core management plan including conservation …naturalresources.wales/media/670652/abermenai...

CYNGOR CEFN GWLAD CYMRU COUNTRYSIDE COUNCIL FOR WALES

CORE MANAGEMENT PLAN INCLUDING CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

FOR

Y TWYNI O ABERMENAI I ABERFFRAW/ABERMENAI TO ABERFFRAW DUNES SAC

GLANNAU MÔN: CORS HELI/ ANGLESEY COAST: SALTMARSH SAC NEWBOROUGH WARREN - YNYS LLANDDWYN SSSI

TYWYN ABERFFRAW SSSI MORFA DINLLE SSSI

Version: 1.0 Date: 10th April 2008 Approved by: Nick Thomas A Welsh version of all or part of this document can be made available on request.

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CONTENTS Preface: Purpose of this document 1. Vision for the Site 2. Site Description

2.1 Area and Designations Covered by this Plan 2.2 Outline Description 2.3 Outline of Past and Current Management 2.4 Management Units

3. The Special Features

3.1 Confirmation of Special Features 3.2 Special Features and Management Units

4. Conservation Objectives Background to Conservation Objectives: 4.1 Conservation Objective for Feature 1: Embryonic shifting dunes 4.2 Conservation Objective for Feature 2: Shifting dunes along the shoreline with

Ammophila arenaria ("white dunes") 4.3 Conservation Objective for Feature 3: Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation (`grey

dunes`)* (Habitats Directive priority feature) 4.4 Conservation Objective for Feature 4: Dunes with Salix repens ssp. argentea (Salicion

arenariae) 4.5 Conservation Objective for Feature 5: Humid dune slacks

4.6 Conservation Objective for Feature 6: Natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition-type vegetation

4.7 Conservation Objective for Feature 7: Transition mires and quaking bogs 4.8 Conservation Objective for Feature 8: Petalwort Petalophyllum ralfsii 4.9 Conservation Objective for Feature 9: Shore Dock Rumex rupestris 4.10 Conservation Objective for Feature 10: Great crested newt Triturus cristatus 4.11 Conservation Objective for Feature 11: Estuaries 4.12 Conservation Objective for Feature 12: Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud

and sand 4.13 Conservation Objective for Feature 13: Mudflats and sandflats not covered by

seawater at low tide. 4.14 Conservation Objective for Feature 14: Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-

Puccinellietalia maritimae) 4.15 Conservation Objective for Feature 15: Spartina swards (Spartinion maritimae) 4.16 Conservation Objective for Feature 16: Vegetated sea cliffs of the Atlantic and Baltic

coasts 5 Assessment of Conservation Status and Management Requirements:

5.1 Feature 1: Embryonic shifting dunes 5.2 Feature 2: Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria ("white

dunes") 5.3 Feature 3: Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation (`grey dunes`)* (Habitats Directive

priority feature) 5.4 Feature 4: Dunes with Salix repens ssp. argentea (Salicion arenariae) 5.5 Feature 5: Humid dune slacks 5.6 Feature 6: Natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition-type

vegetation 5.7 Feature 7: Transition mires and quaking bogs

5.8 Feature 8: Petalwort Petalophyllum ralfsii

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5.9 Feature 9: Shore Dock Rumex rupestris 5.10 Feature 10: Great crested newt Triturus cristatus 5.11 Feature 11: Estuaries 5.12 Feature 12: Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand 5.13 Feature 13: Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide. 5.14 Feature 14: Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-Puccinellietalia maritimae) 5.15 Feature 15: Spartina swards (Spartinion maritimae) 5.16 Feature 16: Vegetated sea cliffs of the Atlantic and Baltic coasts

6. Action Plan: Summary 7. Glossary 8. References and Annexes PREFACE This document provides the main elements of CCW’s management plan for the sites named. It sets out what needs to be achieved on the sites, the results of monitoring and advice on the action required. This document is made available through CCW’s web site and may be revised in response to changing circumstances or new information. This is a technical document that supplements summary information on the web site. One of the key functions of this document is to provide CCW’s statement of the Conservation Objectives for the relevant Natura 2000 sites. This is required to implement the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994, as amended (Section 4). As a matter of Welsh Assembly Government Policy, the provisions of those regulations are also to be applied to Ramsar sites in Wales.

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1. VISION FOR THE SITE

This is a descriptive overview of what needs to be achieved for conservation on the site. It brings together and summarises the Conservation Objectives (part 4) into a single, integrated statement about the site. Newborough Warren – Ynys Llanddwyn: The Precambrian bedrock geology at Ynys Llanddwyn should continue to be one of the best localities in Great Britain for the study of rocks of this age by maintaining their current level and continuity of exposure The coastal landforms should demonstrate the natural processes of sediment transfer and deposition within the local coastal system. These geomorphological processes (which move sand and mud to create beaches, dunes, slacks and estuarine flats) also create the physical template upon which biological features develop. This will be achieved by minimizing activities or structures that would interrupt the natural movement of sediment, and that would directly or indirectly cause damage to the coastal landform assemblage. The site should exhibit typical rocky shore, shingle, dune and estuarine communities, normally including mudflats and sandy foreshore, strandline, foredunes, mobile and fixed dunes, humid dune slacks and saltmarsh. These will vary in their proportion and location in response to naturally changing landforms. There should normally be a strandline with embryonic dunes at some location on the shore each summer, areas of mobile dune “blowout” and areas of newly formed wet slack to provide early successional phases of these habitats. Dune woodland and scrub, composed largely of native species, may be encouraged to develop on inland parts of the fixed dunes where forest soils have formed. Dune heath should be maintained and encouraged wherever it occurs. The site should support viable populations of shore dock and petalwort along with other rare and uncommon native species (both plants and animals) typical of these habitats. Viable populations of great crested newt and medicinal leech should occur in numerous pools. The estuaries should contribute to the support of wintering populations of wildfowl and waders, particularly pintail, and there should be breeding populations of, notably, cormorant, lapwing and skylark. The dune woodland should support roosting ravens and, where compatible with other objectives, red squirrels. This should be achieved through a holistic approach to management, which recognises that critical processes, such as sediment supply and deposition, groundwater level, quality and movement, plant and animal dispersion, occur on a landscape scale. Tywyn Aberffraw This important coastal landscape should show the natural processes of sand movement and the beach, dune and slack landforms arising from these. These land-forming processes also create the physical template upon which biological features develop. The site should exhibit typical sand dune and estuary vegetation, normally including a strandline, foredunes, mobile and fixed dunes, humid dune slacks and saltmarsh. These will vary in their proportion and location in response to the naturally changing landforms. There should normally be a strandline at some location on the shore each summer, areas of mobile dune “blowout” and areas of newly formed wet slack to provide early successional phases of these habitats. Dune woodland and scrub, composed of native species, could be permitted to

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develop on inland parts of the fixed dunes. Dune heath (with heather and sand sedge and often an interesting lichen component) should be maintained and encouraged wherever it occurs. The site should support viable populations of petalwort along with other rare and uncommon native species (both plants and animals) typical of these habitats. The site should also support feeding chough and there should be breeding populations of, notably, lapwing and skylark. Llyn Coron should be a clear-water lake supporting a rich aquatic flora and fauna, including eight-stamened waterwort and hairlike pondweed and swan mussel while the Afon Ffraw remains free to meander naturally across the sand plan and supports river water crowfoot. This should be achieved through a holistic approach to management which recognises that critical processes, such as sediment supply and deposition, groundwater level, quality and movement, plant and animal dispersion, occur on a landscape scale. Tywyn Aberffraw is a Common with a long history of livestock grazing which, along the rabbits, has been an important factor in the evolution of the present landscape. Morfa Dinlle The site should continue to show an active movement of sand and shingle together with the development of shingle ridges. Over time the position of the beach changes leaving behind shingle ridges, which can still be seen today. On the seaward side of the site, about 10-11 hectares of shingle ridges at the top of the beach should support coastal plants typical of this habitat such as yellow-horned poppy, sea spurge, oraches, sea campion and sea mayweed. Inland from the beach there are a series of mobile dune ridges dominated by marram grass interspersed with older, stable ridges and hollows, which should support at least 6.8 hectares of lichen-dominated dune grassland with the possibility of some expansion of this habitat into semi-improved grassland. This dune grassland is characterised by abundant lichens including Cladonia species and is often called “lichen heath”. This special habitat also includes a colourful range of flowering plants such as dune pansy, wild thyme and common stork’s bill. The open flat areas of dune grassland should be closely cropped with little or no marram grass, ideally maintained by rabbit grazing. The remaining area, east of the ridges, should consist of marshy grassland and inter-tidal salt marsh. During the breeding season, birds such as skylark and lapwing should be nesting in parts of Morfa Dinlle.

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2. SITE DESCRIPTION

2.1 Area and Designations Covered by this Plan

Grid references: SH413642 [Y Twyni Abermenai i Aberffraw/Abermenai to Aberffraw Dunes SAC] SH380655 [Glannau M^n: Cors Heli/ Anglesey Coast: Saltmarsh SAC] Unitary authories: Isle of Anglesey, Gwynedd. Area (hectares): 1870.89 [Y Twyni Abermenai i Aberffraw / Abermenai to Aberffraw Dunes SAC] 1058 [Glannau M^n: Cors Heli / Anglesey Coast: Saltmarsh SAC] Designations covered: This plan covers both Y Twyni Abermenai i Aberffraw /Abermenai to Aberffraw Dunes Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Glannau M^n: Cors Heli /Anglesey Coast: Saltmarsh SAC which are spatially and functionally intertwined. These 2 SAC are underpinned by 3 SSSI, notably Newborough Warren – Ynys Llanddwyn SSSI (which underpins the major part of the saltmarsh SAC and much of the sand-dune SAC), Tywyn Aberffraw SSSI, (which underpins a small fraction of the saltmarsh SAC and much of the sand-dune SAC) and Morfa Dinlle SSSI on the south side of the Menai Strait, which underpins part of the sand-dune SAC. Much of the Newborough Warren -Ynys Llanddwyn SSSI (outside the afforested area) is also a National Nature Reserve, managed by CCW.

Detailed maps of the designated sites are available through CCW’s web site.

2.2 Outline Description

Location and outline description

The Abermenai to Aberffraw Dunes Special Area of Conservation (SAC) is at the southern end of the Menai Strait in Ynys M^n and Gwynedd, Wales. It comprises 3 main areas. Tywyn Aberffraw is a large and relatively intact calcareous hind-shore dune system enclosing a shallow lake. Newborough Warren is a large sand-dune system, partly afforested, located between the estuaries of the Afon Cefni and the Afon Braint including the shingle spit of Abermenai. Morfa Dinlle, on the south side of the Strait, is a large shingle spit and dune system.

Abermenai to Aberffraw Dunes Special Area of Conservation (SAC) lies adjacent to, and is functionally integrated with, the Anglesey Coast Saltmarsh SAC. This includes the estuaries of the Afon Ffraw (within Tywyn Aberffraw SSSI) Afon Cefni and Afon Braint (within Newborough Warren – Ynys Llanddwyn SSSI)

Glantraeth SAC, selected for its population of great crested newts, is adjacent to the dune SAC and Newborough Warren Ynys Llanddwyn SSSI.

Y Fenai a Bae Conwy/ Menai Strait and Conwy Bay SAC, selected for its reefs, bays, mudflats and sandflats, subtidal sandbanks and caves is adjacent to the saltmarsh SAC and Newborough Warren Ynys Llanddwyn SSSI.

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Tywyn Aberffraw SSSI Is a large and intact calcareous dune system with dune ridges (both mobile and consolidated), damp slacks and dune grassland together with a shallow lake and respective outflow stream. Inland of the relatively mobile fore-dunes, low-lying slacks occur between more stable dune ridges and at the landward end of the system, (where Llyn Coron is additionally situated), there is an extensive tract of fixed-dune grassland. Livestock grazes most of the site and there is a range of different terrestrial vegetation communities, many of which are floristically rich. Llyn Coron is a base-rich lake with an interesting aquatic macrophyte community and several uncommon species, e.g. eight-stamened waterwort (Elatine hydropiper) and hairlike pondweed (Potamogeton trichoides), are present as well as a diverse invertebrate fauna. The Afon Ffraw, flowing from the lake, is tidal in its lower reaches, and its flora includes a water crowfoot (Ranunculus fluitans), which is extremely uncommon in North Wales.

Tywyn Aberffraw is an important site for coastal geomorphology. It comprises an area of blown sand and dunes occupying a confined valley site. Due to physical constraints, there is little possibility of sand entering the bay from alongshore and the bounding cliffs supply little material to the beach. Tywyn Aberffraw offers an excellent opportunity for the study of beach and dune relationships in an area of restricted sediment supply, both from the beach and within the site. A further important feature is the relative isolation of individual grey parabolic dunes upon a sand plain, a landform assemblage that has few comparable equivalents in England and Wales. Newborough Warren SSSI Encompasses the estuaries of the Afon Cefni and the Afon Braint, which exert controlling influences on the physical development of the intervening dune system as well as supporting important biological communities in their own right. The dunes mask the central rock ridge leaving only Llanddwyn Island and a few exposures of the underlying solid rock. Afforestation of the western half of the dune system has altered the ecological development of the western area, however, the area remains an integral part of the site due to shared landforms, hydrology, relic dune communities and many rare species. The juxtaposition and interrelationship of ancient rocks, dynamic coastal process and diverse biological communities make Newborough Warren a site of outstanding importance, which has been highlighted by costal ecologists (Ranwell, 1972).

Newborough Warren is the largest sand dune system in West Gwynedd, showing the full development from strandline and shingle flora, dune ridges, wet and dry slacks to dune grassland and scrub development along with a dune-dammed lake, freshwater fen, saltmarsh and mudflats. Although ecological development in the afforested dunes has been substantially modified by the conifer crop, some of the unplanted slacks still retain remnant sand-dune vegetation Morfa Dinlle SSSI Is of special interest for sand dune and shingle plant communities and geomorphological interest. Morfa Dinlle comprises a complex shingle / dune spit which formed as a result of erosion of glacial deposits primarily to the south of the site and their transport northwards and subsequent deposition. At the seaward boundary much of the site is characterised by bare shingle, which gives way to vegetated shingle and sand dunes. Morfa Dinlle is one of the last active drift-aligned gravel ridge systems in western Britain, supporting a fine example of a dry-core dune. The geomorphological interest of the site complements that for which Newborough Warren was notified, and the two sites form part of the same geomorphological system. The present alignment of the shingle coastline is a function of the complex interaction of the wave climate, tidal-regime and sediment availability and is of particular value for the study of coastal processes. The dune system, which has

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developed on top of the shingle ridges, is a ‘dry core’ or ‘perched’ dune system, and is a result of isolation from the water table by the highly permeable shingle. The dry hollows in the dunes provide an interesting contrast to the wet slacks present at Newborough Warren. The dry hollows are known as 'grey dune' or 'lichen heath'.

Together, these sites provide a unique opportunity for research both into the development of the Strait itself, tidal inlets generally, past sea level and climate change. The coastline of Morfa Dinlle and the adjacent Newborough Warren NNR site will respond to changing sea levels, which make them particularly important for understanding future coastal changes induced by fluctuations in climate and sea level.

The structure and functions of the site

Achieving favourable conservation status depends on maintaining, or restoring, the coherence of the site's ecological structure and functions. This section describes objectives for the significant structures and functions, including processes that shape the site and its habitats.

