Conservation

Hafod Lwyfog farm lies on the slopes of the Nantgwynant valley south of Eryri, (Snowdon), and includes the campsite.  The valley has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest for geological and biological reasons. This was one of the first areas of Britain to be investigated as the Glacial Theory was developed in the 1840’s. The Llanberis Pass was identified as a major glacial trough cut through the Snowdonia Massif, and Nantgwynant as a spectacular glacial valley, a trough into which ice from the Snowdonia Horseshoe flowed. This valley is separated from Cwm Dyli by an impressive rock lip leaving a “hanging cwm” and with the steep slopes of Gallt-y-Wenallt makes this one of the most impressive features of glacial erosion in North Wales.

Biological interest began ten thousand years ago: when the last ice age came to an end and the glaciers retreated most of the uplands were covered with tundra-like vegetation. But as the climate warmed grasses, herbs and shrubs moved in. Trees were next, at first thin and scrubby but in time this primitive woodland turned into sessile oak forest, and there are still stands of this ancient woodland today.  According to the SSSI designation: “The Atlantic woodlands of southern Snowdonia form one of the most important areas for woodland nature conservation in Europe”, as this “temperate rainforest” with damp, humid climate supports an abundance of ferns lichens, mosses and liverworts. The Nantgwynant area has one of the highest rainfalls in Snowdonia with over 2 metres of rain falling annually.  Many acres of our woodland are fenced off from sheep, thousands of trees have been planted and a tree nursery established based on local seeds. Conservation has always been one of our core values, so the campsite is not over developed and we strive to maintain local wildlife and regularly test for water quality. The climate emergency has made carbon sequestration desperately urgent as our Carbon page describes. The Rewilding Britain organisation have produced a very useful report you can access here.