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Survey Details for BRCKNLH816 - 2026-06-04

BRCKNLH816

Landscape Habitats

Cefn Cul

Brecknockshire

2003-10-03

  • Level 1: Dry (Relatively) Terrestrial Habitats
  • Level 2: Grassland & Marsh
  • Level 3: Mosaic

Monitoring

Q1 - Date of monitoring?

  • 2016-03-10

Q1a - Monitoring undertaken by

  • Stages 1, 2 and 3 change detection, field verification and amendment completed by Environment Systems in conjunction with the local planning authority. Quality Assurance completed by TACP

Q1b - Has this record been updated following monitoring work?

  • This record has been updated following monitoring work, there was a real change in the aspect area

Q1c - Change indicated by

  • Phase 1 Habitat Survey & Seasonal Change Maps

Q1d - What has changed?

  • Classification
  • Condition & Trend

Q1e - Has the information ever been verified in the field?

  • No

Q2 - Does this area have a special or functional link with an adjacent area?

  • No Answer

Q3 - What is the total land area within the boundary (in hectares)?

  • 232

Description

Q4 - What are the dominant soil types? (specify up to 3 types)

  • Lithomorphic (a/c) soils
  • Podzolic

Q5 - What Phase 1 habitat types are present? Only select the five most dominant types and, for each of these, specify below what percentage of the Aspect Area is made up of these.

  • Unimproved Acid Grassland
    • 75%
  • Marshy Grassland
    • 25%
  • Wet Heath
    • 5%

Q6 - Does the area contain habitats of international importance?

  • Yes

Q7 - If yes, which habitats of international importance?

  • Wet heathland with cross-leaved heath
  • Dry heaths

Q8 - Does the area contain BAP habitats?

  • Yes

Q9 - If yes, which BAP habitats?

  • Upland Heathland

Q10 - Does the area contain protected sites?

  • No

Q11 - If yes, which ones?

  • SSSI

Q12 - Approximately what proportion of the Aspect Area is within the protected site?

  • 0%
    • 0%

Q13 - Does the area support important species?

  • Not known

Q14 - If yes, which species? (for each of the species, also note the source of information)

  • Empty value

Q15 - Are there any significant threat species present in abundance? (Field visit required)

  • Not known

Q16 - What other features significantly influence the biodiversity in this area?

  • No Answer

Q17 - Are any of these features in a very good condition? (Field visit required)

  • No Answer

Q18 - Are any of these features in a poor condition? (Field visit required)

  • No Answer

Q19 - What are the main land management activities taking place in the area? (Field visit required)

  • Stock grazing

Q20 - Do any of the above appear to have an appreciable positive impact on biodiversity? (Field visit required)

  • No Answer

Q21 - Do any of the above appear to have an appreciable negative impact on biodiversity? (Field visit required)

  • No Answer

Q22 - Is the biodiversity in the area in any way threatened?

  • Not known

Q23 - Are there clear opportunities to improve the biodiversity aspect of this area?

  • No Answer

Q24 - Summarise the key features that define this area's biodiversity character

  • Steep slopes associated with dissecting watercourses (Afon Tawe / Nant Tywynni) supporting dry dwarf shrub heath and acid grassland communities. Bracken forms limited stands and in the south east wet heath is associated with minor watercourses feeding the Nant Tywynni.

Condition

Q25 - Value

  • High
    • Heathland of high nature conservation interest.

Q26 - Condition

  • Unassessed

Q27 - Trend

  • Constant
    • Acid Grassland has become dominant which detracts from upland heathland BAP features however, Acid grassland is of value in its own right and this should be monitored to recognise trend or to suggest alternative land management decisions to maintain the existing BAP features.

Recommendations

Q28 - Existing management

  • No Answer

Q29 - Existing management remarks:

  • No Answer

Q30 - Principal management recommendations

  • Please refer to the Local Biodiversity Action Plan for the Brecon Beacons National Park which details key actions to safeguard specific ecological receptors including habitats and species.

Q31 - Guideline

  • No Answer

Aspect Area Boundary

Q32 - To what level was this information site-surveyed?

  • None

Q33 - At 1:10,000, how much of the Aspect Area boundary is precise?

  • Most

Q34 - What baseline information source was used for Aspect Area boundary mapping?

  • OS Landline

Q35 - If OS Data was used, what was the scale?

  • 1:10,000

Q36 - What is the justification for the Aspect Area boundaries?

  • CCW Phase 1 habitat survey

Evaluation

Q37 - Evaluation Criteria: Priority Habitats

  • High
    • Includes wet and dry heath.

Q38 - Evaluation Criteria: Significance

  • High

Q39 - Evaluation Criteria: Opportunity

  • Unassessed

Q40 - Evaluation Criteria: Expansion rates

  • Unassessed

Q41 - Evaluation Criteria: Sensitivity

  • Unassessed

Q42 - Evaluation Criteria: Connectivity/Cohesion

  • Unassessed

Q43 - Evaluation Criteria: Habitat Evaluation

  • High

Q44 - Evaluation Criteria: Importance for key species

  • Unassessed

Q45 - Evaluation Criteria: Overall Evaluation Habitat and Species

  • High
    • Semi-natural habitat of value to wildlife.

Q45a - Justification of overall evaluation

  • The area is associated with dissecting watercourses (Afon Tawe / Nant Tywynni). The landscape habitat is characterised by a Grassland mosaic composed of Unimproved Acid Grassland and Marshy Grassland, interspersed by Wet Heath. The area supports Upland Heathland BAP features. The area is classified as being of High value for overall habitat and species evaluation.

Bibliography

Q46 - Sources and additional assessments

  • BBNP (2002). Our Natural World - A Local Biodiversity Action Plan for the Brecon Beacons National Park. Volumes 1, 2 & 3. CCW Phase 1 Habitat Survey Data (Electronic Data Source). CCW Designated Sites (Electronic Data Source). Deacon, J. (1997) Identification of Limestone Pavements in Wales and their Flora. CCW Contract Science Report 159. Countryside Council for Wales, Bangor. JNCC (2003). Protected Sites - www.jncc.gov.uk Powys Biodiversity Partnership (2002). Our Partnership with Nature: A Local Biodiversity Action Plan for Powys. Yeo, M.J.M. et al. (in prep.). A vegetation Survey and Conservation Assessment of Lowland Grasslands in Brecknock. Countryside Council for Wales, Bangor. Consultation with Phil Morgan (County Mammal Recorder), Graham Motley (CCW Abergavenny), Harriet Shackle (former Biodiversity Officer, Powys CC), Adam Rowe (Biodiversity Information Service, Brecon)

Assessment

Q47 - Additional Assessments

  • Empty value

Q48 - Additional Comments

  • It is recommended that the Biodiversity Information Service for Powys and the Brecon Beacons National Park is consulted if more detailed information is required.