Coastal landform structures demonstrate the natural processes of sediment transfer and deposition within the local coastal system. Sand drying on exposed beaches is transported onshore by the prevailing wind and accumulates around obstacles such as seaweed, driftwood or plants to form dunes. Specialised plants such as marram grass, which tolerate sand inundation, trap further sand and enable substantial deposits to be fixed, often as ridges of sand dune behind the foreshore. Sand also accumulates in hindshore areas including the adjacent estuaries. Tidal exchange in the estuaries of the Menai Strait, Afon Cefni and Afon Ffraw is responsible for remobilising and pumping some of this material back into coastal waters where complex local movements occur. The sand supply for Newborough Warren and Morfa Dinlle appears to be shared across the mouth of the Menai Strait, while that for Tywyn Aberffraw is considered to be a more contained system. Natural instability and breakdown of high dune ridges leads to the development of erosion episodes as dry sand is scoured back to the water table (or shingle) and transported inland in a series of gradually advancing parabolic fronts. Sand deposited on the lee of the ridge is colonised by marram grass, while the revealed wet ground or “slack” forms the basis for distinctive wetland communities. These geomorphological processes (which move sand, shingle and mud to create beaches, dunes, slacks and associated estuarine flats) create the physical template upon which biological features develop. The resulting pattern of sandy foreshore, shingle bars, strandline, foredunes, mobile and fixed dunes and humid dune slacks (in association with the adjacent estuarine mudflats and saltmarsh) is a critical feature of the dune ecosystem. The components will vary over time in their proportion and precise location in response to natural forces and succession but should exhibit the typical zonation of sand dunes. There should normally be a strandline at some location on the shore each summer, areas of mobile dune “blowout” and areas of newly formed wet slack to provide early successional phases of these habitats. Dune woodland and scrub, composed largely of native species, may occur on some inland parts of the fixed dunes. Dune heath including lichen heath may also occur. The site should also demonstrate natural transitions to the adjacent estuarine saltmarsh mudflats and shingle. The site has 4 discrete hydrological catchments: Aberffraw (Afon Ffraw), Newborough North (Afon Cefni), Newborough South (Afon Braint) and Morfa Dinlle. Water supply to the dunes is largely from rainfall, though there would appear to be some down-slope seepage on the western side of Aberffraw dunes and from Llyn Coron and Llyn Rhos-du. Both Aberffraw and Newborough dunes appear to be underlain by impermeable material (mostly boulder

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clay), whilst Morfa Dinlle dunes are underlain by extensive shingle deposits. Water loss occurs via canopy interception, evapo-transpiration and lateral (seaward) groundwater movement. The water table of the dunes is essentially domed and defines the base of the intervening wind scoured valleys or "slacks" between the dune ridges. The distribution and condition of the dune slacks is thereby determined by the water table. Llyn Coron is supplied with water from the Afon Gwna – with consequential implications for water quality from the larger agricultural catchment. These calcareous dunes are formed from lime-rich (shelly) sands and support a characteristic flora and fauna as a result. Soil acidification, by leaching of lime from surface horizons, results in locally acidic areas leading to dune heath on old dunes and shingle ridges. Dune soils are naturally infertile. Typical dune plants are therefore adapted to conditions of low fertility. Increased nutrient levels, particularly nitrogen levels, are associated with the development of common competitive "weed" species such as Yorkshire fog, fireweed, bramble and nettles, to the detriment of typical dune flora and fauna. Grazing removes excess herbage and reduces competition from coarse grasses or scrub, allowing typical sand dune species to flourish. Grazing with ponies, cattle or sheep also enables rabbits to establish sustainable colonies (they cannot maintain a viable population, while suffering outbreaks of myxomatosis, in the absence of larger grazing animals) and create a patchwork of grazing patterns and sward height. The bare sand patches caused by hoofed animals and rabbits is also important for many invertebrates and creates opportunities for renewed sand movement. Soft coasts are dynamic environments. The habitat structure, functions (including environmental processes) and species populations of these habitats are inextricably linked and are inherently dynamic, often showing spatial and temporal variation. This dynamism is primarily driven by environmental and physical factors, including sediment supply, movement and quality, prevailing weather conditions, water level etc. Apparently “natural” variation may be driven by human influenced changes to factors such as prevailing weather conditions or sea level. For the purpose of these conservation objectives, “natural” is taken to encompass climate change and sea level rise (despite the current likelihood of their anthropogenic origin), since similar changes have, in the past, been attributable to entirely natural causes. Human action has modified habitats and species populations in various ways, to varying degrees and at varying spatial scales. Continuing human intervention may be necessary to overcome the damaging effects of past human intervention. 2.3 Outline of Past and Current Management Tywyn Aberffraw is a popular recreational site. During the 1960s and 1970s, with the growth of motor traffic, vehicle access and resultant erosion tracks were evident across wide swathes of the site. With the gradual restriction of vehicle access, parking has been largely contained to the bridge area. The result is a renewed growth of the frontal dunes in response to reduced visitor pressure and arguably an improved experience for visitors. The Dunes are registered Common Land with a long history of common grazing – registered rights exist for the equivalent of 272 livestock units on 280ha of dune land. In recent years grazing has been sporadic in winter and virtually abandoned after 2000, though re-established in 2008 under a management agreement. Rabbit grazing complements the use of livestock and helps maintain the short sward necessary for many of the interest features. Llyn Coron is a shallow lake used for trout fishing – it is regularly re-stocked with brown trout since feeder streams do not

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support good spawning grounds. Nutrient pollution from the lake catchment is evident in high P levels and resultant algal blooms. The Afon Ffraw has a history of dredging and apparent straightening in places by the water authority and more recently “cleaning” by the Environment Agency and the water level in Llyn Coron is retained by a small sluice. Ynys Llanddwyn was the base for the Newborough Pilots (guiding ships to Caernarfon) until the early 20th century and later became the first RSPB reserve in Wales when a tern colony thrived there. It retains a (disused) lighthouse and an exhibition centre. Newborough village was famed for its marram weaving industry up to the early 20th century, the grass being harvested from the dunes. Over half of the system was afforested with Corsican pine between 1947 – 1965 smothering most of the original dune vegetation, lowering the water table and preventing further geomorphological development. The forest has become a popular recreational asset and provides the main access point to the beach. The remainder of the dunes are managed (along with Ynys Llanddwyn and the adjacent estuaries) as a National Nature Reserve. Small parts are registered as Common Land, and there are public rights of way across the dunes but from 1955 to 1986 there was virtually no livestock grazing of the dunes, which in conjunction with the declines of rabbits due to myxomatosis disease, led to a thick grass cover and decline in the floristic richness of the dunes. The reintroduction of light grazing – now over 80% of the open dunes - has been accompanied by a recovery of the rabbit population and improved sward conditions. The construction of the Malltraeth “Cob” about 1824 led to the constriction of the Cefni esturary, reducing the tidal prism and initiating a phase of rapid sedimentation, the build-up of mudflats and saltmarsh and the growth of the northern lobe of dunes. The invasion of cord grass, Spartina anglica, may have accelerated this accumulation. A “three estuaries” agreement between the then Nature Conservancy (now CCW) and the then Wildfowl Association of Great Britain & Ireland (now BASC) in 1965 established that wildfowling would be permitted on Y Foryd and Traeth Cefni (the latter under a CCW permit system) whilst the Braint estuary (Traeth Melynog) would be managed as a sanctuary. A brief tidal “washover” of the Abermenai shingle spit in the early 1970s led to the reinforcement of the spit with slate boulders by the Caernarfon Harbour Trust in an attempt to ensure that a second channel into the Menai Strait does not arise, threatening the depth of navigation. The ensuing stability led to the accumulation of dunes on the spit and reduction of shingle habitat, contributing to the loss of the adjacent little tern colony in 1979, perhaps abetted by the arrival of foxes on the island. Morfa Dinlle, like Aberffraw and Newborough dunes, was used for wartime military training including bomb disposal. The area supported the last little tern colony in NW Wales till 1987. Sheep grazing has predominated for many years and, with a large rabbit population, maintained the short sward of the lichen heath. Some eastern parts of the site were used for sewage sludge disposal prior to SSSI notification. The mudflats of the Cefni and Braint estuaries support designated shellfish beds managed by the NW&NWSFC as public fisheries. Both estuaries support small beds of the seagrass Zostera noltii.

2.4 Management Units The plan area has been divided into management units to enable practical communication about features, objectives, and management. This will also allow us to differentiate between the different designations where necessary. In this plan the management units have been based on physiographic features, landowner/occupier, grazing units and common land boundaries. Maps showing the management units accompany this plan.

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The following table confirms the relationships between the management units and the designations covered:

Unit number

SAC SSSI CCW owned or managed

Other

Newborough Warren – Ynys Llanddwyn SSSI N1 a a a NNR N2 a a N3 a a a NNR N4 a a a NNR N5 a a a NNR N6 a a a NNR N7 a a a NNR N8 a a a NNR N9 a a a NNR N20 a a N21 a a a NNR N22 a a a NNR N23 a a a NNR N24 a a N25 a a a NNR N26 a a a NNR N27 a a a NNR N28 a a a NNR N29 a a a NNR N30 a a a NNR N31 a a a NNR N32 a a a NNR N33 a a Tywyn Aberffraw SSSI A1 a a A2 a a A3 a a A4 a a A5 a a A6 a a A7 a a A8 a a A9 a a Morfa Dinlle SSSI MD1 a a MD2 a a MD3 a a MD4 a MD5 a MD6 a LNR

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3. THE SPECIAL FEATURES 3.1 Confirmation of Special Features

Designated feature Relationships, nomenclature etc Conservation Objective in part 4

SAC features Embryonic shifting dunes Part of SSSI “Strandline, foredune

and mobile dune communities” feature and the “Coastal landforms and the processes controlling beach and dune development” feature

1

Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria ("white dunes")

Part of SSSI “Strandline, foredune and mobile dune communities”. Coastal landforms and the processes controlling beach and dune development.

2

Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation (`grey dunes`)* (Habitats Directive priority feature)

Includes the SSSI “Semi-fixed/fixed dune grassland communities” fearure and part of the “Coastal landforms and the processes controlling beach and dune development” feature.

3

Dunes with Salix repens ssp. argentea (Salicion arenariae)

Part of the SSSI “Dune slack / mire communities” feature and the “Coastal landforms and the processes controlling beach and dune development” feature.

4

Humid dune slacks Part of the SSSI “Dune slack / mire communities” feature and the “Coastal landforms and the processes controlling beach and dune development” feature.

5

Natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition-type vegetation

Tywyn Aberffraw & Newborough Warren

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Transition mires and quaking bogs Other SAC feature found on site 7 Petalwort Petalophyllum ralfsii = Petalwort (a liverwort). 8 Shore Dock Rumex rupestris = The nationally rare shore dock 9 Great crested newt Triturus cristatus Other SAC feature found on site

Part of the SSSI “An assemblage of amphibians including great crested newt” feature.

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Estuaries Afon Ffraw, Cefni, Braint. 11 Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand

Part of the SSSI “Saltmarsh communities from the lower to the upper zones including glasswort (Salicornia spp)” feature.

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13

Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide

Includes the SSSI “Intertidal sandflat and mudflat communities” feature and the “Coastal landforms and the processes controlling beach and dune development” feature.

13

Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-Puccinellietaliamaritimae)

Part of SSSI “Saltmarsh communities from the lower to the upper zones including glasswort (Salicornia spp)” feature.

14

Spartina swards (Spartinion maritimae)

Part of SSSI “Saltmarsh communities from the lower to the upper zones including glasswort (Salicornia spp)” feature.

15

Vegetated sea cliffs of the Atlantic and Baltic coasts

Includes SSSI “Precambrian rocks exposed in coastal cliffs, foreshore exposures and inland outcrops.” feature

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SPA features Not applicable Ramsar features Not applicable SSSI features Coastal landforms and the processes controlling beach and dune development.

Morfa Dinlle, Newborough Warren & Tywyn Aberffraw.

Precambrian rocks exposed in coastal cliffs, foreshore exposures and inland outcrops.

Newborough Warren

Intertidal rocky shore communities and rock pools

Newborough Warren

Shingle / boulders above high water mark

Morfa Dinlle

Intertidal sandflat and mudflat communities.

Newborough Warren & Tywyn Aberffraw. Inc SAC “Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide”

Saltmarsh communities from the lower to the upper zones including glasswort (Salicornia spp).

Newborough Warren & Tywyn Aberffraw. Inc SAC “Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand, and Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-Puccinellietalia maritimae) and Spartina swards (Spartinion maritimae)”.

Sand dunes, including strandline, foredune, mobile dune, fixed dune grassland, wet slacks and dune heath communities.

Morfa Dinlle, Newborough Warren & Tywyn Aberffraw. Inc SAC “Embryonic shifting dunes”, “Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria ("white dunes")” “Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation (`grey dunes`)*” (Habitats Directive priority feature), Dunes with Salix repens ssp. argentea (Salicion arenariae)” & Humid dune slacks

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Standing water (mesotrophic) Llyn Coron, Llyn Rhos-ddu The nationally rare shore dock. Newborough Warren, Inc. SAC

“Shore Dock Rumex rupestris” feature.

An assemblage of nationally rare and nationally scarce vascular plant species.

Newborough Warren & Tywyn Aberffraw.

Gentianella campestris Tywyn Aberffraw. Dune heleborine Epipactis dunensis Newborough Warren /Forest &

Tywyn Aberffraw

Yellow bird’s nest Monotropa hypopitys

Newborough Warren / Forest

Crowberry Empetrum nigum Ynys Llanddwyn Fir clubmoss Huperzia selago Newborough Warren & Tywyn

Aberffraw

Welsh marsh orchid Dactylorhiza purpurella ssp cambrensis

Newborough Warren

An assemblage of nationally rare and nationally scarce lower plants (mosses, liverworts, fungi).

Newborough & Tywyn Aberffraw.

Nail fungus. Poronia punctata Newborough Warren Petalwort Petalophyllum ralfsii (a liverwort).

Newborough Warren . Inc. SAC “Petalwort Petalophyllum ralfsii” feature

A moss Bryum callophyllum Tywyn Aberffraw. A moss Bryum warneum Tywyn Aberffraw. A liverwort Southbya tophacea Tywyn Aberffraw. An assemblage of nationally rare and nationally scarce stoneworts (large freshwater algae).

Newborough Warren

Baltic stonewort. Newborough Warren Golden hair lichen. Newborough Warren An assemblage of dune invertebrate species.

Newborough Warren & Tywyn Aberffraw.

Medicinal leech. Newborough Warren Sandhill rustic (a moth). Newborough Warren A bee, Colletes cunicularis Newborough Warren & Tywyn

Aberffraw.

A marine polychaete worm Ophelia bicornis.

Newborough Warren

A sand shrimp Gammarus chevreuxi Tywyn Aberffraw. An assemblage of amphibians including great crested newt.

Newborough Warren

Over-wintering waders/wildfowl including pintail.

