Bryngarw Country Park
Encyclopedia
Bryngarw Country Park is made up of 48 hectares (113 acres) and is situated on the west bank of the Afon Garw, at the mouth of the Garw Valley in the Bridgend County Borough, Wales
, UK
.
The Western boundary is marked by the Brynmenyn-Bettws road and the River Garw is its eastern boundary. 18 hectares of open meadowlands, which are the subject of grazing tenancy agreements and hence not open to the public, surrounds the Country Park. The Country Park and Bryngarw House occupies the remaining 30 hectares of the estate. Bryngarw House and its associated formal gardens (including the lawn, shrubbery, lake and oriental gardens) account for 1.5 hectares of the park. The rest of the park is predominantly wooded (broadleaf, coniferous and mixed woodland) with areas of meadow
, wetland
and freshwater
, formal garden and areas for amenity
use.
Bryngarw Country Park's mission statement is “Through the provision and maintenance of a mosaic of habitats, rich natural environments and historic formal gardens, with targeted access and interpretation; to provide a ‘Bridge’ for visitors, linking people and nature, past and present, urban and countryside, heritage and natural history And so to give access to the full range of physical, mental and social health benefits which that connection brings.” The park appears to be achieving this as it currently receives between 50,000 and 70,000 visitors per year; with visits made by local schools for educational and interpretative sessions run by the ranger team contributing between 1,500 and 2,000 children a year.” In addition to school visits, the ranger team provide a range of other interpretive events aimed at the general public.
In 2010, the park won its first Green Flag award for providing outstanding levels of conservation, preservation, sustainability and provision of public amenities and services. The park has again been deemed worthy of this prestigious award in 2011.
Bryngarw Park is a Grade II listed Historic Park and Garden with the house being a Grade II listed building and lies within the Strategic Coalfield Plateau, Landscape Conservation Area, described in local legislation (Ogwr Borough Local Plan and emerging Urban Development Plan). This designation refers to the wooded, gently sloping agricultural and parkland landscape that characterises the park. In 2010, the park was designated as a Key Strategic Site under the Valleys Partnership Initiative Action Programme and is subsequently receiving funding from the Wales Assembly Government (WAG) Environmental Improvement Grant and Bridgend County Borough Council's Strategic Regeneration Fund. The park has also been awarded grant money from ‘One Historic Garden’ Centre of Excellence Scheme and has been designated one of eight ‘Visit Wales Sustainable Tourism, Historic Gardens Centre of Excellence’ sites. This money from both funds will be used in Autumn of 2011 to update and expand the existing visitor centre, refurbish the café and toilets, improve the existing car park and to significantly enhance the oriental gardens
, Magnolia
, Tulip tree, Handkerchief trees, Sugar Maple
, Paperbark Dogwood, Sequoia
and Gingko biloba). Towards the end of his residence Captain Traherne experienced money troubles and so sold the estate to a local business man R.S.Hayes in the late 1940’s. He and his family then occupied the house until his death in 1959 when it was again sold.
In 1961, the house fell into public ownership and was divided into nine flats used as council accommodation. Thirty-two residential caravans were later installed in the former kitchen garden area (now used as the park's car park). These accommodations were used until 1980 when Bryngarw was designated a future Country Park. Starting in 1982, a Manpower Services Commission team carried out construction and reclamation work throughout the site over a five year period. This work included; installation of a network of paths and other access infrastructure around the park, the recovery of the lake and formal gardens (after 25 years of neglect), installation of a permanent car park and construction of public amenities (toilets, café and visitor centre).
Bryngarw Country Park was then officially opened May 23, 1986.
In 1980, the house had been abandoned due to dry and wet rot rendering it in a poor state of repair. Its delapidation continued until 1987 when work partially restored the building and created a self contained flat to accommodate the Assistant Ranger of the Country Park. However, thanks to European funding, gained in 1993, the house was renovated to its present condition.
trees. The area also contains a number of mature oak
, silver birch
, hazel
, holly
and scots pine
. Since 2009, the woodland has been subjected to a large-scale thinning project as the density of the stand had become too great and was affecting the health of the trees. The smaller weaker specimens were removed from the canopy to make space to allow the healthier individuals
< to thrive. This work is expected to be completed in 2012. This project has already allowed a noticeable improvement in the ground level and understorey flora
. The woodland plays host to a wide range of species including speckled wood
butterflies, wood mice
, green
and great spotted woodpeckers
, buzzards
and tawny owls
.
. Due to this proximity to the river, and the river's unpredictable nature and predisposition to flood the woodland is classified as wet woodland.
Coed Waunpiod east has been designated as a Site of Interest for Nature Conservation (SINC) due the presence of semi-flooded dense stands of Alder
trees, known as Alder carr. This is a locally important habitat, hence its management is subject to a Local Biodiversity Action Plan
. (LBAP). Another interesting habitat within this area is a semi-flooded wild flower meadow (nick-named the wet triangle by the rangers.) The rest of the canopy is dominated by a mixture of broad-leaf trees including Oak, Birch
, Larch
, Horse chestnut and Hazel. The woodland fringe and the wet triangle are frequented by Butterflies, Dragonflies, Dippers, Heron
s, Kingfisher
and Otter
s.
The wet triangle is a small (1/2ha approx.) isolated area found within this woodland with its own completely individual character. It is extremely wet and often retains free water during the winter months. Due to this a shade canopy has been unable to develop and so it is the only area of open wet woodland in the park. In 1989, the area suffered from vandalism and about a third of it was destroyed by fire, many of the original species in the burnt area were lost and it became colonised by Bracken
. The management of this area therefore focuses on the control and eventual elimination of Bracken and the re-introduction of original species to the area leading to a thinning and coppicing regime in the future to ensure healthy growth.
until the end of the 19th century when it was felled and replanted with sycamore
trees, to provide fuel for the house's biomass burners. They too were left unmanaged when the house was abandoned and have grown too tall and too close together. The modern management of this area is therefore to thin out the sycamore and add in native broadleaf trees (oak, hazel, birch and beech) to improve the health and biodiversity
of the woodland. The most notable species in this area is the bluebells
that appear in mid-april.
found in the northern section of the park between the sycamore woods to the west and the wet woodland to the east. The management of this area is predominantly coppicing
hazel and sycamore in a rotation pattern. Its notable species include great spotted woodpecker, lesser spotted woodpecker
, green woodpecker, stoat
and weasel
.
