3. Dare Valley Country Park, Rhondda-Cynon-Taff.
Coal spoil and other biodiversity within a glacial mining valley
Leader: Richard Wistow [County Ecologist]
The Dare Valley is a beautiful glacial valley. It includes all of the classic features of a south Wales mining valley - a spectacular glacial cwm at the head of the valley (with peat bogs above), alder woodlands, rhos pastures, old coal tips and remodelled coal waste, conifer plantations and classic mining villages. It provides excellent examples of post-industrial biodiversity, at a variety of sites, including some of the oldest-established remediation areas for public use in South Wales.
The Dare Valley Country Park was developed 35 years ago on the site of two worked out
collieries in the Dare Valley, Aberdare. Part of the first phase of land reclamation
took place in the wake of the terrible Aberfan mining disaster in 1966.
A third of a century later, the Park now represents one of the best examples of
natural regeneration and restoration in a coal spoil environment. The restoration
has been due, in part, to the chemical and physical attributes of the local coal spoil
which have been actively utilised in a way to promote diversity
The site visit will explore the main habitat features within the Park, including the 1970s coal spoil communities, the superb Victorian Tips and the diversity of natural features. It will also demonstrate some of the local biodiversity initiatives developed within the Park. The Visitor Centre has toilet and a range of facilities and lunch may be eaten there. Participants on this excursion will be able to observe:
- how communities and industry have interacted dynamically within this landscape
- where biodiversity operates at a landscape scale,
- where a sense of place and common ownership is still strong.
The walk will be moderately strenuous, and will require a reasonable level of fitness.
Suitable footwear and clothing are required.