Newborough Warren

A non-breeding population of raven Newborough Warren Breeding cormorant. Newborough Warren

3.2 Special Features and Management Units

This section sets out the relationship between the special features and each management unit. This is intended to provide a clear statement about what each unit should be managed for,

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taking into account the varied needs of the different special features. All special features are allocated to one of seven classes in each management unit. These classes are: Key Features KH - a ‘Key Habitat’ in the management unit, i.e. the habitat that is the main focus of management and monitoring effort, perhaps because of the dependence of a key species (see KS below). There will rarely be more than one Key Habitat in a unit. KS – a ‘Key Species’ in the management unit, often driving both the selection and management of a Key Habitat. Geo – an earth science feature that is the main focus of management and monitoring effort in a unit. Other Features Sym - habitats, species and earth science features that are of importance in a unit but are not the main focus of management or monitoring. These features will benefit from management for the key feature(s) identified in the unit. These may be classed as ‘Sym’ features because: a) they are present in the unit but are of less conservation importance than the key feature;

and/or b) they are present in the unit but in small areas/numbers, with the bulk of the feature in

other units of the site; and/or c) their requirements are broader than and compatible with the management needs of the key

feature(s). Nm - an infrequently used category where features are at risk of decline within a unit as a result of meeting the management needs of the key feature(s), i.e. under Negative Management. These cases will usually be compensated for by management elsewhere in the plan, and can be used where minor occurrences of a feature would otherwise lead to apparent conflict with another key feature in a unit. Mn - Management units with no special feature present but which are of importance for management of features elsewhere on a site e.g. livestock over-wintering area included within designation boundaries. x – Features not present in the management unit.

The tables below sets out the relationship between the special features and management units identified in this plan:

Newborough Warren – Ynys Llanddwyn SSSI Land Unit Number N1 N2 N3 N4 N5 N6 N7 N8 N9 N20 SAC a a a a a a a a a a SSSI a a a a a a a a a a NNR/CCW managed a a a a a a a a SAC Features Embryonic shifting dunes x x x x x x x x x x Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria ("white dunes")

x x x x x x x x x KH





Humid dune slacks x x x x x x x x x KH

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x x x x x x x x x X

Transition mires and quaking bogs x x x x x x x x x X

Petalwort Petalophyllum ralfsii x x x x x x x x x Sym

Shore Dock Rumex rupestris x x x x KS x x x x KS

Great crested newt Triturus cristatus x x x x x x x x x x Estuaries x x KH Sym x x x KH x x Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand

x x KH x x x x KH x x


x x KH x x x x KH x x


Sym x KH KH x x x KH x x

Spartina swards (Spartinion maritimae) x x Vegetated sea cliffs of the Atlantic and Baltic coasts x x x x x x x x x x SSSI Features Coastal landforms and the processes controlling beach and dune development.

x x Sym x Sym Geo Geo Geo x Geo


x x x x x x Geo x x Sym

Intertidal rocky shore communities and rock pools

x x x x x x x x KH

Intertidal sandflat and mudflat communities. x x Sym Sym x Sym Sym Sym x x Saltmarsh communities from the lower to the upper zones including glasswort (Salicornia spp).

Sym x x Sym x x x Sym x x

Sand dunes, including strandline, foredune, mobile dune, fixed dune grassland, wet slacks and dune heath.

x x x x Sym x x x x Sym

Standing water (mesotrophic) Sym x x Sym x x x x x Sym

The nationally rare shore dock. x x x x Sym x x x x x

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Sym X Sym X Sym x x Sym x Sym

Dune Heleborine Epipactis dunensis x x x x x x x x x Sym

Yellow birds nest Monotropa hypopitys x x x x x x x x x Sym

Welsh Marsh orchid Dactylorhiza purpurella ssp cambrensis

x x x Sym x x x x x Sym


x x x x x x x x x Sym

Petalwort Petalophyllum ralfsii (a liverwort). x x x x x x x x x Sym

An assemblage of nationally rare and nationally scarce stoneworts (large freshwater algae).


Baltic stonewort. x x x x x x x x x Sym Medicinal leech. x x x x Sym x x x x Sym Sandhill rustic (a moth). x x x x x x x x x x A marine polychaete worm Ophelia bicornis. x x KS x x x x x x x An assemblage of amphibians including great crested newt.


Breeding bird assemblage of sand dune and saltmarsh

Sym x x x x Sym Sym x x x

Over-wintering waders & wildfowl including pintail. KS x Sym Sym x x x Sym x x A non-breeding population of ravens Sym Sym Sym Sym x Sym Sym Sym x Sym

Breeding cormorants. Sym x x x x x x x x x Newborough Warren – Ynys Llanddwyn SSSI Land Unit Number N21 N22 N23 N24 N25 N26 N27 N28 N29 N30 SAC a a a a a a a a a a SSSI a a a a a a a a a a NNR/CCW managed a a a a a a a a a SAC Features Embryonic shifting dunes KH Sym x KH Sym KH x x x x Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria ("white dunes")

Sym Sym x KH Sym KH x x x x


x KH KH x KH Sym x KH KH x

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x Sym x x KH Sym x Sym Sym x

Humid dune slacks Sym KH Sym Sym Sym Natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition-type vegetation

x x x x x x x x x x

Transition mires and quaking bogs x x x x x x x x x x Petalwort Petalophyllum ralfsii x x x x KS Sym x x x x Shore Dock Rumex rupestris x x x x x x x x x x Great crested newt Triturus cristatus x x x x x x x x x x Estuaries x x x x x x x x x x Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand

x x x x x x x x x x


x x x x x x x x x x


x x x x x x x x x x

Spartina swards (Spartinion maritimae) x x x x x x x x x x Vegetated sea cliffs of the Atlantic and Baltic coasts x Sym x x x x x x x x SSSI Features Coastal landforms and the processes controlling beach and dune development.

Geo x x Geo Geo Geo Geo Geo


x Geo x x x x x x x x

Intertidal sandflat and mudflat communities. Sym x x x x x x x x x


Sym Sym Sym Sym Sym Sym x Sym Sym x

Standing water (mesotrophic) x x x x x x x x x Sym


x Sym Sym Sym Sym Sym x Sym Sym x

Gentianella campestris Dune Heleborine x x x x Sym x x x x x

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Epipactis dunensis Crowberry Empetrum nigrum x Sym x x x x x x x x

Fir clubmoss Huperzia selago x x x x Sym x x x x x


x x Sym Sym Sym Sym x Sym Sym x

Nail fungus. Poronia punctata x Sym Sym Sym KS x x KS KS x

Petalwort Petalophyllum ralfsii (a liverwort). x x x x KS x x x x x

An assemblage of nationally rare and nationally scarce stoneworts (large freshwater algae).

x x x x Sym x x Sym x Sym

Baltic stonewort. x x x x Sym x x x x x Golden hair lichen. x Sym x x x x x x x x An assemblage of dune invertebrate species. Sym Sym Sym x Sym Sym x x Sym x

Medicinal leech. x x x x x x x x x KS Sandhill rustic (a moth). KS x x KS Sym Sym x x x x A bee, Colletes cunicularis x x x x Sym x x x x x

An assemblage of amphibians including great crested newt.

x x Sym x Sym Sym x Sym Sym Sym

Breeding bird assemblage of sand dune and saltmarsh

Sym Sym x Sym Sym Sym x Sym Sym x

Over-wintering waders & wildfowl including pintail.

A non-breeding population of ravens x x Sym Sym Sym Sym x x x x

Breeding cormorants. x KS x x x x x x x x Newborough Warren – Ynys Llanddwyn SSSI Land Unit Number N31 N32 N33 SAC a a a SSSI a a a NNR/CCW managed a a SAC Features

Embryonic shifting dunes x x KH Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria ("white

dunes") x x KH

Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation (`grey dunes`)* (Habitats Directive priority feature) x x x

Dunes with Salix repens ssp. argentea (Salicion arenariae) x x x Humid dune slacks x x x

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Natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition-type vegetation x KH x

Transition mires and quaking bogs x x x Petalwort Petalophyllum ralfsii x x x Shore Dock Rumex rupestris x x x Great crested newt Triturus cristatus Estuaries x x x Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand x x x Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide x x x Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-Puccinellietaliamaritimae) x x x Spartina swards (Spartinion maritimae) x x x Vegetated sea cliffs of the Atlantic and Baltic coasts x x x SSSI Features Coastal landforms and the processes controlling beach and dune development. Sym x Geo

Sand dunes, including strandline, foredune, mobile dune, fixed dune grassland, wet slacks and dune heath. x x Sym

An assemblage of nationally rare and nationally scarce vascular plant species. x x Sym

An assemblage of nationally rare and nationally scarce stoneworts (large freshwater algae). x Sym x

An assemblage of dune invertebrate species. x x Sym Sandhill rustic (a moth). x x KS An assemblage of amphibians including great crested newt. KS Sym x Breeding bird assemblage of sand dune and saltmarsh x x Sym A non-breeding population of ravens x x Sym Tywyn Aberffraw Land Unit Number A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 A9 SAC a a a a a a a a a SSSI a a a a a a a a a NNR/CCW owned SAC Features Embryonic shifting dunes x x x x x x x x KH Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria ("white dunes")

x x x x x x x x KH


x x x x x x KH Sym KH

Dunes with Salix repens ssp. argentea (Salicion arenariae) x x x x x x x Sym KH

Humid dune slacks x x x x x x x Sym KH

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x x KH KH KH Sym x x x

Transition mires and quaking bogs x x x x x x x x x

Petalwort Petalophyllum ralfsii x x x x x x x x KS Shore Dock Rumex rupestris x x x x x x x x x Great crested newt Triturus cristatus x x x x x x x x x

Estuaries KH Sym x x x x x x x Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand Sym x x x x x x x x


Sym Sym x x x x x x x


Sym x x x x x x x x

Spartina swards (Spartinion maritimae) x x x x x x x x x

Vegetated sea cliffs of the Atlantic and Baltic coasts x x x x x x x x x

SSSI Features Coastal landforms and the processes controlling beach and dune development.

Geo Geo Sym x x Geo Geo Geo

Saltmarsh communities from the lower to the upper zones including glasswort (Salicornia spp).

Sym x x x x x x x Sym


x x x x x x Sym x Sym

Standing water (mesotrophic) x x Sym Sym Sym Sym x x x An assemblage of nationally rare and nationally scarce vascular plant species.

Sym x x Sym Sym Sym x x Sym

Gentianella campestris x x x x x x x x Sym An assemblage of nationally rare and nationally scarce lower plants (mosses, liverworts, fungi).

x x x x x x x x Sym

Petalwort Petalophyllum ralfsii (a liverwort). x x x x x x x x KS

A moss Bryum callophyllum x x x x x x x x Sym A moss Bryum warneum x x x x x x x x Sym A liverwort Southbya tophacea x x x x x x x x Sym An assemblage of dune invertebrate species. x x x x x x Sym x Sym

A bee, Colletes cunicularis x x x x x x x x Sym A sand shrimp Gammarus chevreuxi x x Sym x x x x KS x

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Morfa Dinlle Land Unit Number MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5

SAC a a a a a SSSI a a a a a

NNR/CCW owned LNR SAC Features

Embryonic shifting dunes KH Sym x x x Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila

arenaria ("white dunes") KH KH x x x

Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation (`grey dunes`)* (Habitats Directive priority feature) KH KH x x x

Dunes with Salix repens ssp. argentea (Salicion arenariae) x x x x x

Humid dune slacks x x x x x Natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or

Hydrocharition-type vegetation x x x x x

Transition mires and quaking bogs x x x x x Petalwort Petalophyllum ralfsii x x x x x

Shore Dock Rumex rupestris x x x x x Great crested newt Triturus cristatus x x x x x

Estuaries x x x x x Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand x x x x x

Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide x x x x x Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-Puccinellietaliamaritimae) x x x x x

Spartina swards (Spartinion maritimae) x x x x x Vegetated sea cliffs of the Atlantic and Baltic coasts x x x x x

SSSI Features Coastal landforms and the processes controlling beach and

dune development. Geo Geo Geo Geo Geo

Shingle / boulders above high water mark Sym x x x x Intertidal sandflat and mudflat communities. x x x KH KH

Sand dunes, including strandline, foredune, mobile dune, fixed dune grassland, wet slacks and dune heath. Sym Sym x x x

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4. CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

Background to Conservation Objectives:

a. Outline of the legal context and purpose of conservation objectives.

Conservation objectives are required by the 1992 ‘Habitats’ Directive (92/43/EEC). The aim of the Habitats Directives is the maintenance, or where appropriate the restoration of the ‘favourable conservation status’ of habitats and species features for which SACs and SPAs are designated (see Box 1). In the broadest terms, 'favourable conservation status' means a feature is in satisfactory condition and all the things needed to keep it that way are in place for the foreseeable future. CCW considers that the concept of favourable conservation status provides a practical and legally robust basis for conservation objectives for Natura 2000 and Ramsar sites.

Achieving these objectives requires appropriate management and the control of factors that may cause deterioration of habitats or significant disturbance to species. As well as the overall function of communication, Conservation objectives have a number of specific roles: • Conservation planning and management.

The conservation objectives guide management of sites, to maintain or restore the habitats and species in favourable condition.

Box 1 Favourable conservation status as defined in Articles 1(e) and 1(i) of the Habitats Directive “The conservation status of a natural habitat is the sum of the influences acting on it and its typical species that may affect its long-term natural distribution, structure and functions as well as the long term survival of its typical species. The conservation status of a natural habitat will be taken as favourable when:

• Its natural range and areas it covers within that range are stable or increasing, and • The specific structure and functions which are necessary for its long-term

maintenance exist and are likely to continue to exist for the foreseeable future, and • The conservation status of its typical species is favourable.

The conservation status of a species is the sum of the influences acting on the species that may affect the long-term distribution and abundance of its populations. The conservation status will be taken as ‘favourable’ when:

• population dynamics data on the species indicate that it is maintaining itself on a

long-term basis as a viable component of its natural habitats, and • the natural range of the species is neither being reduced nor is likely to be reduced

for the foreseeable future, and • There is, and will probably continue to be, a sufficiently large habitat to maintain

its populations on a long-term basis.”

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• Assessing plans and projects. Article 6(3) of the ‘Habitats’ Directive requires appropriate assessment of proposed plans and projects against a site's conservation objectives. Subject to certain exceptions, plans or projects may not proceed unless it is established that they will not adversely affect the integrity of sites. This role for testing plans and projects also applies to the review of existing decisions and consents.

• Monitoring and reporting.

The conservation objectives provide the basis for assessing the condition of a feature and the status of factors that affect it. CCW uses ‘performance indicators’ within the conservation objectives, as the basis for monitoring and reporting. Performance indicators are selected to provide useful information about the condition of a feature and the factors that affect it.

The conservation objectives in this document reflect CCW’s current information and understanding of the site and its features and their importance in an international context. The conservation objectives are subject to review by CCW in light of new knowledge. b. Format of the conservation objectives There is one conservation objective for each feature listed in part 3. Each conservation objective is a composite statement representing a site-specific description of what is considered to be the favourable conservation status of the feature. These statements apply to a whole feature as it occurs within the whole plan area, although section 3.2 sets out their relevance to individual management units. Each conservation objective consists of the following two elements:

1. Vision for the feature 2. Performance indicators

As a result of the general practice developed and agreed within the UK Conservation Agencies, conservation objectives include performance indicators, the selection of which should be informed by JNCC guidance on Common Standards Monitoring1. There is a critical need for clarity over the role of performance indicators within the conservation objectives. A conservation objective, because it includes the vision for the feature, has meaning and substance independently of the performance indicators, and is more than the sum of the performance indicators. The performance indicators are simply what make the conservation objectives measurable, and are thus part of, not a substitute for, the conservation objectives. Any feature attribute identified in the performance indicators should be represented in the vision for the feature, but not all elements of the vision for the feature will necessarily have corresponding performance indicators. As well as describing the aspirations for the condition of the feature, the Vision section of each conservation objective contains a statement that the factors necessary to maintain those desired conditions are under control. Subject to technical, practical and resource constraints, factors which have an important influence on the condition of the feature are identified in the performance indicators.