The western border of Coed Kensington is informally marked by the ‘Beech Avenue’. The beech avenue was planted in 1837; since then however, many of the original trees have died and due to their similar age the others have all become susceptible to the parasitic fungus Ganoderma
sp.. Since the discovery of the fungus they have been subjected to a tomography survey
which deemed them unsafe. Many of the mature standards however have become very favourable summer roosts for the local bat populations, as their positioning creates a clear linear glade, which is used by the bats for navigation, in the damp woodland which is a key habitat for many the bat's invertebrate prey species. Legislation protects the bats and their roosts from disturbance and so the remedial work needed to allow the Beech Avenue to be re-opened must follow a comprehensive bat survey to determine the number of trees affected and by which species of bats and how many. Once this data is ascertained, the impact of the removal of these trees on the bat populations can be assessed, and a plan of works can be established. This work will not be able to be started until the bats have vacated these summer roosts and even then will have to be sympathetic, probably involving soft-felling
techniques, where the limbs will be cut and lowered to the ground, to leave pollarded standards.
It is local legend that the twenty one beech trees which make up the beech avenue were planted in celebration of Queen Victoria’s twenty first birthday and coronation
.
and many types of invertebrates
.
, spotted
and pied flycatcher and redstart
s"
The meadows are managed in a style as close to traditional hay meadow management as the park's budget and requirements for access and amenity provision will allow. They are cut once a year, at the end of the growing season, and the biomass is removed. This is to encourage the growth of the wide variety of plants that prefer a low-nutrient soil. It is understood that an additional cut and collection during mid-late July, at a slightly different time each year, would also be desirable as this would benefit plants with different grass regime requirements. However, the current budget will not allow this additional expenditure. To further safe-guard the sward a path is regularly mown through the area during the spring/summer seasons. On their far western edges the meadows suffer from scrub and bracken
encroachment, from the Public Right of Way (PRoW) from Brynmenyn. Whilst this scrub is controlled it has been deemed undesirable to completely remove it as it provides food for the faunal assemblages in the autumn.
; perch
, rudd
, roach
, tench
and several species of wildfowl; mallard
, muscovy
, indian runners
, Aylesbury ducks and moorhen
. The lake also attracts a number of wild visitors including kingfisher
, mink
and heron
. The vegetation surrounding the lake is dominated on its west side by bamboo
with examples of flag iris, and loosestrife occurring in less densely vegetated areas of the banks. The northern bank leads onto the orchard; in this area and at other infrequent points around the lake individual trees are found on the bank. There is a small island located in the western half of the lake, it is dominated by flag iris and hence provides some shelter from both the elements and predators for young and nesting birds.
The lake was originally installed during Captain Traherne's ownership of the estate. Throughout the decades the lake 'silted-up' due to a lack of management and by the early 1980's had become more recognisable as a marsh than a lake. During the renovations, completed before the parks opening, in 1986 the lake was dredged and a sluice was installed to help regulate its water levels during periods of heavy rain. The lake is now largely unmanaged as previous measures to control the invasive canadian pondweed have proved successful.
A series of 3 ornamental ponds exists in the oriental garden and feed into the River Garw. The ponds are thought to be predominantly free from wildfowl and fish but do sport healthy populations of common toads
, common frog
s and palmate newt
s. The ponds also support a diverse aquatic invertebrate assemblage including, water boatman
, pond skater, great diving beetle, water beetle
, stonefly larvae, mayfly
larvae, damselfly
larvae dragonfly
larvae, caddisfly larvae, non-biting midge larvae, blackfly larvae, cranefly larvae, midge
larvae, water louse, freshwater shrimp and freshwater snail
.
translates from Welsh
to mean ‘rugged river’. The river runs from Blaengarw
, 12 miles to the north, and joins the River Ogmore
in Brynmenyn
. The river was once nicknamed the ‘black river’ as it was historically used to to wash coal, however, the pollution
from the coal dust has cleared up and the river has recovered well. The river now hosts a wide range of fauna
e.g. otter, Daubenton’s bats, kingfisher, spotted flycatcher
and dipper.
The House also boasts a range of other facilities including: a licence to hold wedding and civil partnership ceremonies, function room and meeting/conference rooms.
The lawn is managed as an amenity area and maintained by frequent mowing and treatment with fertiliser and pesticide
when required. Due to this management regime the ecological value of the area is almost nil but it has been designed with the idea that this and the other amenity
areas will take the 'brunt' of the people that have visited the park with a main aim to play, picnic
and sit.
Originally, the main entrance to the area would have been from the lawn in front
of the house descending the hill to the west of the garden to the series of three linked ponds. Whilst the area can still be accessed this way, the main route in is now the path running from north to south following the river linking the everglades path to the cycle path bridge.
The ‘One Historic Garden’ Centre of Excellence Scheme is funding the restoration of this area during the autumn of 2011.
have been added including apple, pear
, plum
and greengage
. The old hedgerow marking its western boundary has been layed
in the style of traditional hedge management of the local area, and a new hedge has been installed along its eastern boundary to establish a complete natural boundary to the area.
Whilst the young fruit trees develop, the open nature of the canopy has greatly benefitted the ground flora and allowed it to flourish. The species composition of the area is diverse, with notable species including; bluebell, pignut, wood anemone
, primrose
and cowslip
.
The toilet blocks include facilities for men, women, disabled users and baby changing. The Visitor Centre is very small consisting of only one room with displays detailing information about the; wildlife, history and issues in the park as well as general information about the park and surrounding area. A map of the park is displayed in this area for use of the public, and leaflets containing information about the park and other related topics are available.
The café is run on a franchise basis and is currently 'open-air' with a covered seating area adjoined the servery. The cafe serves a range of hot and cold drinks, hot and cold snacks, ice creams and duck-food. There is an additional uncovered seating area to the east of the servery. Opening times are often weather dependent, but during the summer months, the café usually opens at 10am and serves hot food until 3pm closing at 5pm.
One notable ecological aspect of these buildings is that their roof voids are known to support summer bat roosts for soprano pipistrelle and brown long-eared bat
s.
