Local Nature Partnership

Anglesey

Anglesey is home to an ecologically rich diversity of habitats including sand dunes, lagoons, saltmarshes, grasslands, wetlands, fens, mud-flats and woodlands. The island consists of an extensive coastline, much of which has been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There are 60 sites designated as SSSIs of which four are managed as National Nature Reserves (NNR). It’s home to red squirrels, otters, choughs, water voles and ospreys in addition to being an important home for the agricultural industry.

How can I help Nature

There are many ways to help nature on Anglesey. From doing your bit to allow your garden to grow longer in spring and summer months, to joining community initiatives and volunteering with local partnerships. One simple way to help is to submit any observations of species you make whilst out walking. Downloading the LERC Wales app is a simple way to submit any findings and really helps to gain a full picture of species richness and diversity on Anglesey. To discuss any ideas or to find out what’s happening near you and how you can help, please contact the Local Wildlife Officer.

Places to see Nature in Anglesey

Llyn Parc Mawr Community Woodland (Home to red squirrels and an abundance of birds) Llyn Parc Mawr – Llyn Parc Mawr

Cors Goch National Nature Reserve (Home to heathland plants, warblers and dragonflies) Cors Goch Nature Reserve | North Wales Wildlife Trust

Holyhead Breakwater Country Park (Home to peregrine falcons) Holyhead Breakwater Country Park

Newborough National Nature Reserve and Forest (Home to sand dunes, red squirrels and beautiful trails) Natural Resources Wales / Newborough National Nature Reserve and Forest, Anglesey

Cemlyn Nature Reserve (A brilliant spot for birdwatching) Cemlyn Nature Reserve | North Wales Wildlife Trust

Wylfa Head Local Nature Reserve (A mixture of coastal grassland and heathland)

Aberffraw Dunes and Traeth Mawr Beach (Home to an abundance of plants including marsh orchids, pyramidal orchids and helleborines) Aberffraw Dunes and Traeth Mawr Beach

Cors Erddreiniog National Nature Reserve (Home to extensive fenland habitat and wildflowers) Natural Resources Wales / Cors Erddreiniog National Nature Reserve, Anglesey

Cors Bodeilio National Nature Reserve (Home to a unique mire) Natural Resources Wales / Cors Bodeilio National Nature Reserve, Anglesey

Aberlleiniog SNCI (Habitats include ancient semi-natural broadleaved woodland home to bats, otters and red squirrels) Aberlleiniog - Woodland Trust

Highlight species found on Anglesey:

Red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris – During the 1970s and 1980s, red squirrels were becoming increasingly rare on Anglesey due to increasing numbers of grey squirrels. Due to large efforts of re-introduction and conservation, there is now a thriving population of red squirrels and grey squirrels no longer exist on the island.

Southern Damselfly Coenagrion mercuriale - The southern damselfly was listed as Endangered in the British Odonata Red List 2008 and is legally protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It thrives in base-rich runnels and streams often within acid heathland areas and can be found in wetland areas of Anglesey.

Water vole Arvicola amphibius – Water voles are listed as endangered and are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. They live in reedbeds, marshes, streams and ditches and are under threat due to habitat degradation and loss. The American mink also poses a threat to water voles. Along the Menai strait, populations of invasive American mink have been monitored and controlled, allowing water vole populations to increase.

Otter Lutra lutra- Otters are protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. There are thriving populations of otters across Anglesey, with work being done to improve habitats and reduce road mortalities.

Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax- Chough’s have a limited range of habitats but there are abundant resident populations on Anglesey.

South Stack Fleawort Tephroseris integrifolia subsp. Maritima- This yellow flowering plant is endemic to Ynys Gybi (Holy Island). A small section of the North Wales Coastal Path is the only place in the world that this plant can be seen flowering in May and June. It is a sweet smelling plant that is very attractive to bumblebees.