1 Available through www.jncc.gov.uk and follow links to Protected Sites and Common Standards Monitoring.

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4.1 Conservation Objective for Feature 1: Embryonic shifting dunes ( EU Ref: 2110) Vision for feature 1 The vision for this feature is for it to be in a favourable conservation status, where all of the following conditions are satisfied: • The distribution and extent of embryonic shifting dunes in late summer is determined by the

availability of naturally accreting sand and strand line organic material. However, we would not expect all this potential embryonic dune habitat area to be vegetated in any one year and embryonic dunes may be absent in some years. Continuous absence over the six-year reporting cycle would cause the condition to be considered unfavourable.

• The potential for the embryonic shifting dunes element of the typical zonation, from beach to fixed dune, is intact along the soft coastal frontage. This includes an unrestricted supply of sediment, opportunity for aeolian transport and naturally occurring organic strandline material.

• The typical species of the strandline vegetation include Atriplex spp., Beta vulgaris, Cakile maritime, Honkenya peploides, Salsola kali.

• The typical species of the embryonic dune vegetation include Elytrigia juncea and /or Leymus arenarius.

• All factors affecting the achievement of these conditions are under control. Performance indicators for Feature 1 The performance indicators are part of the conservation objective, not a substitute for it. Assessment of plans and projects must be based on the entire conservation objective, not just the performance indicators. Performance indicators for feature condition Attribute Attribute rationale and

other comments Specified limits

Extent The extent of embryonic dunes varies naturally during and between years. Correct juxtaposition of ecological zones is a mandatory attribute of feature condition

On Tywyn Aberffraw and Newborough Warren dune systems: Extent should correspond to areas known to have a build up of sand, (extent of embryonic shifting dunes may be subject to periodic and seasonal variation). and Zonation from beach to fixed dune should be intact over at least 95% of coastal frontage.

Quality Derived from JNCC common standard.

Sample targets for Embryonic shifting dunes. On Tywyn Aberffraw and Newborough Warren dune systems: A strandline is present (in areas with a build up of sand), with 60% of points being good quality strandline and Embryonic dunes are present (in years when there is a strandline recorded) on the seaward side of the mobile frontal dune ridge, with 60% of points being good quality embryonic shifting dunes.

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Site-specific habitat definitions Strandline Vegetation on the seaward side of the frontal mobile dune ridge above the

Mean High Water line with: Atriplex spp., Beta vulgaris, Cakile maritima, Honkenya peploides, and Salsola kali.

Good quality strandline Good quality strandline vegetation will have the following attributes; Within a 50cm radius of each sampling point.

1. At least one of the following species is present, Atriplex spp., Beta vulgaris, Cakile maritima, Honkenya peploides, and Salsola kali.

2. Vehicle and visitor damage at vulnerable locations are absent. Embryonic shifting dunes Small mobile sand hummocks with Elytrigia juncea and / or Leymus

arenarius present within 50cm radius of any point. Good quality Embryonic shifting dunes

Good quality Embryonic shifting dunes will have the following attributes; Within a 50cm radius of each sampling point.

1. At least one of the following species is present, Elytrigia juncea and Leymus arenarius.

2. Elytrigia juncea and / or Leymus arenarius are flowering and / or fruiting.

3. Vehicle and visitor damage at vulnerable locations are absent. Sampling approach Mapping Sampling method Presence or absence of habitat Sample size 50cm radius Performance indicators for factors affecting the feature Factor Factor rationale and other

comments Operational Limits

Sediment and strand line supply

Embryonic dunes depend on organic strandline material and mobile sand.

There should be no significant man-made obstruction to longshore drift or extraction of sand from foreshore or offshore source area. No removal of natural organic debris (beach “cleaning”)

4.2 Conservation Objective for Feature 2: Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria ("white dunes") (2120) Vision for feature 2 The vision for this feature is for it to be in a favourable conservation status, where all of the following conditions are satisfied: • Shifting dunes with Ammophila arenaria are present along the dune front facing prevailing

(southwest) winds where sediment supply is adequate. • There should be no decrease in the total (aggregate) area of qualifying dune habitats for which this

site was designated (i.e., the sum total of qualifying dune habitat should not diminish). The extent and location of individual dune habitat features may be subject to periodic and seasonal variation.

• The shifting dunes element of the typical zonation from beach to fixed dune is intact along the soft coastal frontage.

• Bare ground is present. • The typical species of the shifting dune vegetation include Ammophila arenaria, Leymus

arenarius, Elymus farctus, Eryngium maritimum, Euphorbia portlandica, Euphorbia paralias, and Calystegia soldanella.

• All factors affecting the achievement of these conditions are under control.

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Performance indicators for Feature 2 The performance indicators are part of the conservation objective, not a substitute for it. Assessment of plans and projects must be based on the entire conservation objective, not just the performance indicators. Performance indicators for feature condition Attribute Attribute rationale and other comments Specified limits Extent The extent of shifting dunes varies

naturally during and between years. Correct juxtaposition of ecological zones is a mandatory attribute of feature condition Derived from JNCC common standards.

On Tywyn Aberffraw and Newborough Warren dune systems: “Young” shifting dunes are present in areas where a build up of sand has been previously recorded. and Zonation from beach to fixed dune should be intact over at least 95% of coastal frontage

Quality Derived from JNCC common standards. Sample target for shifting dunes: On Tywyn Aberffraw and Newborough Warren dune systems: “Young” shifting dunes are present. and ≥ 60% of “young” shifting dune points recorded are good quality shifting dunes.

Site-specific habitat definitions “Young” shifting dunes

Sandy hummocks (<1m high) situated on the seaward side of the mature fore-dunes, typically vegetated with tussocks of Ammophila arenaria and often with Leymus arenarius and other strandline species, e.g. Honckenya peploides sparsely distributed.

Good quality “young” shifting dunes

Good quality “young” shifting dunes will have the following attributes; Within a 1m radius of each sampling point.

1. At least one of the following species is present, Ammophila arenaria and Leymus arenarius.

2. Ammophila arenaria and / or Leymus arenarius are flowing and / or fruiting.

Within a 2m radius of each sampling point. 3. The following negative indicator species are absent; Arrhenatherum

elatius, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Lolium perenne, and Urtica dioica.

4. Hippophae rhamnoides is absent. 5. Non-native species are absent.

Vehicle or visitor damage is absent. Sampling approach

Mapping

Sampling method Presence or absence of habitat Sample point size 1m and 2m radius Performance indicators for factors affecting the feature Factor Factor rationale and other comments Operational Limits Sediment and strand line supply

Shifting dunes depend on organic strandline material and mobile sand and the growth of (particularly) marram and lyme grass.

There should be no significant man-made obstruction to longshore drift or extraction of sand from foreshore or offshore source area. No removal of natural organic debris (beach “cleaning”)

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4.3 Conservation Objective for Feature 3: Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation (`grey dunes`)* (Habitats Directive priority feature) Vision for feature 3 The vision for this feature is for it to be in a favourable conservation status, where all of the following conditions are satisfied:

• The distribution of fixed dunes within the site may vary in response to natural dynamic processes and changes to other qualifying dune habitats for the site.

• There should be no decrease in the total area of fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation. • The fixed dunes element of the typical zonation from beach to fixed dune is intact along the

soft coastal frontage. • Bare ground is present • The typical species of the fixed dune vegetation include Cerastium fontanum, Crepis

capillaris, Cladonia spp., Peltigera spp., Erodium cicutarium, Geranium molle, Luzula campestris, Odontites verna, Pilosella officinarum, Plantago lanceolata, Prunella vulgaris, Festuca rubra, Galium verum, Anacamptis pyramidalis, Thymus polytrichus, Sedum acre, Veronica chamaedrys, Carex arenaria, C. flacca, Euphrasia officinalis, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypochaeris radicata, Linum catharticum, Lotus corniculatus, Ononis repens, Rhinanthus minor, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, R triquetrus, Tortula muralis Viola canina, V. riviniana and V. tricolor.

• All factors affecting the achievement of these conditions are under control. Performance indicators for Feature 3 The performance indicators are part of the conservation objective, not a substitute for it. Assessment of plans and projects must be based on the entire conservation objective, not just the performance indicators. Performance indicators for feature condition Attribute Attribute rationale and other comments Specified limits Extent Common Standards Monitoring

mandatory requirement. Where changes are due to natural change this is not a decline in condition. Fixed dune is a priority habitat feature, subject to special regulations.

Fixed dunes should be present (extent should be quantified by sampling, i.e. grid mapping, remote sensing etc. and Zonation from beach to fixed dune should be intact over ≥95% of coastal frontage. and There is no decrease in the total area of qualifying dune habitats.

Quality Sample targets for fixed dunes. Tywyn Aberffraw: ≥65% of the fixed dune points recorded at each monitoring plot are “good quality fixed dune vegetation”. and ≥65% of the fixed dune monitoring points will have a sward height between 2cm and 10cm in April. Newborough Warren:

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≥65% of the fixed dune points recorded are “good quality fixed dune vegetation”. and ≥65% of the fixed dune monitoring points will have a sward height between 2cm and 10cm in April.

Site-specific habitat definitions Fixed dunes: Short grassland on fixed or semi-fixed flattened dunes with herbs, bryophytes

and no more than small patches of bare sand and Ammophila arenaria. Good quality calcareous fixed dunes:

Good quality calcareous fixed dunes will have the following attributes; Within a 50cm radius of each sampling point.

1. At least eight of the following positive indicator species are present; Aira praecox, Arrhenatherum elatius (SD9 only), Carex arenaria, Carex flacca, Cerastium fontanum, Crepis capillaris, Cladonia spp., Erodium cicutarium, Euphrasia officinalis, Festuca rubra, Galium verum, Geranium molle, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypochaeris radicata, Linum catharticum, Lotus corniculatus, Luzula campestris, Odontites verna, Ononis repens, Peltigera spp., Pilosella officinarum, Plantago lanceolata, Prunella vulgaris, Rhinanthus minor, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Thymus praecox, Tortula muralis, Trifolium repens, Sedum acre Veronica chamaedrys, Viola canina, Viola riviniana, Viola tricolor.

Within a 2m radius of each sampling point.

2. The following negative indicator species are absent; Arrhenatherum elatius (not SD9), Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Epilobium spp., Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Rosa spp. (excluding R. pimpinellifolia), R. fruticosus, Trifolium repens and Urtica dioica.

3. Hippophae rhamnoides is absent. 4. Non-native species are absent. 5. Bracken is absent. 6. Trees and scrub are absent.

Vehicle and visitor damage are absent. Good quality acidic fixed dunes:

Good quality acidic fixed dunes will have the following attributes; Within a 50cm radius of each sampling point.

1. At least six of the following positive indicator species are present; Aira praecox, Agrostis capillaris, Astragalus danicus, Carex arenaria, Carex pilulifera, Cladonia spp., Deschampsia flexuosa, Dicranum scoparium, Festuca ovina, Galium saxatile, Hylocomium splendens, Hypochaeris radicata, Lotus corniculatus, Luzula campestris, Pilosella officinarum, Polygala serpyllifolia, Plantago lanceolata, Pleurozium schreberi, Potentilla erecta, Rumex acetosella, Scleropodium purum, Thymus praecox, Trifolium repens, Veronica chamaedrys, Viola canina.


2. The following negative indicator species are absent; Arrhenatherum elatius, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Lolium perenne, Rosa spp. (excluding R. pimpinellifolia), Rubus fruticosus, and Urtica dioica.

3. Hippophae rhamnoides is absent. 4. Non-native species are absent. 5. Bracken is absent. 6. Trees and scrub are absent.

Vehicle and visitor damage are absent.

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Trees and scrub Acer pseudoplatanus, Betula spp., Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Salix spp. (excluding S. repens), and conifers.

Sampling approach

Mapping

Sampling method Presence or absence of habitat and structured walk Sample size 50cm and 2m radius Performance indicators for feature condition fixed dune – lichen heath Attribute Attribute rationale and other

comments Specified limits

Extent On Morfa Dinlle dune system: Fixed dune – lichen heath should be found within area A. and Zonation from beach to fixed dune should be intact over ≥95% of coastal frontage. and There is no decrease in the total area of qualifying dune habitats.

Quality Sample target for fixed dune – lichen heath. On Morfa Dinlle dune system: ≥ 80% of fixed dune – lichen heath monitoring points are “good quality fixed dune – lichen heath”.

Site-specific habitat definitions Fixed dune – lichen heath

Lichens and bryophytes will be a prominent feature along with dune annuals and perennials whereas only scattered shoots of short grass species should be present. Bulky grasses or vigorous herbaceous plants should be absent or at least very rare.

Good quality fixed dune – lichen heath

Good quality fixed dune – lichen heath vegetation will have the following attributes; Within a 1m radius of each sampling point.

1. Lichen and bryophyte cover (combined) is ≥ 25%. 2. Grass cover is ≤ 10%. 3. Vegetation height (excluding grass inflorescences) is ≤ 8cm. 4. Dunging by horses or cattle is absent. 5. Trampling is absent. 6. Vehicle damage beyond the limits of the tracks is absent.

Sampling approach

Mapping

Sampling method Presence or absence of habitat Sample size 1m radius Performance indicators for factors affecting the feature Operational Limits F1. Livestock grazing

Fixed dune grassland requires light grazing to maintain the species-rich sward and open structure with warm bare earth patches for dune invertebrates. Large livestock crop the coarse vegetation and enable rabbit grazing to prosper on the short sward. However, the fluctuations of rabbit numbers can mean that there is highly

Upper limit: 0.25LSU/ha/annum Lower limit: 0.01LSU/ha/annum

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variable quantity of herbage available to other livestock. Operational limits are set for large livestock (mega-herbivores), not small mammals etc.

4.4 Conservation Objective for Feature 4: Dunes with Salix repens ssp. argentea (Salicion arenariae) Vision for feature 4 The vision for this feature is for it to be in a favourable conservation status, where all of the following conditions are satisfied:

• The distribution of dunes with Salix repens ssp argentea is consistent with the typical dune zonation and where topographic conditions are suitable. The location of dunes with Salix repens ssp argentea within the site may vary in response to natural dynamic processes and changes to other qualifying dune habitats for the site

• There should be no decrease in the total (aggregate) area of qualifying dune habitats for which this site was designated (i.e., the sum total of qualifying dune habitat should not diminish). The extent of individual dune habitat features may be subject to periodic and seasonal variation.

• Salix repens is at least frequent and generally 5 - 30cm tall. • Opportunities for the initiation of embryonic dune slacks by wind erosion exist. • Bare ground is present. • The groundwater level is appropriate in winter and summer. • Groundwater quality is unaffected by pollution. • The typical species include Salix repens, Carex arenaria, C flacca, Euphrasia officinalis,

Festuca rubra, Lotus corniculatus, Ononis repens, Equisetum variegatum, Epipactis palustris, Epipactis leptochila spp dunensis and Pilosella officinarum.