Whilst any area in the park can be used for picnicking, the Ranger team do ask that you restrict barbecuing to this area only and ensure that the barbecue is sufficiently raised off the ground to avoid scorching the grass.
More details in the leaflet Nature Watch: A guide to walks in Bryngarw Country Park
Starting at the visitor centre, follow the path through the car park, over the wooden bridge onto the pavement running along the drive until you find a blue waymarker post on the left hand side. Follow the slightly sloping path that turns left into the woodland and simply follow the blue waymarkers to make your way around this lovely woodland/riverside stroll. In brief the route takes in Coed Waunpiod east and the wet triangle, the River Garw and river corridor. A short extension, at the end, of this route will allow you to include the Oriental Garden.
From the visitor centre head sharp right and follow the road entrance to the car park to the main drive. Here cross the road and head towards the gap in the hedge. From the gap in the hedge you should be able to see the first and last waymarker posts. The first is to your left as you look up the hill (near the adventure playground). As you walk up the hill towards this marker you will see the next post directing you through another gap in the hedge, behind the tower slide, taking you into the meadow. From here you will be able to follow the red waymarker posts which will guide you through the two meadows taking in all of the best spots for wild flowers.
The Woodland Walk is currently subject to a diversion as the Beech Avenue is currently closed to the public due to the poor health of the trees and subsequent health and safety risk. A diversion has been installed in the park and is clearly marked with yellow arrows making it possible to complete the walk. The length of the walk is however slightly extended due to said diversion.
Starting off at the visitor centre, take the path leading between the visitor centre and the toilets towards the lake. Cross the main drive and take the path between the hedge (boundary to overflow car park and Picnic area) and the lake. Follow this wide mud path up and around the back of the lake into mixed woodland. From here follow the green waymarker posts. This route is the longest and most comprehensive and takes you around the Lake and Orchard through The Woodland Garden, The Sycamore woods, Coed Kensington and Wet woodland. This route can also so easily extended to include a visit to the Oriental Garden. This route has several steep slopes, steps and some of the paths are quite rough underfoot.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
The Western boundary is marked by the Brynmenyn-Bettws road and the River Garw is its eastern boundary. 18 hectares of open meadowlands, which are the subject of grazing tenancy agreements and hence not open to the public, surrounds the Country Park. The Country Park and Bryngarw House occupies the remaining 30 hectares of the estate. Bryngarw House and its associated formal gardens (including the lawn, shrubbery, lake and oriental gardens) account for 1.5 hectares of the park. The rest of the park is predominantly wooded (broadleaf, coniferous and mixed woodland) with areas of meadow
Meadow
A meadow is a field vegetated primarily by grass and other non-woody plants . The term is from Old English mædwe. In agriculture a meadow is grassland which is not grazed by domestic livestock but rather allowed to grow unchecked in order to make hay...
, wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
and freshwater
Freshwater
Fresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and...
, formal garden and areas for amenity
Amenity
In real property and lodging, amenities are any tangible or untangible benefits of a property, especially those that increase its attractiveness or value or that contribute to its comfort or convenience...
use.
Bryngarw Country Park's mission statement is “Through the provision and maintenance of a mosaic of habitats, rich natural environments and historic formal gardens, with targeted access and interpretation; to provide a ‘Bridge’ for visitors, linking people and nature, past and present, urban and countryside, heritage and natural history And so to give access to the full range of physical, mental and social health benefits which that connection brings.” The park appears to be achieving this as it currently receives between 50,000 and 70,000 visitors per year; with visits made by local schools for educational and interpretative sessions run by the ranger team contributing between 1,500 and 2,000 children a year.” In addition to school visits, the ranger team provide a range of other interpretive events aimed at the general public.
In 2010, the park won its first Green Flag award for providing outstanding levels of conservation, preservation, sustainability and provision of public amenities and services. The park has again been deemed worthy of this prestigious award in 2011.
Bryngarw Park is a Grade II listed Historic Park and Garden with the house being a Grade II listed building and lies within the Strategic Coalfield Plateau, Landscape Conservation Area, described in local legislation (Ogwr Borough Local Plan and emerging Urban Development Plan). This designation refers to the wooded, gently sloping agricultural and parkland landscape that characterises the park. In 2010, the park was designated as a Key Strategic Site under the Valleys Partnership Initiative Action Programme and is subsequently receiving funding from the Wales Assembly Government (WAG) Environmental Improvement Grant and Bridgend County Borough Council's Strategic Regeneration Fund. The park has also been awarded grant money from ‘One Historic Garden’ Centre of Excellence Scheme and has been designated one of eight ‘Visit Wales Sustainable Tourism, Historic Gardens Centre of Excellence’ sites. This money from both funds will be used in Autumn of 2011 to update and expand the existing visitor centre, refurbish the café and toilets, improve the existing car park and to significantly enhance the oriental gardens
A Brief History of the Estate
Bryngarw House is thought to have been built in the 15th century and used as a farmhouse; although there is no documentation there is some architectural evidence to support this theory. The first recorded date of the existence of the house is in 1743. In 1775 John Popkin gave the house and its grounds to his sister Frances as a wedding present when she married into the Traherne family; the building appears to have been extensively modified during their residence. The last member of the Traherne family to occupy the house was Captain Onslow Powell Traherne, a well travelled Victorian industrialist, who apparently renovated and extended the house and laid out the existing formal gardens between 1910 and 1920, introducing many exotic species (including many species of RhododendronRhododendron
Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...
, Magnolia
Magnolia
Magnolia is a large genus of about 210 flowering plant species in the subfamily Magnolioideae of the family Magnoliaceae. It is named after French botanist Pierre Magnol....
, Tulip tree, Handkerchief trees, Sugar Maple
Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum is a species of maple native to the hardwood forests of northeastern North America, from Nova Scotia west to southern Ontario, and south to Georgia and Texas...
, Paperbark Dogwood, Sequoia
Sequoioideae
Sequoioideae is a subfamily in the Cupressaceae family, with three genera.-Genera:The three redwood subfamily genera are: Sequoia and Sequoiadendron of California and Oregon, USA; and Metasequoia in China. The redwood species contains the largest and tallest trees in the world. These trees can live...
and Gingko biloba). Towards the end of his residence Captain Traherne experienced money troubles and so sold the estate to a local business man R.S.Hayes in the late 1940’s. He and his family then occupied the house until his death in 1959 when it was again sold.
