when the bittern nested at RSPB Cors Ddyga – the first time in Wales for 32 years.

RSPB Cors Ddyga Site Manager, Ian Hawkins said: “This is the perfect place to spend a couple of hours and have a break from the outside world. It is alive with history and we are delighted to be opening our doors to the public in order to show the fruits of labor since when we started to manage the reserve back in 1994. This proves if you build a home for nature, they will come!”

Rhun ap Iorwerth AM said, “It will be a pleasure to officially open Cors Ddyga so that local residents and visitors can come to appreciate the wonders of the wetlands.  Sites such as Cors Ddyga are one of out natural treasures, and I’m grateful to the RSPC for their conservation work on the site.  One of the big successes of that hard work was that the Bittern chose to nest there last year – the first time it has been recorded nesting in Wales for three decades – and I look forward to hearing Ysgol Esceifiog pupils singing a song dedicated to the bittern, ‘Deryn y Bwn’”

Ian Hawkins added, “The generous funding we have received has made it possible for RSPB Cors Ddyga to embark on a new chapter in its history helping its development to ensure that the plants and wildlife continue to have new areas to colonise.

Each season brings its own wealth of wildlife. Beautiful wetland flowers appear in the spring: the yellow iris, water-violet and the rare pillwort whilst in winter you can see hen harriers, peregrines and merlins – their all a delight to see. I often get surprises walking around the reserve, from seeing otters popping their heads above the water to that special moment when I realised a bittern had nested on the reserve – I’m still smiling. Who knows what I’ll spot tomorrow.”

The reserve offers some fantastic new volunteering experiences for the local community and the chance to discover the site’s local heritage; through practical work, heritage skills and research opportunities. If you’re interested in volunteering with us, please get in touch with RSPB Cymru Community and Volunteer Development Officer, Eva Vazquez-Garcia, on 01248 672850/ eva.vazquezgarcia@rspb.org.uk.

So make sure you put RSPB Cors Ddyga on your ‘places to visit’ list this summer…..