Wildlife in full spring at coastal National Nature Reserves
Did you know that dotted along the length and breadth of the Wales Coast Path are several National Nature Reserves that boast some of the most incredible indigenous wildlife, flora and fauna that Wales has to offer?
A visit to any of these reserves is delightful year-round, but spring brings a wealth of new opportunities to explore and enjoy its beauty even more.
Protect wildlife at these special places by following the Countryside Code and leaving no trace of your visit. Dog owners must heed local signs and use a short lead where asked.
1. Newport Wetlands, Newport
Tucked between the city of Newport and the Severn estuary, Newport Wetlands National Nature Reserve is one of the best sites in the country for viewing bird life, especially when spring brings migrant wader species to the saline lagoons, and families with young children can enjoy spotting ducklings and chicks throughout the reserve. The reserve is part of the Gwent Levels and is made up of a diverse range of low-lying habitats, including wet grassland, reedbeds, saltmarsh and saline lagoons.
There’s a seven-kilometre network of re-surfaced paths around the Uskmouth reedbeds that’s wheelchair accessible, alongside the visitor centre and café, viewing screens across the deepwater channels, a raised viewing platform and bird hide. The pools offer great views of wildlife like mute swans, tufted ducks, coots, and little grebe families. You can also spot displaying lapwings and avocets, while listening to the melodies of warblers and skylarks. Dogs on a short lead are welcome on the 6km circular Green Lanes and Coast Walk which follow footpaths around the edge of the reserve.
2. Oxwich Bay, Swansea
Situated in the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, The Gower Peninsula, Oxwich National Nature Reserve consists of a sweeping golden beach, sand dunes, cliffs and salt and freshwater marshes.
From wild orchids, rare dune gentians, butterflies, birds and bats, the reserve provides an all-year-round ecosystem to both migrating and indigenous species. During the spring, keep an eye out for ducks, water rails, little grebes and moorhens, as well as wild orchards which bloom from May. Choose from a selection of coastal and woodland walking routes to suit your preference, with two circular walks that take you through the dunes, where wild ponies graze all year round.
3. Pant y Sais, Swansea
Another wetland habitat full of reed and sedge beds, Pant y Sais National Nature Reserve is a paradise for wetland plants, birds and insects. Home to dragonflies and Britain’s largest spider, the fen raft spider, one of the most rare and endangered insects in the UK, but you are much more likely to spot butterflies and dragonflies during your spring visit.
The reserve itself has a boardwalk that takes you into the wetlands, offering a short direct pathway into the reserves unique ecosystem and a peek at the fen raft’s habitat along the Tenant Canal. You can join the Wales Coast Path from the edge of the reserve and continue your walk along the Swansea Bay coastline.
Spring also sees the arrival of a range of reedbed birds including grasshopper warbler, reed warbler and sedge warbler, joining the resident Cetti’s warbler and reed bunting. Cuckoos are also regularly heard and seen from April onwards.
4. Stackpole Estate, Pembrokeshire
Based in South Pembrokeshire, the Stackpole Estate National Nature Reserve is abundant in coastal and woodland habitats, full of quiet valleys, wildlife rich lily ponds and sandy beaches. Home to two of Pembrokeshire’s most famous bayscapes, Broadhaven and Barafundle, Stackpole is a stronghold for several species, including one of Britain’s largest populations of the rare greater horseshoe bat.
The freshwater lakes of Bosherston are abundant with otters, water birds and dragonflies. During the spring months, they’re a great place to spot a wide range of birds, including reed warblers and sedge warblers. On the warren you can see linnets and skylarks and on the cliffs, breeding chough and colonies of razorbills and guillemots.
5. Dyfi Ynyslas, Ceredigion
Ynyslas is part of the Dyfi National Nature Reserve, situated midway between Aberystwyth and Machynlleth in Mid Wales. The golden dunes of Ynyslas are at the southern side of the Dyfi Estuary and are the largest dunes in Ceredigion, home to a rich population of orchids, mosses, liverworts, fungi, insects and spiders; many of which are rare and some unknown elsewhere in Britain.
The estuary is abundant in internationally important mudflats, sandbanks and saltmarsh that provide feeding and roosting areas for wetland birds. During the spring, you may catch a glimpse of one of the many reptiles that frequent the habitat such as the common lizard, sand lizard, adder and grass snake, as well as the Welsh vernal mining bees. There is plenty of birdsong to enjoy too, from the likes of skylarks, linnets, chiffchaffs and willow warbler, and in the evening nightjars can be heard.
6. Morfa Dyffryn, Gwynedd
The shifting sand dunes of Morfa Dyffryn National Nature Reserve are one of our most dynamic coastal sites. Dynamic and ever evolving dune habitats with large areas of bare sand are becoming increasingly rare across the UK, making it one of the most threatened and important habitats in the country. Wind constantly reshapes the towering dunes and low-lying slacks that provide a blank canvas for a wide range of specialised and rare plant and insects species such as marsh orchids, mosses, mining bees and Solitary Wasps.
As the dune grasslands and slacks burst into life with a variety of flowering plants, you can see rare wildflowers, lichens, and mosses, including several species of wild orchids like the marsh helleborine, northern marsh-orchid, and early marsh-orchid. Vibrantly coloured wildflowers such as thrift, common centaury, common restharrow, wild pansies and violets begin to bloom early in the season, followed by coastal species like bird's-foot trefoil. Visitors may also encounter unique plants such as sea mouse-ear, thyme-leaved sandwort, portland spurge, and dune fescue.
7. Morfa Harlech, Gwynedd
Morfa Harlech National Nature Reserve is another impressive coastal landscape that’s home to rare sand dune and coastal marsh habitats. Known as one of the richest natural treasures and home to a diverse range of plants and animals, all especially adapted to life at the seas edge, Morfa Harlech provides an opportunity to explore Wales’ most rare indigenous wildlife.
A spring visit offers a chance to see a variety of rare wildflowers and mosses. The reserve is home to wild orchids like the marsh helleborine and northern marsh-orchid, which grow alongside beds of flag iris. Brightly coloured wildflowers such as common centaury, pansies and violets bloom, followed by coastal species like common restharrow and bird's-foot trefoil, creating a vibrant and scenic display.
8. Newborough National Nature Reserve and Forest, Anglesey
The dunes, coastal marshes, sandy and rocky shores of Newborough National Nature Reserve and forest have been shaped over many thousands of years by the wind and Irish sea. This extensive coastal landscape is regarded as one of the largest and finest dune systems in the UK and is home to a wide range of rare and endangered dune flora and fauna such as marsh orchids and helleborines, rare mosses and liverworts, medicinal leeches and other rare insect species. Accessible by a network of footpaths with a selection of walking, running and cycle trails within the forest.
The section of woodland around Llyn Parc Mawr is home to rare red squirrels with a discovery trail dedicated to it. During the spring and summer months the dunes are carpeted in thousands of colourful flowers including rare orchids and are buzzing with insect and birdlife. Listen for skylarks high above the reserve and the chattering of whitethroats, stonechats and linnets in the dunes and open woodland.
Find out more
The Wales Coast Path and many of Wales' National Nature Reserves are managed by Natural Resources Wales.
Plan a visit to the Wales Coast Path