In 1961, the house fell into public ownership and was divided into nine flats used as council accommodation. Thirty-two residential caravans were later installed in the former kitchen garden area (now used as the park's car park). These accommodations were used until 1980 when Bryngarw was designated a future Country Park. Starting in 1982, a Manpower Services Commission team carried out construction and reclamation work throughout the site over a five year period. This work included; installation of a network of paths and other access infrastructure around the park, the recovery of the lake and formal gardens (after 25 years of neglect), installation of a permanent car park and construction of public amenities (toilets, café and visitor centre).
Bryngarw Country Park was then officially opened May 23, 1986.
In 1980, the house had been abandoned due to dry and wet rot rendering it in a poor state of repair. Its delapidation continued until 1987 when work partially restored the building and created a self contained flat to accommodate the Assistant Ranger of the Country Park. However, thanks to European funding, gained in 1993, the house was renovated to its present condition.
Woodland
All the woodland areas in the park have been awarded grants under the Forestry Commission's scheme Better Woodland for Wales (BBW)Coed Waunpiod west
Coed Waunpiod west is situated in the south-west corner of the park and is characterised by its numerous examples of sweet chestnutSweet Chestnut
Castanea sativa is a species of the flowering plant family Fagaceae, the tree and its edible seeds are referred to by several common names such Sweet Chestnut or Marron. Originally native to southeastern Europe and Asia Minor, it is now widely dispersed throughout Europe and parts of Asia, such as...
trees. The area also contains a number of mature oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
, silver birch
Silver Birch
Betula pendula is a widespread European birch, though in southern Europe it is only found at higher altitudes. Its range extends into southwest Asia in the mountains of northern Turkey and the Caucasus...
, hazel
Hazel
The hazels are a genus of deciduous trees and large shrubs native to the temperate northern hemisphere. The genus is usually placed in the birch family Betulaceae, though some botanists split the hazels into a separate family Corylaceae.They have simple, rounded leaves with double-serrate margins...
, holly
Holly
Ilex) is a genus of 400 to 600 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only living genus in that family. The species are evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbers from tropics to temperate zones world wide....
and scots pine
Scots Pine
Pinus sylvestris, commonly known as the Scots Pine, is a species of pine native to Europe and Asia, ranging from Scotland, Ireland and Portugal in the west, east to eastern Siberia, south to the Caucasus Mountains, and as far north as well inside the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia...
. Since 2009, the woodland has been subjected to a large-scale thinning project as the density of the stand had become too great and was affecting the health of the trees. The smaller weaker specimens were removed from the canopy to make space to allow the healthier individuals
< to thrive. This work is expected to be completed in 2012. This project has already allowed a noticeable improvement in the ground level and understorey flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
. The woodland plays host to a wide range of species including speckled wood
Speckled Wood
The Speckled Wood is a butterfly found in and on the borders of woodland throughout much of the Palearctic ecozone.In North Europe, Central Europe , Asia Minor, Syria, Russia and Central Asia where subspecies P. a. tircis occurs it is brown with pale yellow or cream spots and darker upperwing...
butterflies, wood mice
Wood mouse
The wood mouse is a common murid rodent from Europe and northwestern Africa. It is closely related to the yellow-necked mouse but differs in that it has no band of yellow fur around the neck, has slightly smaller ears, and is usually slightly smaller overall: around 90 mm in length...
, green
Green Woodpecker
The European Green Woodpecker is a member of the woodpecker family Picidae. There are four subspecies and it occurs in most parts of Europe and in western Asia...
and great spotted woodpeckers
Great Spotted Woodpecker
The Great Spotted Woodpecker , Dendrocopos major, is a bird species of the woodpecker family . It is distributed throughout Europe and northern Asia, and usually resident year-round except in the colder parts of its range...
, buzzards
Buzzard
A buzzard is one of several large birds, but there are a number of meanings as detailed below.-Old World:In the Old World Buzzard can mean:* One of several medium-sized, wide-ranging raptors with a robust body and broad wings....
and tawny owls
Tawny Owl
The Tawny Owl or Brown Owl is a stocky, medium-sized owl commonly found in woodlands across much of Eurasia. Its underparts are pale with dark streaks, and the upperparts are either brown or grey. Several of the eleven recognised subspecies have both variants...
.
Coed Waunpiod east
Coed Waunpiod east is found in the South Eastern corner of the park. Its Eastern border is formed by the River GarwRiver Garw
The River Garw runs for about 12 miles from its source in the hills north of Blaengarw to the confluence with the River Ogmore and the River Llynfi at Aberkenfig...
. Due to this proximity to the river, and the river's unpredictable nature and predisposition to flood the woodland is classified as wet woodland.
Coed Waunpiod east has been designated as a Site of Interest for Nature Conservation (SINC) due the presence of semi-flooded dense stands of Alder
Alder
Alder is the common name of a genus of flowering plants belonging to the birch family . The genus comprises about 30 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, few reaching large size, distributed throughout the North Temperate Zone and in the Americas along the Andes southwards to...
trees, known as Alder carr. This is a locally important habitat, hence its management is subject to a Local Biodiversity Action Plan
Biodiversity Action Plan
A Biodiversity Action Plan is an internationally recognized program addressing threatened species and habitats and is designed to protect and restore biological systems. The original impetus for these plans derives from the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity...
. (LBAP). Another interesting habitat within this area is a semi-flooded wild flower meadow (nick-named the wet triangle by the rangers.) The rest of the canopy is dominated by a mixture of broad-leaf trees including Oak, Birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
, Larch
Larch
Larches are conifers in the genus Larix, in the family Pinaceae. Growing from 15 to 50m tall, they are native to much of the cooler temperate northern hemisphere, on lowlands in the north and high on mountains further south...
, Horse chestnut and Hazel. The woodland fringe and the wet triangle are frequented by Butterflies, Dragonflies, Dippers, Heron
Heron
The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....
s, Kingfisher
Kingfisher
Kingfishers are a group of small to medium sized brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species being found in the Old World and Australia...
and Otter
Otter
The Otters are twelve species of semi-aquatic mammals which feed on fish and shellfish, and also other invertebrates, amphibians, birds and small mammals....
s.