• All factors affecting the achievement of these conditions are under control. Performance indicators for Feature 4 The performance indicators are part of the conservation objective, not a substitute for it. Assessment of plans and projects must be based on the entire conservation objective, not just the performance indicators. Note that although the dune slacks are naturally mobile features, a point emphasised in the objectives, their relative longevity allows individual slacks to be monitored Performance indicators for feature condition Attribute Attribute rationale and other comments Specified limits Extent Common Standards Monitoring

mandatory requirement. Where changes are due to natural change this is not a decline in condition.

Extent of the Dunes with Salix repens) as mapped in the “Life” Monitoring Project (1999). Tywyn Aberffraw: Slacks C, G and I are attributable to dunes with Salix repens. and Newborough Warren: Slacks not labelled as “humid” are attributable to dunes with Salix repens.

Quality Lower limit Sample targets for dunes with Salix repens. Tywyn Aberffraw: Slacks C, G and I have ≥90% dunes with Salix

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repens points. and ≥70% of the dunes with Salix repens points at each slack are “good quality dunes with Salix repens vegetation”. Newborough Warren: Slacks not labelled as “humid” have ≥90% dunes with Salix repens points. and ≥70% of the dunes with Salix repens points at each slack are “good quality dunes with Salix repens vegetation”.

Site-specific habitat definitions

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Dunes with Salix repens Dry dune slacks or low dunes with grasses and herbs, and with little if any bare sand, where willow (Salix arenaria or S. repens) is present at high cover (>50%)

Good quality Dunes with Salix repens Good quality Dunes with Salix repens will have the following attributes; Within a 1m radius of each sampling point.

1. Cover of Salix arenaria and / or S. repens is >50%.

2. Vegetation height of Salix arenaria and / or S. repens is between 5-30cm.

3. No more than three patches of bare ground / sand dominated patches are present.

4. At least two of the following indicator species are present; Carex arenaria, C. flacca, Euphrasia officinalis, Festuca rubra, Lotus corniculatus, Ononis repens, Pilosella officinarum.

5. Large patches of broad-leaved grass dominated swards are absent

Within a 2m radius of each sampling point. 6. The following are absent; Arrhenatherum

elatius, Cirsium arvense, C. palustre, C. vulgare, Lolium perenne, Pteridium aquilinum, Senecio jacobaea, Urtica dioica.

7. Scrub and trees are absent. Bare ground / sand dominated patch 10cm x 10cm patch with > 50% cover of bare

ground / sand. Grass dominated sward Grass dominated swards greater than 400cm 2 in

total area (with a minimum width of at least 10cm) i.e. 20cm x 20cm, 10cm x 40cm, 30cm x 13.3cm, 15cm x 26.7cm etc. are absent.

Broad leaved grasses Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Holcus spp.

Sampling approach Mapping. Sampling method Presence or absence of habitat.

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Sample size 50cm and 1m radii. Performance indicators for factors affecting the feature Factor Factor rationale and other comments Operational Limits F1. Livestock grazing


F2. Water table Water table determines the physiographic form of dune slacks by wind scouring and the subsequent biota of the dune slack.

Winter: Upper limit: 50cm (above g.l.) Lower limit: -10cm Summer : Upper limit: -40cm Lower limit: -200cm

F3. Winter flooding

In particular, winter surface flooding reduces grass dominance and enables the characteristic flora of the slack to compete

Slacks must show standing surface water in late winter.

F4. Water quality Pollution of groundwater by nutrients (notably N & P) from atmospheric or surface water sources would alter the natural dune flora.

Total P Upper limit: tba Lower limit: tba Total N: Upper limit: 2mg/l Lower limit: not set

4.5 Conservation Objective for Feature 5: Humid dune slacks (2190) Vision for feature 5 The vision for this feature is for it to be in a favourable conservation status, where all of the following conditions are satisfied:

• The distribution of humid dune slacks is consistent with the typical dune zonation and where topographical conditions are suitable. The location of humid dune slacks within the site may vary in response to natural dynamic processes and changes to other qualifying dune habitats for the site.

• There should be no decrease in the total (aggregate) area of qualifying dune habitats for which this site was designated (i.e., the sum total of qualifying dune habitat should not diminish). The extent and location of individual dune habitat features may be subject to periodic and seasonal variation.

• All humid dune slack communities should be present, from embryonic dune slacks with a high % of bare ground to more closed vegetation with Salix repens.

• Opportunities for the initiation of embryonic dune slacks (by wind erosion) exist. • Bare ground is present. • The ground water level is appropriate in winter and summer. • Ground water quality is unaffected by pollution. • The typical species include Salix repens, Carex arenaria, C flacca, Equisetum variegatum,

Lotus corniculatus, Ononis repens, Potentilla anserina, Galium palustre, Mentha aquatica, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Campyllium stellatum, Prunella vulgaris, Ranunculus flammula, Calliergon cuspidatum, Anagallis tenella. Parnassia palustris, Selaginalla selaginoides, Dactylorhiza incarnata and Epipactis palustris.

• Petalwort occurs in humid dune slacks in which Equisetum variegatum is frequent at Aberffraw and Newborough compartments.

• All factors affecting the achievement of these conditions are under control.

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Performance indicators for Feature 5 The performance indicators are part of the conservation objective, not a substitute for it. Assessment of plans and projects must be based on the entire conservation objective, not just the performance indicators. Performance indicators for feature condition Attribute Attribute rationale and other comments Specified limits Quality Sample targets for the Humid

dune slacks. Tywyn Aberffraw: Slacks A, D and E have ≥90% humid dune slack points. and ≥70% of the humid dune slack points recorded at each slack are “good quality humid dune slack vegetation”. Newborough Warren: Slacks A-T have ≥90% humid dune slack points. and ≥70% of the humid dune slack points recorded at each slack are “good quality humid dune slack vegetation”.

Site-specific habitat definitions Humid dune slack vegetation Vegetation ranging from embryo successional

stages, consisting of short, open swards dominated by a low and patchy cover of Salix repens, mosses and thalloid liverworts, through to more developed species-rich vegetation assemblages. The more developed stages consist of an often closed canopy with a bushy component of S. repens, an extensive carpet of bryophytes and a rich mix of higher plants, e.g. Carex flacca, Dactylorhiza incarnata, D. purpurella, Epipactis palustris, Equisetum variegatum, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Mentha aquatica and Schoenus nigricans.

Embryo slack vegetation Embryo slack vegetation will have the following attributes; Within a 50 cm radius of each sampling point;

1. 25-50% open ground. 2. Salix repens forming clonal patches. 3. At least two of the following are present;

Carex arenaria, Equisetum variegatum, Sagina nodosa and Juncus articulatus.


4. The following are absent; Calamagrostis epigeios, Cirsium spp., Hippophae rhamnoides, Molinia caerulea, Phragmites australis, Urtica dioica.

5. Trees and scrub are absent.

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Good quality humid dune slack vegetation Humid dune slack vegetation will have the following attributes; Within a 1m radius of each sampling point;

1. Bryophytes are present. 2. At least five of the following are present;

Anagallis tenella, Carex spp., Dactylorhiza incarnata, D. purpurella, Eleocharis quinqueflora, Epipactis palustris, Equisetum variegatum, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Juncus bufonis, Mentha aquatica, Parnassia palustris, Pinguicula vulgaris, Potentilla anserina, Pyrola rotundifolia, Ranunculus flammula, Salix repens, Schoenus nigricans.

3. ≤ 25% grass cover.

Within a 2m radius of each sampling point; 4. The following are absent; Anthyllis

vulneraria, Cirsium spp., Hippophae rhamnoides, Holcus lanatus, Ranunculus acris, R. bulbosus, Rhinanthus minor, Trifolium spp., Urtica dioica.

5. Trees and scrub are absent. Sampling approach Mapping Sampling method Presence or absence of habitat Sample size 50cm, 1m and 2m radii Performance indicators for factors affecting the feature Factor Factor rationale and other comments Operational Limits F1. Livestock grazing


F2. Water table Water table determines the physiographic form of dune slacks by wind scouring and the subsequent biota of the dune slack.

Winter: Upper limit: 50cm (above g.l.) Lower limit: 2cm (above g.l.) Summer : Upper limit: -20cm Lower limit: -100

F3. Water quality Pollution of groundwater by nutrients (notably N & P) from atmospheric or surface water sources would alter the natural dune flora.

Total P Upper limit: tba Lower limit: tba Total N: Upper limit: 2mg/l Lower limit: not set

F4. Winter flooding

In particular, winter surface flooding reduces grass dominance and enables the characteristic flora of the slack to compete

Slacks must show standing surface water in late winter.

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4.6 Conservation Objective for Feature 6: Natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition-type vegetation Vision for feature 6 The vision for this feature is for it to be in a favourable conservation status, where all of the following conditions are satisfied:

• The distribution of the lakes reflects their physiographic status as dune-dammed lakes of shallow valleys.

• The extent (area) of the habitat is 30ha, except if reduced by natural succession to swamp or bog.

• The catchment of the lakes continues to provide adequate quality and quantity of water. • Appropriate water level is maintained throughout the year, (seasonal fluctuation +/- 30cm). • Water quality is characteristic of maritime, high alkalinity shallow lakes, such as to maintain

pH 7-9, alkalinity 1500-2500µeq/l, dissolved oxygen and peak annual Total Phosphorus <50µg/l.

• Chlorophyll α values are low, and sufficient to allow both lakes to be passed as ‘Good’ or better for a ‘high alkalinity shallow lake’ using Water Framework Directive classification methods.

• The typical species are submerged aquatic plants including Elatine hydropiper, Potamogeton trichoides, P pectinatus P. perfoliatus P. lucens, Ranunculus circinatus, , Eleocharis acicularis, Myriophyllum spicatum, Callitriche hermaphroditica, , and Chara spp..

• Emergent aquatic plants, typically Phragmites australis, Schoenoplectus lacustris, Sparganium erectum, Typha latifolia, Alisma plantago-aquatica, and Litorella uniflora should be present on the shoreline.

• Invasive or disruptive species such as Crassula helmsii or coarse fish should be absent. • All factors affecting the achievement of these conditions are under control.

Performance indicators for Feature 6 The performance indicators are part of the conservation objective, not a substitute for it. Assessment of plans and projects must be based on the entire conservation objective, not just the performance indicators. Performance indicators for feature condition Attribute Attribute rationale and other comments Specified limits A1. Extent of habitat

Lakes are essentially temporary elements of the landscape but are not expected to change extent significantly over the 6 year reporting cycle. Extent is closely related to water level.

Llyn Coron Upper limit: not set Lower limit: 28ha Llyn Rhos du Upper limit: not set Lower limit: 2.2ha

A2. Condition of feature

Elatine hydropiper, Potamogeton trichoides, P pectinatus P. perfoliatus P. lucens, Ranunculus circinatus, , Eleocharis acicularis, Myriophyllum spicatum, Callitriche hermaphroditica / truncata, and Chara spp..

Upper limit: not set Lower limit: Elatine hydropiper, Potamogeton trichoides, P pectinatus P. perfoliatus P. lucens, Ranunculus circinatus, , Eleocharis acicularis, Myriophyllum spicatum, Callitriche hermaphroditica / truncata, and Chara spp.. all present

A3. Presence of alien invasive spp

Canadian pondweed and Himalayan balsam are both present on the site. The latter could be controlled. Swamp stonecrop Crassula helmsii, Water fern

Plants: Upper limit: no exotic invasive aquatics at more “occasional” frequency on the “DAFOR scale

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Azolla filiculoides and Parrot’s feather Myriophyllum aquaticum all have the capacity to disrupt the ecosystem of these lakes. Bottom feeding fish which cause the re-suspension of P enriched sediments are particularly damaging.

Lower limit: none Fish: Upper limit: presence of carp or bream Lower limit: none

Performance indicators for factors affecting the feature Factor Factor rationale and other comments Operational Limits F1 Water level Stability of water level can be as

important as absolute level – although exposed margins can offer feeding to waders, emergent plant species are likely to suffer. Water levels may be measured by existing gauge boards at key locations and by in lake depth sensors linked to data loggers (installed on Llyn Rhos-du).

Upper limit: +/- 30cm Lower limit: none

F2. Water quality Water quality determines the nature and productivity of the lakes, but is also affected by complex feedback systems within the lake. High P levels enable blue green algae (which can fix atmospheric nitrogen) to bloom in profusion, smothering the biota. High N levels enable green to thrive with similar effect. Both must be controlled. Catchment management is the key to achieving this. Water quality will be assessed by regular analysis of determinands including pH, conductivity, alkalinity, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), total phosphorus (TP), Chlorophyll, total nitrogen (TN), nitrate nitrogen, sulphate, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, chloride.

Total P: Upper limit: mean annual peak levels of Total P: 50µg/l Lower limit: not set Total N: Upper limit: Mean annual peak levels of Total N and Winter Nitrate: 2mg/ll Lower limit: not set Secchi disk readings Upper limit: not set Lower limit: 2m

4.7 Conservation Objectives for feature 7: Transition mires and quaking bogs

This is a minor SAC feature and no specific conservation objectives are required at this stage.

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4.8 Conservation Objective for Feature 8: Petalwort Petallophyllum ralfsii Vision for feature 8 The vision for this feature is for it to be in a favourable conservation status, where all of the following conditions are satisfied:

• The population of petalwort is stable or increasing. • Petalwort occurs in humid dune slacks in which Equisetum variegatum is frequent, across all

sectors of the site where habitat conditions are suitable, i.e. Aberffraw and Newborough compartments.

• Humid dune slack with bare sand or humus crust and short vegetation characterised by Equisetum variegatum is present at Aberffraw and Newborough compartments where sediment and hydrological conditions permit. (see Objective for humid dune slacks ).

• Competition (including shading) from other species is controlled. • All factors affecting the achievement of these conditions are under control.

Performance indicators for Feature 8 The performance indicators are part of the conservation objective, not a substitute for it. Assessment of plans and projects must be based on the entire conservation objective, not just the performance indicators. Performance indicators for feature condition Attribute Attribute rationale and other comments Specified limits A1. Extent of feature

P. rallfsii is typically found in humid dune slacks on the thin algal crust. It must be surveyed after a warm wet period in late winter – frost destroys the thalli and the plant is invisible during later seasonal desiccation.

At Aberffraw: P. ralfsii is present in at least 4 separate slacks In at least two separate slacks at Aberffraw P.ralfsii is present at a density of >10x thallii per m2 covering an area of at least 25m2 At Newborough Warren: P ralfsii is present in more than 8 separate slacks including at least 3 slacks within Newborough forest. In at least two separate slacks at Newborough Warren P.ralfsii is present at a density of >10x thallii per m2 covering an area of at least 25m2

A2. Condition of habitat

Moist habitat on level ground typically with Salix repens present. Isolated from other slacks by dune ridges.

There should be > 25%bare sand, <15% grasses, 1 of the following should be present: Equisetium variegatum or Salix repens

Performance indicators for factors affecting the feature Factor Factor rationale and other comments Operational Limits See factors for humid dune slacks.

