MARIANDYRYS SITE OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST
SITE MANAGEMENT STATEMENT
What is ‘special’ about Mariandyrys SSSI?
Mariandyrys has 3 special features.
Limestone Grassland.
Calcareous dry heath.
Spring Cinquefoil, a nationally uncommon plant of grassland on lime soils
As well as the features listed above, Mariandyrys has other habitats and earth science features that contribute to the special interest. These include gorse scrub and limestone pavement (flat blocks of limestone dissected by natural cracks). This diversity of habitats supports a wide range of species and these too are a key component of the special interest of the site, including various flowering plants such as pale flax, columbine, mountain everlasting, autumn lady’s tresses and fragrant orchid, uncommon insects, for example Ashworth’s rustic moth, and a range of butterfly species including Grayling. Unless it is specified below, management of this site should aim to look after these habitats and species as well as the listed features of interest.
The site should support a mixture of limestone grassland, heathland and scrub habitats. Heathland, dominated by small growing shrubs, should cover the majority of the site. The areas of limestone grassland should be maintained at their current extent and kept free of trees or shrubs. Scrub woodland, a mixture of gorse, birch, ash and oak, should cover remaining areas. These areas are good for nesting birds as well as giving shelter for invertebrates and livestock. The limestone grassland should cover approximately 2ha of the site and include lime tolerant plants such as spring cinquefoil, common rockrose and wild thyme. Heathland should cover approximately 3ha of the site and be characterised by a mixture of acid loving plants including heather, bell heather and western gorse along with lime tolerant species such as common rockrose and salad burnet. These heathland species should have a varied structure of older and younger plants, with some bare ground (approximately 5%) in between. Scrub should comprise European gorse, elder, hawthorn, blackthorn, ash, sessile oak, sycamore and bramble and should not exceed 30% of the site. Limestone pavement should be kept free of scrub to enable its distinctive structure to be visible and to develop its characteristic flora.
What management is needed on Mariandyrys SSSI and why?
Although Mariandyrys is an excellent place for wildlife/geology it will only remain so if the necessary management continues. CCW’s aim is to work with you to ensure that this management is carried out.
What does this mean in practice?
There are many factors that could damage the special features at Mariandyrys if they are not properly managed. These are the ones we regard as most important:
Finally
Our knowledge of wildlife is far from complete. It is possible that new features of value may appear and new management issues may arise in the future, whilst other issues may disappear. This statement is written with the best information we have now, but may have to change in the future as our understanding improves. Any information you can provide on the wildlife of your site, its management and its conservation would be much appreciated.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of your SSSI, or have any concerns about your SSSI, please contact your local CCW office.
Your local office is;
Cyngor Cefn Gwlad Cymru/Countryside Council for Wales
Llys y Bont,
Ffordd y Parc,
Parc Menai,
Bangor,
Gwynedd, LL57 4BN,
Fax: 01248 679259