The wet triangle is a small (1/2ha approx.) isolated area found within this woodland with its own completely individual character. It is extremely wet and often retains free water during the winter months. Due to this a shade canopy has been unable to develop and so it is the only area of open wet woodland in the park. In 1989, the area suffered from vandalism and about a third of it was destroyed by fire, many of the original species in the burnt area were lost and it became colonised by Bracken
Bracken
Bracken are several species of large, coarse ferns of the genus Pteridium. Ferns are vascular plants that have alternating generations, large plants that produce spores and small plants that produce sex cells . Brackens are in the family Dennstaedtiaceae, which are noted for their large, highly...
. The management of this area therefore focuses on the control and eventual elimination of Bracken and the re-introduction of original species to the area leading to a thinning and coppicing regime in the future to ensure healthy growth.
Sycamore wood
The Sycamore wood lies in the north-west corner of the park and is topographically the highest point in the park. The site would have been categorised as ancient woodlandAncient woodland
Ancient woodland is a term used in the United Kingdom to refer specifically to woodland that has existed continuously since 1600 or before in England and Wales . Before those dates, planting of new woodland was uncommon, so a wood present in 1600 was likely to have developed naturally...
until the end of the 19th century when it was felled and replanted with sycamore
Sycamore
Sycamore is a name which is applied at various times and places to three very different types of trees, but with somewhat similar leaf forms....
trees, to provide fuel for the house's biomass burners. They too were left unmanaged when the house was abandoned and have grown too tall and too close together. The modern management of this area is therefore to thin out the sycamore and add in native broadleaf trees (oak, hazel, birch and beech) to improve the health and biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
of the woodland. The most notable species in this area is the bluebells
Common Bluebell
Hyacinthoides non-scripta, commonly known as the common bluebell, is a spring-flowering bulbous perennial plant. -Taxonomy:...
that appear in mid-april.
Coed Kensington
Coed Kensington is a largely unspoilt deciduous woodlandDeciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
found in the northern section of the park between the sycamore woods to the west and the wet woodland to the east. The management of this area is predominantly coppicing
Coppicing
Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management which takes advantage of the fact that many trees make new growth from the stump or roots if cut down. In a coppiced wood, young tree stems are repeatedly cut down to near ground level...
hazel and sycamore in a rotation pattern. Its notable species include great spotted woodpecker, lesser spotted woodpecker
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is a member of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is assigned to the genus Dendrocopos ....
, green woodpecker, stoat
Stoat
The stoat , also known as the ermine or short-tailed weasel, is a species of Mustelid native to Eurasia and North America, distinguished from the least weasel by its larger size and longer tail with a prominent black tip...
and weasel
Weasel
Weasels are mammals forming the genus Mustela of the Mustelidae family. They are small, active predators, long and slender with short legs....
.
The western border of Coed Kensington is informally marked by the ‘Beech Avenue’. The beech avenue was planted in 1837; since then however, many of the original trees have died and due to their similar age the others have all become susceptible to the parasitic fungus Ganoderma
Ganoderma
Ganoderma is a genus of polypore mushrooms which grow on wood and include about 80 species, many from tropical regions. Because of their extensive use in traditional Asian medicines, and their potential in bioremediation, they are a very important genus economically. Ganoderma can be differentiated...
sp.. Since the discovery of the fungus they have been subjected to a tomography survey
Tomography
Tomography refers to imaging by sections or sectioning, through the use of any kind of penetrating wave. A device used in tomography is called a tomograph, while the image produced is a tomogram. The method is used in radiology, archaeology, biology, geophysics, oceanography, materials science,...
which deemed them unsafe. Many of the mature standards however have become very favourable summer roosts for the local bat populations, as their positioning creates a clear linear glade, which is used by the bats for navigation, in the damp woodland which is a key habitat for many the bat's invertebrate prey species. Legislation protects the bats and their roosts from disturbance and so the remedial work needed to allow the Beech Avenue to be re-opened must follow a comprehensive bat survey to determine the number of trees affected and by which species of bats and how many. Once this data is ascertained, the impact of the removal of these trees on the bat populations can be assessed, and a plan of works can be established. This work will not be able to be started until the bats have vacated these summer roosts and even then will have to be sympathetic, probably involving soft-felling
Felling
Felling is the name given to an area of land in eastern Gateshead, England. Originally an independent settlement in the historic county of Durham it became incorporated into the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead in 1974....
techniques, where the limbs will be cut and lowered to the ground, to leave pollarded standards.
It is local legend that the twenty one beech trees which make up the beech avenue were planted in celebration of Queen Victoria’s twenty first birthday and coronation
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
.
Wet Woodland
The wet woodland extends from the north of the oriental garden to the northern boundary of the park. Its eastern boundary is marked by the River Garw and its western boundary by the “Everglades path” adjoining Coed Kensington. The canopy is much shorter than that of Coed Kensington, Coed Waunpiod east and the sycamore woods as it is dominated by alder and hazel with frequent examples of ash, holly, grey willow and a few oak and birch. Due to the proximity to the River Garw, it is more often than not semi-flooded and is not frequented by large mammalian predators. This makes the area very successful for many species of ground-nesting birds. The aforementioned low canopy and damp conditions are also perfect for fungiFungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
and many types of invertebrates
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
.
Rhos Pasture
Rhos pasture is the Welsh term (meaning 'rough' pasture) to describe grassland dominated by rushes and rank grasses, specifically purple moor grass, that occupies poorly drained often nutrient-poor soil. "The long, tough grasses provide cover and shelter, making rhos pastures a favoured habitat for birds" and invertebrates. The area in the park is found in the west at the most southerly point of the park. It is a small area that is enclosed by a strained rylock fence. The area is too wet to be mown throughout most of the year and so is grazed by a couple of cattle at the end of the growing season. This is the extent of the management in this area.Meadows
The meadows are found on the western side of the park hidden behind the barbecue areas and Adventure playground to the east. Its southern boundary joins Coed Waunpiod west. The two meadows are divided and largely encapsulated by a mature hedgerow. “The meadows have considerable ecological value, both for low-growing plants and related insect such as butterflies. In addition, many woodland marginal species occur here along the hedgerows, including, whitethroatWhitethroat
The Common Whitethroat, Sylvia communis, is a common and widespread typical warbler which breeds throughout Europe and across much of temperate western Asia. This small passerine bird is strongly migratory, and winters in tropical Africa, Arabia and Pakistan.This is one of several Sylvia species...