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4.9 Conservation Objective for Feature 9: Shore dock Rumex rupestris Vision for feature 9 The vision for this feature is for it to be in a favourable conservation status, where all of the following conditions are satisfied:

• The population of shore dock is stable or increasing. • Shore dock occurs in at least 3 locations across the site. • Opportunities occur for marine dispersal of seed. • Open streamside, coastal soft cliff seepages or dune slack pool habitat is adequate for its

survival. • Adequate freshwater supply is maintained. • Bare ground or disturbed areas are maintained (e.g. by grazing animals) to permit germination. • Competition (including shading) from other species is controlled. • All factors affecting the achievement of these conditions are under control.

Performance indicators for Feature 9 The performance indicators are part of the conservation objective, not a substitute for it. Assessment of plans and projects must be based on the entire conservation objective, not just the performance indicators. Performance indicators for feature condition Attribute Attribute rationale and other comments Specified limits Presence / absence Spatial target R. rupestris should be found at the

following locations within Newborough Warren; Stream site A. Stream site B. Pond site. Sample target for Newborough Warren. Stream site A + Stream site B

≥ 70 individuals

Fire pond ≥ 30 individuals.

Number of individuals

Number chose to reflect minimum viable population size. This is probably an underestimate and does not account for past “bottleneck” numbers (<25) which could have induced genetic impoverishment of the population N.B. If all the quality targets are met

but the species cannot be found then the feature should be referred to the Country Agency botanical specialists.

Vegetation structure

Sensitive to light competition. Requires open vegetation.

No Phragmites or scrub or overhanging trees.

Performance indicators for factors affecting the feature Factor Factor rationale and other comments Operational Limits Disturbance R rupestris requires bare ground for seed

to germinate. This can be provided by natural erosion or by livestock poaching.

Natural erosion of cliffs / banks present–banks should not be over stabilised, nor over-eroded.

Hydrology Species invariably rooted in wet ground, preferably in seepages, though dune pool and fire pool sites suggests movement may be minor factor.

Continual presence of surface freshwater. No culverting of streams

Water quality High water quality required. Not clear whether this is inherent requirement of the species or to reduce competition.

No excessive algal growth, no sewage outfall.

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4.10 Conservation objective for feature 10: Great Crested newt

This is a minor SAC feature and no specific conservation objectives are required at this stage. 4.11 Conservation Objective for Feature 11: Estuaries Vision for feature 11 The vision for this feature is for it to be in a favourable conservation status, where all of the following conditions are satisfied: • the distribution and extent of the estuaries, and their encompassed habitats, are determined

predominantly by natural structure and environmental processes • the natural habitat structures necessary for the long-term maintenance of the estuaries and their

encompassed habitats and typical species are maintained; • the granulometry and structure of the estuaries’ sediments, and their natural variation, distribution

and extent, are determined predominantly by natural sediment supply and transport processes • the quality of habitat structure is no more degraded as a consequence of human action or by

materials of anthropogenic origin • the natural environmental processes necessary for the long-term maintenance of the estuaries,

their encompassed habitats and their typical species are maintained • Water & sediment chemistry are determined predominantly by natural hydrodynamic,

hydrological and meteorological processes • the salinity regime and gradients within the estuaries are determined predominantly by natural

hydrodynamic, hydrological and meteorological processes • typical species are determined predominantly by inherent population dynamics and ecological

processes • the species richness, population dynamics, abundance, biomass, population structures,

physiological health, reproductive capacity, recruitment, range and mobility are maintained • the management of activities or operations likely to degrade the distribution, extent, structure,

function or typical species populations of the feature, is appropriate for maintaining favourable conservation status and is secure in the long-term;

and • the management of existing commercial fisheries for typical species ensures that species

exploitation is at or below maximum sustainable yield and is secure in the long-term. NB. Detailed requirements for the maintenance of favourable condition for the other estuarine habitat features4 and their typical species are provided under their respective conservation objectives. Performance indicators for Feature 11: Estuaries The performance indicators are part of the conservation objective, not a substitute for it. Assessment of plans and projects must be based on the entire conservation objective, not just the performance indicators. Performance indicators for feature condition Attribute Attribute rationale and other comments Specified limits Extent Total area (ha) of estuarine communities

within the site measured periodically using a combination of remote sensing and ground truthing using GPS (frequency to be determined).

No decrease in extent from an established baseline.

Spatial distribution of estuarine communities

Macro spatial pattern of estuarine communities measured periodically using a combination of remote sensing

Zonation of clean sands to muddy sands to mud from the mouth of the estuary to the upper estuary is

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and ground truthing using GPS (frequency to be determined).

maintained. Salt marsh remains along sheltered shores of the mid to upper estuary.

Performance indicators for factors affecting the feature Factor Factor rationale and other comments Operational Limits Substrata / geomorphology

The presence of a range of sediments determines the distribution of biotopes. Sediment size distribution measured by granulometric sampling along transect(s)) or grid within the estuary (sample locations and frequency to be determined).

Sediment size distribution should not deviate significantly from an established baseline. Baseline to be further established.

Levels of toxic contaminants in the water column

Concentrations of contaminants monitored at intervals during the tidal cycle (methodology, sampling locations and frequency to be determined ).

Compliance with all appropriate water quality standards.

4.12 Conservation Objective for Feature 12: Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand Vision for feature 12 The vision for this feature is for it to be in a favourable conservation status, where, subject to natural processes1 all of the following conditions are satisfied: • the distribution and extent of Salicornia and other annuals is determined predominantly by natural

structure and environmental processes; • the natural habitat structures necessary for the long-term maintenance of Salicornia and other

annuals and their typical species are maintained; • the granulometry and structure of Salicornia and other annuals’ sediments, and their natural

variation, distribution and extent, are determined predominantly by natural sediment supply and transport processes;

• the geomorphology of the Salicornia and other annuals feature, and its natural variation, distribution and extent, are determined predominantly by the underlying geology and natural environmental processes;

• the natural environmental processes necessary for the long-term maintenance of the Salicornia and other annuals feature and its typical species, are maintained;

• the hydrographic and meteorological processes necessary for the long-term maintenance of the Salicornia and other annuals feature and its typical species are determined predominantly by natural environmental processes;

• the salinity regime and gradients of the Salicornia and other annuals feature are determined predominantly by natural hydrodynamic, hydrological and meteorological processes;

• nutrients in the water column and sediments remain within ranges that are not potentially detrimental to the long-term maintenance of the Salicornia and other annuals’ communities, their distribution and range;

• contaminants in the water column and sediments derived from human activity remain below levels potentially detrimental to the long-term maintenance of the Salicornia and other annuals’ communities, their distribution and range;

• dissolved oxygen levels in the water column and sediments are determined predominantly by natural environmental processes

• communities of typical species are maintaining their conservation status on a long-term basis as viable components of the Salicornia and other annuals’ habitats

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• the management of activities or operations likely to degrade the distribution, extent, structure, function or typical species communities of the feature, is appropriate for maintaining favourable conservation status and is secure in the long-term.

Performance indicators for Feature 12 The performance indicators are part of the conservation objective, not a substitute for it. Assessment of plans and projects must be based on the entire conservation objective, not just the performance indicators. Performance indicators for feature condition Attribute Attribute rationale and other comments Specified limits Extent Area (ha) of individual Salicornia and

other annuals NVC communities, measured at low water periodically during the reporting cycle using a combination of remote sensing and GPS (frequency to be determined).

Due to the dynamic nature of the habitat, extent is naturally highly variable. Target is no anthropogenic decrease in habitat extent.

A1. Distribution Present in Cefni & Braint estuaries. A2. Condition In this dynamic environment change is

expected from year to year. Allowance is therefore made for wide variation. Transects are established across the marsh..

Within Cefni estuary: Salicornia present (>5% of transect) in at least 1 of the 3 transects for the estuary and at least 75% of the Salicornia points within each transect should be attributable to good condition Salicornia. Within Braint estuary: Salicornia present (>5% of transect) in at least 2 of the 3 transects for the estuary and at least 75% of the Salicornia points within each transect should be attributable to good condition Salicornia.

Distribution and extent of common cordgrass Spartina anglica community SM6 within the pioneer saltmarsh zone.

S anglica is an invasive species capable of impacting on Salicornia marsh, thought this is often a response to other perturbations in the estuary. Area (ha) of Spartina anglica community (SM6), measured at low water once during the reporting cycle using a combination of remote sensing and GPS.

No increase in extent of Spartina anglica within the Braint estuary (Traeth Melynog) pioneer saltmarsh from an established baseline.. Increased S anglica is to be expected within the Cefni estuary (Malltraeth sands) in response to physical changes to the estuary over past 2 centuries.

Site specific habitat definitions Salicornia Vegetation where within a given 50cm radius search area the following criteria

are met: Sueda maritima, Sarcocornia and /or Salicornia spp forms the dominant vegetation cover.

Good condition Salicornia

Areas of Salicornia habitat where there are no bare patches as a result of anthropogenic activity such as vehicle use, turf cutting, cockling or poaching damage from stock. Enteromorpha sp mats with anoxic layers are absent. No obvious signs of pollution. Spartina. anglica not increasing (except in Cefni estuary where successional response to Cob embankment is to be expected)

Performance indicators for factors affecting the feature

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Factor Factor rationale and other comments Operational Limits Vehicular damage Wheeled vehicles can have serious

impact on the habitat, causing direct damage to plants and compaction of the substrate.

Upper limit: No vehicle tracks should be visible within the habitat. Lower limit. None

4.13 Conservation Objective for Feature 13: Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide Vision for feature 13 The vision for this feature is for it to be in a favourable conservation status, whereall of the following conditions are satisfied: • the distribution and extent of the mudflats and sandflats, and their encompassed habitat, are

determined predominantly by natural structure and environmental processes • the natural habitat structures necessary for the long-term maintenance of the mudflats and

sandflats, and their encompassed habitat and typical species are maintained • the granulometry and structure of the mudflats and sandflats’ sediments, and their natural

variation, distribution and extent, are determined predominantly by natural sediment supply and transport processes

• the quality of habitat structure is no more degraded as a consequence of human action or by materials of anthropogenic origin

• the natural environmental processes necessary for the long-term maintenance of the mudflats and sandflats, their encompassed habitats and their typical species are maintained

• Water & sediment chemistry are determined predominantly by natural hydrodynamic, hydrological and meteorological processes

• the salinity regime and gradients within the mudflats and sandflats are determined predominantly by natural hydrodynamic, hydrological and meteorological processes

• typical species are determined predominantly by inherent population dynamics and ecological processes

• the species richness, population dynamics, abundance, biomass, population structures, physiological health, reproductive capacity, recruitment, range and mobility are maintained

• the management of activities or operations likely to degrade the distribution, extent, structure, function or typical species populations of the feature, is appropriate for maintaining favourable conservation status and is secure in the long-term;

and • the management of existing commercial fisheries for typical species ensures that species

exploitation is at or below maximum sustainable yield and is secure in the long-term. Performance indicators for Feature 13 The performance indicators are part of the conservation objective, not a substitute for it. Assessment of plans and projects must be based on the entire conservation objective, not just the performance indicators. Performance indicators for feature condition Attribute Attribute rationale and other comments Specified limits Extent

Total area (ha) of intertidal mudflat and sandflat communities within the site measured periodically during the reporting cycle using a combination of remote sensing and ground truthing of boundaries between communities using GPS (frequency to be determined).

No decrease in extent of intertidal mudflats and sandflats from an established baseline.

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Distribution of biotopes

Assessment of the distribution of biotope(s) within the mf&sf feature identified for the site.

Overall pattern and distribution of biotopes to reflect natural zonation.

Community composition

Number of different biotopes within the mf&sf feature measured by field visit periodically during the reporting cycle (frequency to be determined).

No decrease in the variety of biotopes from an established baseline. Baseline to be further established

Extent of notable biotopes

Seagrass Zostera noltii and tasselweed Ruppia maritima are notable communities on Treath Melynog and Traeth Cefni. Extent (area) of coverage to be determined.

No decrease in area of Zostera spp or Ruppia beds in Braint and Cefni estuaries which cannot be ascribed to natural processes.

Species composition of notable biotopes

Invasive species have the capacity to disrupt ecosystem functions. Presence may be undesirable but not disruptive if at low frequency.

Invasive alien species, e.g Crepidula fornicata or Sargassum muticum are no more than “occasional”. Presence of Ophelia bicornis once during reporting cycle.

Performance indicators for factors affecting the feature Factor Factor rationale and other comments Operational Limits Water quality To be determined based on external

sources e.g. EAW. Compliance with all appropriate water quality standards.

4.14 Conservation Objective for Feature 14: Atlantic salt meadow (ASM) Vision for feature 11 The vision for this feature is for it to be in a favourable conservation status, where, subject to natural processes1 all of the following conditions are satisfied: • the distribution and extent of the saltmeadows is determined predominantly by natural structure

and environmental processes; • the natural habitat structures necessary for the long-term maintenance of the saltmeadows and

typical species are maintained; • the granulometry and structure of the saltmeadows’ sediments, and their natural variation,

distribution and extent, are determined predominantly by natural sediment supply and transport processes;

• the geomorphology of the saltmeadows, and their natural variation, distribution and extent, are determined predominantly by the underlying geology and natural environmental processes;

• the hydrographic and meteorological processes necessary for the long-term maintenance of the saltmeadows and their typical species are determined predominantly by natural environmental processes;

• the salinity regime and gradients within the saltmeadows are determined predominantly by natural hydrodynamic, hydrological and meteorological processes;

• nutrients in the water column and sediments are within ranges that are not potentially detrimental to the long-term maintenance of the saltmeadows’ communities, their distribution and range;

• contaminants in the water column and sediments derived from human activity remain below levels potentially detrimental to the long-term maintenance of the saltmeadows’ communities, their distribution and range;

• dissolved oxygen levels in the water column and sediments are determined predominantly by natural environmental processes;

• the zonation of saltmarsh from pioneer, lower mid marsh and upper mid marsh and their transitions to fresh water and terrestrial vegetation are maintained;

• communities of typical species are maintaining their conservation status on a long-term basis as

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viable components of the saltmeadows’ habitats, • the species richness, community dynamics, abundance, biomass, community structures,

physiological health, reproductive capacity, recruitment and range are maintained: • the management of activities or operations likely to degrade the distribution, extent, structure,

function or typical species comunities of the feature, is appropriate for maintaining favourable conservation status and is secure in the long-term.

Performance indicators for Feature 14 The performance indicators are part of the conservation objective, not a substitute for it. Assessment of plans and projects must be based on the entire conservation objective, not just the performance indicators. Performance indicators for feature condition Attribute Attribute rationale and other comments Specified limits Extent of Atlantic salt meadow

Total area (ha) of Atlantic saltmarsh communities within the site measured periodically during the reporting cycle using a combination of remote sensing and ground truthing of boundaries between communities using GPS (frequency to be determined). Due to the dynamic nature of the environment, no target can realistically be set for the individual component zones of Atlantic salt meadow.

Upper limit: n/a Lower limit: No decrease in total extent of Atlantic salt meadow communities from an established baseline.

Condition of ASM In this dynamic environment change is expected from year to year. Allowance is therefore made for wide variation. Transects are established across the marsh.

Within each transect: 75% of the sample points fall within ASM and at least 75% of these points should be attributable to good condition ASM Of the sample points classed as ASM, the following zonation will be present: >5% pioneer, >5% low-mid shore, >5% mid-upper shore.

Creek system and salt pan pattern

Density and morphology of creek systems and salt pans measured periodically during the reporting cycle using remote sensing (frequency to be determined)

No anthropogenic alteration of creek patterns or loss off pans from an established baseline.

Zonation of vegetation

Width of pioneer, low-mid marsh, mid-upper marsh, and transitional high marsh saltmarsh zones, measured along a series of transects around the estuary, periodically during the reporting cycle, using a combination of remote sensing and ground survey (transect locations and frequency of survey to be determined).

The zonation of saltmarsh communities including the terrestrial transitional communities around the estuary should not deviate significantly from an established baseline.

Sward structure Sward height of Atlantic salt meadow communities measured periodically during the reporting cycle in late summer using a combination of remote sensing and field visits.

The extent and distribution of vegetation communities exhibiting different sward heights should not deviate significantly from an established baseline. Baseline to be established

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Site specific habitat definitions ASM (Atlantic salt meadow)

Vegetation where within a given 50cm radius search area the following criteria are met: - The positive indicator species for the given ASM zone are present.

ASM zones Vegetation where, within a given 50cm radius search area, the following species are present: Pioneer zone: one or two of Salicornia spp, Sueada maritime, Puccinellia maritima, Aster tripolium. Low-mid marsh: Puccinellia maritima, Atriplex portulacoides or Salicornia spp, present and 2 of: Triglochin maritima, Plantago maritima, Aster tripolium, Spergularia media, Sueada maritima, turf fucoids Mid-upper marsh: 4 of the spp listed are present: Aster tripolium Glaux maritima Plantago maritima Armeria maritima Festuca rubra Juncus gerardii Triglochin maritima Carex extensa C. Flacca Agrostis stolonifera Juncus maritimus Limonium vulgare Seriphidium (Armeria) maritimum Blysmus rufus Eleocharis uniglumis Leontodon autumnalis Turf fucoids

Good condition ASM

Areas of ASM where there are no bare patches as a result of anthropogenic activities such as vehicle use, turf cutting or poaching damage from livestock. Enteromorpha sp. mats with anoxic layers are absent. No obvious signs of pollution. Spartina anglica is not generally increasing, (except in the Cefni estuary where further expansion is inevitable in response to the constriction of the estuary by Mallraeth Cob). The sward height is within acceptable limits for each given transect.

Performance indicators for factors affecting the feature Factor Factor rationale and other comments Operational Limits Livestock grazing The maintenance of a consistent grazing

regime on salt marsh is important in distinguishing some of the component communities, for instance Atriplex portulacoides is highly sensitive to grazing and quickly disappears from grazed marshes. Grazing is mostly absent from Braint & Cefni marshes except for occasional strays. Cattle on Aberffraw common have access to Afon Fraw saltmarsh.

Upper limit: very light grazing (0.05LSU/ha) Lower limit: none

Vehicular damage Wheeled vehicles can have serious impact on the habitat, causing direct damage to plants and compaction of the substrate.

Upper limit: No vehicle tracks should be visible within the habitat. Lower limit. None

4.15 Conservation Objective for Feature 15: Spartina swards (Spartinion maritimae) This is a minor SAC feature and no specific conservation objectives are required at this stage. 4.16 Conservation Objective for Feature 16: Vegetated sea cliffs of the Atlantic and Baltic coasts This is a minor SAC feature on this site and no specific conservation objectives are required at this stage.

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5. ASSESSMENT OF CONSERVATION STATUS AND MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS This part of the document provides: • A summary of the assessment of the conservation status of each feature. • A summary of the management issues that need to be addressed to maintain or restore each feature. 5.1 Conservation Status and Management Requirements of Feature 1: Embryonic shifting dunes Conservation Status of Feature 1: Unfavourable The embryonic shifting dunes at Y Twyni o Abermenai i Aberffraw / Abermenai to Aberffraw Dunes SAC, as monitored in 2005 are in an unfavourable condition largely due to failure to meet the target for the range of zones within the vegetation structure (a CSM mandatory attribute), i.e. the intact zonation between embryonic dunes through yellow dune to fixed dune grassland along 95% of the frontage. This is primarily due to the afforestation of unit 20 (001901). Management Requirements of Feature 1 Embryonic shifting dunes are ephemeral features, often removed in winter storms and re-forming in varying locations and amounts in the summer. Management requirements include the retention of a natural organic strandline and the avoidance of, e.g. mechanical beach cleaning which has become a problem elsewhere or artificial dune defences which may encourage beach scouring and alteration of the sediment supply. Heavy recreational trampling can also damage the feature and this is apparent on small sections of Llanddwyn beach but is generally within tolerable limits. The main action required to restore the feature to favourable conservation status is the restoration of the natural zonation to fixed dune grassland. Removal of confer plantation near the shore and its restoration to mobile dune and fixed dune grassland is necessary. Discussion has been underway with the Forestry Commission (since 2000) for this under the Forest Design Plan process. 5.2 Conservation Status and Management Requirements of Feature 2: Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria Conservation Status of Feature 2: Unfavourable The shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria (“white dunes”) at Y Twyni o Abermenai i Aberffraw / Abermenai to Aberffraw Dunes SAC in 2005 are in an unfavourable condition largely due to failure to meet the target for the range of zones within the vegetation structure (a CSM mandatory attribute), i.e. the intact zonation between embryonic dunes through yellow dune to fixed dune grassland along 95% of the frontage. This is primarily due to the afforestation of unit 20 (001901). The area of shifting dunes has contracted dramatically over the past half century, and is now concentred in a narrow band about 100- 200m wide behind the embryonic dunes, with smaller outliers at the landward edge of some slacks where dune ridges maintain some mobility. There is particularly good representation of this feature at Tywyn Aberffraw, including some inland examples, whereas at Newborough Warren the feature is compromised by the conifer plantation, which has truncated the normal zonation from yellow dune to fixed dune grassland in Unit 20. Management Requirements of Feature 2 Shifting dunes require a regular sand supply and the opportunity for mobility – both wind erosion and periods of marine erosion can occur naturally. Mobile dunes are very resilient to disturbance if permitted to recover naturally. Problems may occur where persistent recreational access is concentrated (e.g. at car parks or access points) where special measures or structures may be required to facilitate recovery.

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The main action required to restore the feature to favourable conservation status is the restoration of the natural zonation to fixed dune grassland. Removal of conifer plantation near the shore and its restoration to mobile dune and fixed dune grassland is necessary. Discussion has been underway with the Forestry Commission (since 2000) for this under the Forest Design Plan process. 5.3 Conservation Status and Management Requirements of Feature 3: Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation (“grey dunes”) Conservation Status of Feature 3: Unfavourable The fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation (“grey dunes”) at Y Twyni o Abermenai i Aberffraw / Abermenai to Aberffraw Dunes SAC in 2005 are in an unfavourable condition due in part to the truncation of the natural zonation by the conifer plantation at Newborough and to the preponderance of grassy conditions in the fixed dune – lichen heath vegetation on Morfa Dinlle. Management Requirements of Feature 3 The fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation (“grey dunes”) require light grazing to maintain open conditions. There is a dynamic relationship between large herbivores (currently sheep, cattle and ponies) and small grazers, notably rabbits. Large herbivores remove the coarse vegetation and enable rabbits to thrive on the short turf. The restoration of livestock grazing to Newborough dunes from 1986 onwards has been instrumental in restoring the condition of much of this feature from its former coarse grass dominated state. This site has accordingly become a demonstration areas for dune conservation management throughout the UK. However, levels of livestock grazing declined on Tywyn Aberfraw and a dense grass thatch has developed in parts since 2000. Recent restoration of cattle grazing is expected to improve the situation. Levels of grazing on Morfa Dinlle should be reviewed to ascertain whether there is long-term decline in commensal rabbit grazing. 5.4 Conservation Status and Management Requirements of Feature 4: Dunes with Salix repens ssp argentea (Salicion arenariae) Conservation Status of Feature 4: Unfavourable The dunes with Salix repens ssp. argentea (Salicion arenariae) at Y Twyni o Abermenai I Aberffraw / Abermenai to Aberffraw Dunes SAC in 2005 are in an unfavourable condition. The monitoring results (Creer 2006) show that the dunes with Salix repens vegetation at Tywyn Aberffraw is in an unfavourable condition and the dunes with Salix repens vegetation at Newborough Warren is in a favourable condition. However, for the feature to be considered in a favourable condition at Abermenai to Aberffraw Dunes SAC, each of the SSSIs possessing the feature would have to fulfil the requirements of the performance indicators (see Table 27). Thus, the overall condition of the dunes with Salix repens vegetation at Abermenai to Aberffraw Dunes SAC is unfavourable. The cause of this condition is not entirely clear, but would appear to be related to lowered water tables and the development of scrub in at least some cases. Management Requirements of Feature 4 Continuation of grazing management is required, particularly where the development of scrub and rank grassland is apparent, for instance on Tywyn Aberffraw where a period of abandonment of the grazing regime may be partly responsible for an increase in scrub on the site. Restored water table (see feature 5) should also assist the management of this feature in its correct representation in the zonation and succession of the dune systems.

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5.5 Conservation Status and Management Requirements of Feature 5: Humid dune slacks Conservation Status of Feature 5: Unfavourable The humid dune slacks at Y Twyni o Abermenai I Aberffraw / Abermenai to Aberffraw Dunes SAC in 2005 are in an unfavourable condition. From the monitoring results obtained (Creer 2006), it can be concluded that the humid dune slack vegetation at Tywyn Aberffraw and Newborough Warren is in an unfavourable condition. The feature does not occur at Morfa Dinlle as this site is underlain by shingle ridges. For the feature to be considered in a favourable condition at Abermenai to Aberffraw Dunes SAC, each of the SSSIs possessing the feature would have to fulfil the requirements of the performance indicators (see Table 26). Thus, the overall condition of the humid dune slack vegetation at Abermenai to Aberffraw Dunes SAC is unfavourable. This is attributed to general lowering of the water table at both sub-sites and consequential succession to dryer vegetation Management Requirements of Feature 5 The humid dune slacks require high water levels – notably standing surface water in winter and groundwater within 1m of the surface during the summer. Variation in rainfall and climate change notwithstanding, there have been a number of past management actions which have directly or indirectly lowered the groundwater table. Where ditching and river deepening has affected the water table, this should be rectified by appropriate action which may include ditch blocking, river bed realignment etc. Where afforestation has led to increased evapotranspiration and interception of rainwater, resulting in a lowered water table, woodland management (including clearance) should seek to maximise the water yield. Continuation of grazing management is also required. 5.6 Conservation Status and Management Requirements of Feature 6: Natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamnium or Hydrocharition type vegetation Conservation Status of Feature 6: Unfavourable Maintained The natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamnium or Hydrocharition type vegetation feature within this site is considered to be in Unfavourable maintained condition due to eutrophication (nutrient enrichment), leading to insufficient characteristic species and sparse macrophyte cover in deeper areas (L Coron). (Burgess et. Al. 2006) Management Requirements of Feature 6 Although there is some indication of recovery of factors affecting this feature (as indicated by declining levels of phosphate in Llyn Coron waters) there is little indication of improvement in the feature itself at this time. However, many of the characteristic species remain and there is good prospect of recovery if the correct management is implemented. This is likely to include:

• Catchment management to reduce nutrient input via surface streams. Levels of phosphate remain stubbornly high, possibly due to re-cycling from bottom sediments, but mean that further inputs from the catchment are unacceptable. Furthermore, the high levels of P in the lake water mean that the system is particularly sensitive to nitrogen inputs, indeed is probably N-limited for much of the season. Control of nitrogen inputs is equally vital.

• Restriction of livestock access to the shore. This is to reduce direct input of animal manures and nutrients, reduce sediment disturbance and consequential muddying of the water and re-suspension of phosphorus, and enable fringing vegetation to develop which will both protect the shoreline from wave erosion and serve to buffer the lake from surface water run-off.

• Avoid the introduction of alien species. Alien aquatics, both plants and animals, can seriously disrupt aquatic ecosystems. Introduction of coarse fish should be avoided at all cost. Himalayan balsam, currently near the outfall, should be eradicated.

• Maintain water levels – the sluices on L Coron and on L Rhos Ddu should be maintained to counteract the effects of downstream river deepening.

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5.7 Conservation Status and Management Requirements of Feature 7: Transition mires and Quaking Bogs

This is a minor SAC feature and no specific conservation objectives are required at this stage. 5.8 Conservation Status and Management Requirements of Feature 8 : Petalwort Conservation Status of Feature 8: Unfavourable Declining The petalwort Petalophyllum rafsii at Y Twyni o Abermenai i Aberffraw / Abermenai to Aberffraw Dunes SAC in 2005 is in an unfavourable declining condition. Although monitoring indicates that its status at Tywyn Aberffraw is within the limits set, its abundance and distribution on the Newborough dunes fails to achieve the target level and appears to be declining. There is some indication that this may be due to drying out and possible changes in ground chemistry (Rumsey 2005) Management Requirements of Feature 9 At Aberffraw, the maintenance of grazing to maintain open dune conditions and low sward, preventing scrub-induced increases in evapotranspiration and consequential lowering of water tables. The presence of several drains and over-deepened river channels should be reviewed with regard to groundwater levels. The quality of groundwater must be protected from direct or indirect pollution. At Newborough, drains within the forest (north to the Cefni) militate against the survival of this species in remnant open slacks. Consideration should be given to their infilling. Drying of the slacks elsewhere should be addressed under feature 5. 5.9 Conservation Status and Management Requirements of Feature 9: Shore dock Conservation Status of Feature 9: Unfavourable Declining The shore dock (Rumex rupestris) at Y Twyni o Abermenai i Aberffraw / Abermenai to Aberffraw Dunes SAC in 2005 is in unfavourable declining condition. Management Requirements of Feature 10 The entire feature occurs within the Newborough Forest (management unit 20). Management requirements include maintenance of open conditions, scarification or poaching of the ground to permit germination etc. This will require scrub and canopy clearance, maintenance of grazing, protection of water supply and quality, and periodic clearance of the fire pool. However, the genetic threat to the species remains, both due to possible genetic bottleneck (a low population point resulting in loss of genetic diversity) coupled with isolation from the usual mechanism of gene flow and seed dispersal in coastal waters. The restoration of access to the sea from the present locations, notwithstanding sea-level rise, seems improbable in the short to medium term (given the apparent permanence of forest cover) and may require manipulation of the gene pool and/or translocation of a population to a more appropriate location. 5.10 Conservation Status and Management Requirements of Feature 10: Great crested newt This is a minor SAC feature and no specific conservation objectives are required at this stage.