, spotted
Spotted Flycatcher
The Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata, is a small passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family. It breeds in most of Europe and western Asia, and is migratory, wintering in Africa and south western Asia. It is declining in parts of its range....
and pied flycatcher and redstart
Redstart
Redstarts are a group of small Old World birds. They were formerly classified in the thrush family , but are now known to be part of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae...
s"
The meadows are managed in a style as close to traditional hay meadow management as the park's budget and requirements for access and amenity provision will allow. They are cut once a year, at the end of the growing season, and the biomass is removed. This is to encourage the growth of the wide variety of plants that prefer a low-nutrient soil. It is understood that an additional cut and collection during mid-late July, at a slightly different time each year, would also be desirable as this would benefit plants with different grass regime requirements. However, the current budget will not allow this additional expenditure. To further safe-guard the sward a path is regularly mown through the area during the spring/summer seasons. On their far western edges the meadows suffer from scrub and bracken
Bracken
Bracken are several species of large, coarse ferns of the genus Pteridium. Ferns are vascular plants that have alternating generations, large plants that produce spores and small plants that produce sex cells . Brackens are in the family Dennstaedtiaceae, which are noted for their large, highly...
encroachment, from the Public Right of Way (PRoW) from Brynmenyn. Whilst this scrub is controlled it has been deemed undesirable to completely remove it as it provides food for the faunal assemblages in the autumn.
Farmland
The 18 hectares of land that are subject to tenancy grazing have been let for many years. As part of the contract, the land has been assessed and put under a "specially tailored grazing regime which maximises the biodiversity potential of the area whilst also providing a buffer zone for the park and generating additional revenue".Ornamental Lake and Ponds
The spring-fed lake opposite the house covers approximately 0.5 acres and is the home to the park's population of semi-domesticated ducks. Residents include a number of species of fishFish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
; perch
Perch
Perch is a common name for fish of the genus Perca, freshwater gamefish belonging to the family Percidae. The perch, of which there are three species in different geographical areas, lend their name to a large order of vertebrates: the Perciformes, from the Greek perke meaning spotted, and the...
, rudd
Rudd
The common rudd Scardinius erythropthalmus is a bentho-pelagic freshwater fish, widely spread in Europe and middle Asia, around the basins of the North, Baltic, Black, Caspian and Aral seas.-Artificially introduced:...
, roach
Roach (fish)
The Common Roach is a freshwater and brackish water fish native to most of Europe and western Asia...
, tench
Tench
The tench or doctor fish is a freshwater and brackish water fish of the cyprinid family found throughout Eurasia from Western Europe including the British Isles east into Asia as far as the Ob and Yenisei Rivers. It is also found in Lake Baikal...
and several species of wildfowl; mallard
Mallard
The Mallard , or Wild Duck , is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand and Australia....
, muscovy
Muscovy Duck
The Muscovy Duck is a large duck which is native to Mexico and Central and South America. A small wild population reaches into the United States in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas...
, indian runners
Indian Runner Duck
Indian Runners are an unusual breed of domestic duck. They stand erect like penguins and, rather than waddling, they run. The females usually lay about 150 – 200 eggs a year or more, depending whether they are from exhibition or utility strains...
, Aylesbury ducks and moorhen
Moorhen
Moorhens, sometimes called marsh hens, are medium-sized water birds that are members of the rail family Rallidae. They constitute the genus Gallinula....
. The lake also attracts a number of wild visitors including kingfisher
Kingfisher
Kingfishers are a group of small to medium sized brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species being found in the Old World and Australia...
, mink
Mink
There are two living species referred to as "mink": the European Mink and the American Mink. The extinct Sea Mink is related to the American Mink, but was much larger. All three species are dark-colored, semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammals of the family Mustelidae, which also includes the weasels and...
and heron
Heron
The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....
. The vegetation surrounding the lake is dominated on its west side by bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
with examples of flag iris, and loosestrife occurring in less densely vegetated areas of the banks. The northern bank leads onto the orchard; in this area and at other infrequent points around the lake individual trees are found on the bank. There is a small island located in the western half of the lake, it is dominated by flag iris and hence provides some shelter from both the elements and predators for young and nesting birds.
The lake was originally installed during Captain Traherne's ownership of the estate. Throughout the decades the lake 'silted-up' due to a lack of management and by the early 1980's had become more recognisable as a marsh than a lake. During the renovations, completed before the parks opening, in 1986 the lake was dredged and a sluice was installed to help regulate its water levels during periods of heavy rain. The lake is now largely unmanaged as previous measures to control the invasive canadian pondweed have proved successful.
A series of 3 ornamental ponds exists in the oriental garden and feed into the River Garw. The ponds are thought to be predominantly free from wildfowl and fish but do sport healthy populations of common toads
Common Toad
The common toad or European toad is an amphibian widespread throughout Europe, with the exception of Iceland, Ireland and some Mediterranean islands...
, common frog
Common Frog
The Common Frog, Rana temporaria also known as the European Common Frog or European Common Brown Frog is found throughout much of Europe as far north as well north of the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia and as far east as the Urals, except for most of Iberia, southern Italy, and the southern Balkans...
s and palmate newt
Palmate Newt
The Palmate Newt is a species of newt found in most of Western Europe, including Great Britain. It is protected by law in all countries where it occurs, and is thought to be extremely rare to endangered in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg and vulnerable in Spain and Poland but common...
s. The ponds also support a diverse aquatic invertebrate assemblage including, water boatman
Notonectidae
Notonectidae is a cosmopolitan family of aquatic insects in the order Hemiptera, commonly called backswimmers because they swim upside down. They are all predators, up to nearly 2 cm in size. They are similar in appearance to Corixidae , but can be separated by differences in their...
, pond skater, great diving beetle, water beetle
Water beetle
A water beetle is a beetle adapted to living in water. Water beetles rise to the water surface and take atmospheric air into their tracheal systems. There are approximately 2000 species of water beetles. The rest marine species tend to live in the intertidal zone...