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5.11 Conservation Status and Management Requirements of Feature 11: Estuaries Conservation Status of Feature 11 Not known Management Requirements of Feature 11 Not known 5.12 Conservation Status and Management Requirements of Feature 12: Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand Conservation Status of Feature 12: Favourable According to Lough et al 2007 condition is “unfavourable”. This is considered to be a misinterpretation of CSM guidance in regard to presence of artificial habitat on the shore. Other monitoring targets (On Braint estuary 2 out of 3 transects require >5% of transect as Salicornia habitat and on Cefni estuary 1 out of 3 transects require >5% of the transect to be Salicornia habitat) seem to have been met. Management Requirements of Feature 12 The development of Salicornia stands is subject to a high degree of stochastic variation as regards distribution and extent. No intervention is considered appropriate at this time. 5.13 Conservation Status and Management Requirements of Feature 13: Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide Conservation Status of Feature 13 Not known Management Requirements of Feature 13 Not known 5.14 Conservation Status and Management Requirements of Feature 14: Atlantic salt meadows Conservation Status of Feature 14: Unfavourable Management Requirements of Feature 14 The ASM feature fails the condition monitoring due to the incomplete zonation present in some transects and to the presence of coastal defence or modified habitat at the terrestrial transition. This includes the causeway (Malltraeth Cob) and the presence of conifer plantation on the shoreline behind the Cefni saltmarsh, both of which truncate the full zonation from pioneer saltmarsh to freshwater and natural terrestrial habitat. It is unclear whether the removal of the Malltraeth Cob is a realistic expectation – although the benefit to the ecological restoration of the Glannau Mon SAC should be recognised if its removal for other objectives were ever to be considered. However, the modification of the conifer plantation to swamp, dune and semi-natural broadleaf woodland along the saltmarsh boundary is a realistic expectation under the Forest Design Plan.

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6. ACTION PLAN: SUMMARY This section takes the management requirements outlined in Section 5 a stage further, assessing the specific management actions required on each management unit. This information is a summary of that held in CCW’s Actions Database for sites, and the database will be used by CCW and partner organisations to plan future work to meet the Wales Environment Strategy targets for sites. Unit Number

CCW Database Number

Unit Name Summary of Conservation Management Issues

Action needed?

20 001901 Newborough Forest

Plantation has fossilised dynamic dune processes, smothered original dune flora & fauna, lowered water table. Redesign necessary to enable sequence of natural dune succession from beach to fixed dune to be restored (and to address lack of natural dune woodland expression), ditch blocking to assist water table restoration and to rejuvenate geomorphological process site and responses to climate change induced coastal evolution

Yes

21 001902 Traeth Penrhos (dunes)

Favourable management No

22 001903 Ynys Llanddwyn


23 001904 Traeth Llanddwyn (foredunes)


24 001905 Gwningar Unit notified in error. Denotification required. Yes 25 001906 Newborough

Warren Overstabilisation of dunes, absence of early stage slack development.. Possible impact of adjacent land use on groundwater. Generally land management favourable but impact of adjacent land, aerial NOx emissions.

Yes

26 001907 Abermenai Point - spit and foredunes


27 001908 Penlon Favourable management No 28 001909 South west of

Llyn Rhos ddu Favourable management No

29 001910 Llyn Rhos Ddu paddocks


30 001911 Llyn Rhos Ddu

Enrichment of water by N & P in line with other Anglesey lakes. Catchment management to control nutrient levels. Water level has been lowered in past and must be maintained at appropriate level.

Yes

31 001912 Penlon Hide and willow scrub


32 001913 Common by Llyn Rhos Ddu


33 001914 Fort Belan Not SSSI Not SAC? No 34 001915 Morfa Dinlle -

north Favourable management. Past landspreading impact needs to be monitored on eastern side. Need to maintain grazing pressure to reduce nutrient status of grassland.

No

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Unit Number

CCW Database Number


Action needed?

35 001916 Morfa Dinlle south west

Possible long-term impact on sediment supply from groynes to the south. Shoreline monitoring required. Former slurry spreading areas. Requires grazing to remove and reduce nutrient levels.

Yes

36 001917 Morfa Dinlle - south-east

Favourable management. No

37a 001918 Intertidal - Morfa Dinlle


38 001919 Llyn Coron Eutrophication by N & P leading to algal booms and reduction in species abundance and diversity. Requires catchment management. Risk of introduced alien spp (especially coarse fish & exotic plants). Water level maintained by sluice possibly due to earlier dredging of Afon Ffraw.

Yes

39 001920 Treiddon Favourable management. Maintain. No 40 001921 Cerrig Engan Grazing of shoreline and nutrient inwash from

land leads to eutrophication of lake waters. Fencing being installed to restore shore vegetation. Catchment nutrient management also required to reduce N & P inputs.

Yes

41 001922 Ty Mawr Grazing of shoreline and nutrient inwash from land leads to eutrophication of lake waters. Fencing being installed to restore shore vegetation. Catchment nutrient management also required to reduce N & P inputs.

Yes

42 001923 Bwlan Unit forms part of the Tywyn Aberffraw sand body. Stock feeding has enriched soils and led to reduction of natural dune flora. Possible leachate into Afon Ffraw, maybe contributing to aquatic weed growth. Catchment nutrient management also required to reduce N & P inputs.

Yes

43 001924 Afon Ffraw Overdeepening of river leading to drainage of dune habitat, reduction of natural meanders by straightening.

Yes

44 001925 Aberffraw dunes

1. Abandonment of common grazing lead to grass mat and scrub. Recent re-establishment of grazing needs to be maintained. 2. Possible lowering of water level due to over-deepening of rivers and roadside ditches 3. Possible eutrophication of groundwater from larger catchment

Yes

45 001926 Abermenai Point

Favourable management. No

37b 002785 Y Foryd LNR - Intertidal

Shellfish cultivation. Possible impact on mudflat feature.

Yes

46 002980 Road to llyn Rhos ddu

This unit is considered to be under appropriate conservation management.

No

47 002981 Track south of Hen Erw Wen

This unit is considered to be under appropriate conservation management

No

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Glannau Mon: Cors Heli SAC action table Unit Number

CCW Database Number


Action needed?

N1 001338 Cob Pools Under favourable management within NNR. Maintain low disturbance, especially to wintering birds. Maintain brackish water conditions via tidal door and occasional desilting of pools. Grazing of peripheral marshes and grassland.

No

N2 001339 The cob Cob constructed circa 1820, results in long term changes to morphology of the estuary. If maintained, current management is favourable. If abandoned would result in increase of estuary features, but at cost of some infrastructure and property.

No

N3 001340 Cefni estuary Saltmarsh fails on presence of artificial habitat at landward edge of saltmarsh. Need to restore natural gradation of saltmarsh to freshwater marsh / dunes / woodland. Spartina anglica (cord grass) invasion occurs in response to sediment accumulation in estuary following construction of Cob in 1820. Persistent attempts to control by spraying (1970s- 1980s) failed - monitor development of saltmarsh behind advancing Spartina. Cockling on mudflats - impact on Zostera and other features and through tramping and vehicle access across saltmarsh.

Yes

N4 001341 Saltmarsh pool Saltmarsh in unfavourable condition due to absence of natural landward transition. Management of conifer plantation required to restore / create saltmarsh/ freshwater marsh / dune / woodland transition..

Yes

N5 001342 Rumex sites 1. Shading and scrub development. - requires canopy opening and grazing / scarification of ground to encourage germination. 2. Genetic isolation and genetic drift. Requires investigation and possible intervention. Re--connection with shoreline desirable to enable seed dispersal.

Yes

N6 001343 Penrhos Beach Favourable management. Maintain. No N7 001344 Traeth

llanddwyn Favourable management. Maintain. No

N8 001345 Braint Estuary/Traeth Melynog

1. Sanctuary zone for wildfowl. Adjacent area management not sympathetic to objective.

Yes

A1 001805 Afon Ffraw - A4080 to beach

Favourable management. Maintain. No

A2 001806 Aberffraw beach

Favourable management maintained. No

N9 001877 Ynys Llanddwyn - intertidal

Favourable management maintained. No

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7. GLOSSARY This glossary defines the some of the terms used in this Core Management Plan. Some of the definitions are based on definitions contained in other documents, including legislation and other publications of CCW and the UK nature conservation agencies. None of these definitions is legally definitive. Action A recognisable and individually described act, undertaking or project of any kind,

specified in section 6 of a Core Management Plan or Management Plan, as being required for the conservation management of a site.

Attribute A quantifiable and monitorable characteristic of a feature that, in combination with

other such attributes, describes its condition. Common Standards Monitoring A set of principles developed jointly by the UK conservation

agencies to help ensure a consistent approach to monitoring and reporting on the features of sites designated for nature conservation, supported by guidance on identification of attributes and monitoring methodologies.

Condition A description of the state of a feature in terms of qualities or attributes that are

relevant in a nature conservation context. For example the condition of a habitat usually includes its extent and species composition and might also include aspects of its ecological functioning, spatial distribution and so on. The condition of a species population usually includes its total size and might also include its age structure, productivity, relationship to other populations and spatial distribution. Aspects of the habitat(s) on which a species population depends may also be considered as attributes of its condition.

Condition assessment The process of characterising the condition of a feature with

particular reference to whether the aspirations for its condition, as expressed in its conservation objective, are being met.

Condition categories The condition of feature can be categorised, following condition

assessment as one of the following2: Favourable: maintained; Favourable: recovered;

Favourable: un-classified Unfavourable: recovering; Unfavourable: no change; Unfavourable: declining; Unfavourable: un-classified Partially destroyed; Destroyed. Conservation management Acts or undertaking of all kinds, including but not necessarily limited

to actions, taken with the aim of achieving the conservation objectives of a site. Conservation management includes the taking of

2 See JNCC guidance on Common Standards Monitoring http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-2272

57

statutory and non-statutory measures, it can include the acts of any party and it may take place outside site boundaries as well as within sites. Conservation management may also be embedded within other frameworks for land/sea management carried out for purposes other than achieving the conservation objectives.

Conservation objective The expression of the desired conservation status of a feature,

expressed as a vision for the feature and a series of performance indicators. The conservation objective for a feature is thus a composite statement, and each feature has one conservation objective.

Conservation status A description of the state of a feature that comprises both its condition and

the state of the factors affecting or likely to affect it. Conservation status is thus a characterisation of both the current state of a feature and its future prospects.

Conservation status assessment The process of characterising the conservation status of a

feature with particular reference to whether the aspirations for it, as expressed in its conservation objective, are being met. The results of conservation status assessment can be summarised either as ‘favourable’ (i.e. conservation objectives are met) or unfavourable (i.e. conservation objectives are not met). However the value of conservation status assessment in terms of supporting decisions about conservation management, lies mainly in the details of the assessment of feature condition, factors and trend information derived from comparisons between current and previous conservation status assessments and condition assessments.

Core Management Plan A CCW document containing the conservation objectives for a site

and a summary of other information contained in a full site Management Plan.

Factor Anything that has influenced, is influencing or may influence the condition of a

feature. Factors can be natural processes, human activities or effects arising from natural process or human activities, They can be positive or negative in terms of their influence on features, and they can arise within a site or from outside the site. Physical, socio-economic or legal constraints on conservation management can also be considered as factors.

Favourable condition See condition and condition assessment Favourable conservation status See conservation status and conservation status

assessment.3 Feature The species population, habitat type or other entity for which a site is designated.

The ecological or geological interest which justifies the designation of a site and which is the focus of conservation management.

Integrity See site integrity

3 A full definition of favourable conservation status is given in Section 4.

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Key Feature The habitat or species population within a management unit that is the primary focus of conservation management and monitoring in that unit.

Management Plan The full expression of a designated site’s legal status, vision, features,

conservation objectives, performance indicators and management requirements. A complete management plan may not reside in a single document, but may be contained in a number of documents (including in particular the Core Management Plan) and sets of electronically stored information.

Management Unit An area within a site, defined according to one or more of a range of criteria,

such as topography, location of features, tenure, patterns of land/sea use. The key characteristic of management units is to reflect the spatial scale at which conservation management and monitoring can be most effectively organised. They are used as the primary basis for differentiating priorities for conservation management and monitoring in different parts of a site, and for facilitating communication with those responsible for management of different parts of a site.

Monitoring An intermittent (regular or irregular) series of observations in time, carried out to

show the extent of compliance with a formulated standard or degree of deviation from an expected norm. In Common Standards Monitoring, the formulated standard is the quantified expression of favourable condition based on attributes.

Operational limits The levels or values within which a factor is considered to be acceptable in

terms of its influence on a feature. A factor may have both upper and lower operational limits, or only an upper limit or lower limit. For some factors an upper limit may be zero.

Performance indicators The attributes and their associated specified limits, together with

factors and their associated operational limits, which provide the standard against which information from monitoring and other sources is used to determine the degree to which the conservation objectives for a feature are being met. Performance indicators are part of, not the same as, conservation objectives. See also vision for the feature.

Plan or project Project: Any form of construction work, installation, development or other

intervention in the environment, the carrying out or continuance of which is subject to a decision by any public body or statutory undertaker. Plan: a document prepared or adopted by a public body or statutory undertaker, intended to influence decisions on the carrying out of projects. Decisions on plans and projects which affect Natura 2000 and Ramsar sites are subject to specific legal and policy procedures.

Site integrity The coherence of a site’s ecological structure and function, across its whole area, that

enables it to sustain the habitat, complex of habitats and/or the levels of populations of the species for which it is designated.

Site Management Statement (SMS) The document containing CCW’s views about the management

of a site issued as part of the legal notification of an SSSI under section 28(4) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as substituted.

Special Feature See feature.

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Specified limit The levels or values for an attribute which define the degree to which the

attribute can fluctuate without creating cause for concern about the condition of the feature. The range within the limits corresponds to favourable, the range outside the limits corresponds to unfavourable. Attributes may have lower specified limits, upper specified limits, or both.

Unit See management unit. Vision for the feature The expression, within a conservation objective, of the aspirations

for the feature concerned. See also performance indicators. Vision Statement The statement conveying an impression of the whole site in the state that is

intended to be the product of its conservation management. A ‘pen portrait’ outlining the conditions that should prevail when all the conservation objectives are met. A description of the site as it would be when all the features are in favourable condition.

8. REFERENCES Burgess A., Goldsmith B., & Hatton-Ellis T (2006) Site Condition Assessments of Welsh SAC and SSSI standing water features. CCW Contract Science Report No. 705 Creer J. 2006 Embryonic shifting dunes (2110). CCW Monitoring Report CCW Monitoring Report (available on request) Creer J. 2006 Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation (“grey dunes”) (2130). CCW Monitoring Report (available on request) Creer J. 2006 Humid dune slacks (2190) and Dunes with Salix repens ssp. argentea (Salicion arenariae) (2170). CCW Monitoring Report (available on request) Creer J. 2007. Rumex rupestris – Shore Dock Species 1441. CCW Monitoring Report. (available on request) Davy A J., Grootjans AP, Hiscock K, Petersen J (2006) The Development of eco—hydrological guidelines for dune habitats – Phase 1 English Nature Research Reports No.696 Lough N, Lloyd D, Booth A Gray D (2007) Saltmarsh Monitoring in Carmearthen Bay and Estuaries, Glannau Mon, Pembrokeshire Marine and Penllyn a’r Sarnau SACs 2006: Atlantic Salt Meadow and Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud features. CCW Environmental Monitoring Report No. 37 CCW Monitoring Report (available on request) Prosser M., H Wallace 1997. Braint Estuary pSAC NVC Survey 1996. CCW North West Area Report No 3 (available on request) Prosser M., H Wallace 1999. Cefni & Aberffraw Estuaries pSAC NVC Survey 1998. CCW North West Area Report No 15 (available on request) Rumsey F.J. & G.E. Stevens (2005) Assesment of the condition of Petalophyllum ralfsii at Tywyni o Abermenai i Aberffraw cSAC. CCW Environmental Monitoring Report No 12. (available on request)

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