, stonefly larvae, mayfly
Mayfly
Mayflies are insects which belong to the Order Ephemeroptera . They have been placed into an ancient group of insects termed the Palaeoptera, which also contains dragonflies and damselflies...
larvae, damselfly
Damselfly
Damselflies are insects in the order Odonata. Damselflies are similar to dragonflies, but the adults can be distinguished by the fact that the wings of most damselflies are held along, and parallel to, the body when at rest...
larvae dragonfly
Dragonfly
A dragonfly is a winged insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera . It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body...
larvae, caddisfly larvae, non-biting midge larvae, blackfly larvae, cranefly larvae, midge
Midge
A midge is a very small, two-winged flying insect. "Midge" may also refer to:-Real:* Midge Costanza , American politician* Mildred Gillars , aka "Midge", American broadcaster of Nazi propaganda during World War II...
larvae, water louse, freshwater shrimp and freshwater snail
Freshwater snail
A freshwater snail is one kind of freshwater mollusc, the other kind being freshwater clams and mussels, i.e. freshwater bivalves. Specifically a freshwater snail is a gastropod that lives in a watery non-marine habitat. The majority of freshwater gastropods have a shell, with very few exceptions....
.
River Garw
The River GarwRiver Garw
The River Garw runs for about 12 miles from its source in the hills north of Blaengarw to the confluence with the River Ogmore and the River Llynfi at Aberkenfig...
translates from Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
to mean ‘rugged river’. The river runs from Blaengarw
Blaengarw
Blaengarw is the uppermost village in the river valley of the River Garw, in the county borough of Bridgend, Wales.-External links:* *...
, 12 miles to the north, and joins the River Ogmore
River Ogmore
The River Ogmore is a river in South Wales popular with anglers. It runs generally from north to south from the Ogmore Vale and Pentre, past Bridgend and Ogmore...
in Brynmenyn
Brynmenyn
Brynmenyn is a small village located at the confluence of the Garw and Ogmore rivers in south Wales, around 4 miles north of Bridgend, and it also in the Bridgend County Borough council area. The village has its own primary school.-Transport:...
. The river was once nicknamed the ‘black river’ as it was historically used to to wash coal, however, the pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
from the coal dust has cleared up and the river has recovered well. The river now hosts a wide range of fauna
Fauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
e.g. otter, Daubenton’s bats, kingfisher, spotted flycatcher
Spotted Flycatcher
The Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata, is a small passerine bird in the Old World flycatcher family. It breeds in most of Europe and western Asia, and is migratory, wintering in Africa and south western Asia. It is declining in parts of its range....
and dipper.
House and Lawn
Bryngarw House now predominantly operates as a Hotel; it has "19 individually decorated bedrooms, all with en suite facilities". The Harlequin Restaurant, which has won the of Wales Fine Cuisine Award, is situated in the house with the dining room in the large conservatory looking out over the lawn and grounds.The House also boasts a range of other facilities including: a licence to hold wedding and civil partnership ceremonies, function room and meeting/conference rooms.
The lawn is managed as an amenity area and maintained by frequent mowing and treatment with fertiliser and pesticide
Pesticide
Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
when required. Due to this management regime the ecological value of the area is almost nil but it has been designed with the idea that this and the other amenity
Amenity
In real property and lodging, amenities are any tangible or untangible benefits of a property, especially those that increase its attractiveness or value or that contribute to its comfort or convenience...
areas will take the 'brunt' of the people that have visited the park with a main aim to play, picnic
Picnic
In contemporary usage, a picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors , ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake or with an interesting view and possibly at a public event such as before an open air theatre performance,...
and sit.
Oriental garden
Developed between 1910 and 1920, this area is the home of many of the exotic species that Captain Traherne installed on the estate. Whilst much of the infrastructure in the area has been replaced since the original installation, the ambiance of the area has remained. The Japanese style bridge and tea house that are present in the area are a modern addition, having been installed in the work completed before the estate opened as a Country Park.Originally, the main entrance to the area would have been from the lawn in front
of the house descending the hill to the west of the garden to the series of three linked ponds. Whilst the area can still be accessed this way, the main route in is now the path running from north to south following the river linking the everglades path to the cycle path bridge.
The ‘One Historic Garden’ Centre of Excellence Scheme is funding the restoration of this area during the autumn of 2011.
Orchard
The Orchard was originally part of the kitchen garden for Bryngarw House, and hence is the home of many very old specimens of fruit trees. After the house was abandoned as a permanent residence for the Traherne family, the Orchard suffered many years of neglect. During this period it became over-grown with pernicious weeds and rank grasses that have negatively affected the health of many of the trees present. In 2010 however a new project to return it to its previous glory was initiated by the rangers. Several new fruit trees of local provenanceProvenance
Provenance, from the French provenir, "to come from", refers to the chronology of the ownership or location of an historical object. The term was originally mostly used for works of art, but is now used in similar senses in a wide range of fields, including science and computing...
have been added including apple, pear
Pear Tree
Pear Tree is an inner city suburb of Derby, England. It is situated next to the areas of Normanton, Rose Hill and Osmaston. Pear Tree could be described as a suburb within a suburb because the people of Derby would identify it as an area in its own right, but it could also be described as forming...
, plum
Plum
A plum or gage is a stone fruit tree in the genus Prunus, subgenus Prunus. The subgenus is distinguished from other subgenera in the shoots having a terminal bud and solitary side buds , the flowers in groups of one to five together on short stems, and the fruit having a groove running down one...
and greengage
Greengage
The greengages, also known as the Reine Claudes, are the edible drupaceous fruits of a cultivar group of the common European plum. The first true greengage was bred in Moissac, France, from a green-fruited wild plum originally found in Asia Minor; the original greengage cultivar nowadays survives...
. The old hedgerow marking its western boundary has been layed
Hedge laying
Hedge laying is a country skill, typically found in the United Kingdom and Ireland, which, through the creation and maintenance of hedges, achieves the following:* the formation of livestock-proof barriers;...
in the style of traditional hedge management of the local area, and a new hedge has been installed along its eastern boundary to establish a complete natural boundary to the area.
Whilst the young fruit trees develop, the open nature of the canopy has greatly benefitted the ground flora and allowed it to flourish. The species composition of the area is diverse, with notable species including; bluebell, pignut, wood anemone
Anemone nemorosa
Anemone nemorosa is an early-spring flowering plant in the genus Anemone in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Europe. Common names include wood anemone, windflower, thimbleweed and smell fox, an allusion to the musky smell of the leaves...
, primrose
Primrose
-Botany:* Primulaceae, a family of flowering plants* Primula vulgaris, commonly known as the Primrose * Oenothera, commonly known as Evening Primrose, a plant genus...
and cowslip
Primula veris
Primula veris is a flowering plant in the genus Primula. The species is found throughout most of temperate Europe and Asia, and although absent from more northerly areas including much of northwest Scotland, it reappears in northernmost Sutherland and Orkney.-Names:The common name cowslip derives...
.
Woodland Garden
The Woodland Garden is situated to the north of the orchard and was originally the herb garden of the House. However, when the house was abandoned the area became disused and overgrown. The area was subsequently not seen as having any real value and during the 1993 renovation work on the house was used as a spoil tip. It remained as a spoil tip until 2005 when the area was reclaimed by the Rangers and converted into a custom-made wheelchair accessible area. This area was chosen for this purpose as it is one of the only areas to topographically satisfy the pertinent legal requirements. The area is also well used by visiting school children on environmental education trips as it has been installed with several large wood carvings that aid environmental interpretation. The area is still being developed for both purposes.Visitor centre, café and toilets
The visitor centre, café and toilet buildings are set at the north end of the car park. The building was constructed and furnished in 1982 and it is recognised that they are now in need of updating and modernisation. It is planned that this work will be funded by the aforementioned ‘One Historic Garden’ Centre of Excellence Scheme and will commence autumn 2011.The toilet blocks include facilities for men, women, disabled users and baby changing. The Visitor Centre is very small consisting of only one room with displays detailing information about the; wildlife, history and issues in the park as well as general information about the park and surrounding area. A map of the park is displayed in this area for use of the public, and leaflets containing information about the park and other related topics are available.
The café is run on a franchise basis and is currently 'open-air' with a covered seating area adjoined the servery. The cafe serves a range of hot and cold drinks, hot and cold snacks, ice creams and duck-food. There is an additional uncovered seating area to the east of the servery. Opening times are often weather dependent, but during the summer months, the café usually opens at 10am and serves hot food until 3pm closing at 5pm.
One notable ecological aspect of these buildings is that their roof voids are known to support summer bat roosts for soprano pipistrelle and brown long-eared bat
Brown long-eared bat
The brown long-eared bat or common long-eared bat is a fairly large European bat. It has distinctive ears, long and with a distinctive fold...
s.
Adventure play area
The adventure play area is located in the western half of the park to the north of Coed Waunpiod west and opposite the car park. It consists of a '50ft tower slide' with 3 shoots at different levels, regular and toddler-safe swings, 2 combination adventure/climbing structures, self-spinning disc and 2 spring mounted 'wobbly horses'. There is also a purpose built climbing boulder located in the barbecue area.Barbecue and picnic areas
There are several designated picnic areas around the park but by far the largest is to the north of the play area. During busy and peak periods, the eastern part of this field, separated by a line of 2ft posts, is used as the over-flow car park. There are two purpose built barbecue plinths which when rented from the wardens are supplied with a grill in this area. This area is of very little ecological value and is one of the most popular areas for visitors with children.Whilst any area in the park can be used for picnicking, the Ranger team do ask that you restrict barbecuing to this area only and ensure that the barbecue is sufficiently raised off the ground to avoid scorching the grass.
Life trail
The 'Life trail, also known as a trim trail, was installed in 2010 and consists of 8 stations which are designed for cardio-vascular exercise and to stretch and strengthen the upper body and abdominal muscle groups.Suggested Walks
All of the following walks are circular, starting and finishing at the visitor centre. They travel over maintained paths but may include some steps and/or one or two moderately steep slopes. There are however many opportunities in all three suggested walks to rest and enjoy your surroundings. The paths that pass through woodland do have tree roots and other natural items making them less suitable for wheelchair users or those with pushchairs.More details in the leaflet Nature Watch: A guide to walks in Bryngarw Country Park
Riverside ramble
This walk is half a mile long and follows the blue waymarker posts around the park.Starting at the visitor centre, follow the path through the car park, over the wooden bridge onto the pavement running along the drive until you find a blue waymarker post on the left hand side. Follow the slightly sloping path that turns left into the woodland and simply follow the blue waymarkers to make your way around this lovely woodland/riverside stroll. In brief the route takes in Coed Waunpiod east and the wet triangle, the River Garw and river corridor. A short extension, at the end, of this route will allow you to include the Oriental Garden.
Meadow Meander
This walk is half a mile long and follows the red waymarker posts around the park.From the visitor centre head sharp right and follow the road entrance to the car park to the main drive. Here cross the road and head towards the gap in the hedge. From the gap in the hedge you should be able to see the first and last waymarker posts. The first is to your left as you look up the hill (near the adventure playground). As you walk up the hill towards this marker you will see the next post directing you through another gap in the hedge, behind the tower slide, taking you into the meadow. From here you will be able to follow the red waymarker posts which will guide you through the two meadows taking in all of the best spots for wild flowers.
Woodland Walk
This walk is three quarters of a mile and follows the green waymarkers around the park.The Woodland Walk is currently subject to a diversion as the Beech Avenue is currently closed to the public due to the poor health of the trees and subsequent health and safety risk. A diversion has been installed in the park and is clearly marked with yellow arrows making it possible to complete the walk. The length of the walk is however slightly extended due to said diversion.
Starting off at the visitor centre, take the path leading between the visitor centre and the toilets towards the lake. Cross the main drive and take the path between the hedge (boundary to overflow car park and Picnic area) and the lake. Follow this wide mud path up and around the back of the lake into mixed woodland. From here follow the green waymarker posts. This route is the longest and most comprehensive and takes you around the Lake and Orchard through The Woodland Garden, The Sycamore woods, Coed Kensington and Wet woodland. This route can also so easily extended to include a visit to the Oriental Garden. This route has several steep slopes, steps and some of the paths are quite rough underfoot.