Over the past two years South East Wales Rivers Trust has been delivering the RePrEEV (Restoration, Protection, and Enhancement of the Ely Valley SSSI) project. This was funded by the Nature Networks Programme, and delivered by the Heritage Lottery Fund, on behalf of the Welsh Government. The project focused on one of the few riverine SSSI sites in the South Wales valleys. The Ely Valley SSSI covers an area of 87 hectares stretching over 12km of the River Ely from Miskin to St Fagans. The site is designated as a SSSI as it has one of the most important populations of Monkshood (a flowering plant also known as Wolfsbane).
Dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf mae Ymddiriedolaeth Afonydd De-ddwyrain Cymru wedi bod yn cyflawni’r prosiect RePrEEV (Adfer, Diogelu a Gwella SoDdGA Dyffryn Trelái). Ariannwyd hyn gan Raglen Rhwydweithiau Natur, a’i ddarparu gan Gronfa Dreftadaeth y Loteri, ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru. Roedd y prosiect yn canolbwyntio ar un o’r ychydig safleoedd SoDdGA afonol yng nghymoedd De Cymru. Mae SoDdGA Dyffryn Trelái yn cwmpasu ardal o 87 hectar sy’n ymestyn dros 12km o Afon Trelái o Feisgyn i Sain Ffagan. Mae’r safle wedi’i ddynodi fel SoDdGA gan fod ganddo un o’r poblogaethau pwysicaf o Monkshood (planhigyn blodeuol a elwir hefyd yn Wolfsbane).
Surveys of habitats and species / Arolygon o gynefinoedd a rhywogaethau
Identifying the key habitats and species that require either protection where they are in good condition or, enhancement where they have been damaged, has been an important element of the project work enabling us to focus our efforts on the areas of greatest need. These surveys have included mapping the extent of the Monkshood and identification of suitable habitat for water voles and otters.
Mae nodi’r cynefinoedd a’r rhywogaethau allweddol sydd angen eu diogelu lle maent mewn cyflwr da neu, gwella lle maent wedi cael eu difrodi, wedi bod yn elfen bwysig o waith y prosiect sy’n ein galluogi i ganolbwyntio ein hymdrechion ar yr ardaloedd sydd angen mwyaf. Mae’r arolygon hyn wedi cynnwys mapio maint y Mynachod a nodi cynefin addas ar gyfer llygod dŵr a dyfrgwn.
Riparian buffer strips / Stribedi clustogi afonol
Stock-proof fencing has been erected along the banks of several stretches of the river. The fencing protects a strip of land along the waters edge, preventing sheep and cattle from grazing on, or trampling riverside plants, including the protected Monkshood. The loss of the plants reduces shading, weakens the riverbank leaving it more prone to erosion and removes a valuable habitat for insects, birds and other animals.
Mae ffensys gwrth-stoc wedi’u codi ar hyd glannau sawl darn o’r afon. Mae’r ffensys yn amddiffyn llain o dir ar hyd ymyl y dŵr, gan atal defaid a gwartheg rhag pori ar, neu gamu planhigion glan yr afon, gan gynnwys y Mynachod gwarchodedig. Mae colli’r planhigion yn lleihau cysgodi, yn gwanhau glan yr afon gan ei gadael yn fwy tueddol o erydiad ac yn cael gwared ar gynefin gwerthfawr i bryfed, adar ac anifeiliaid eraill.
Invasive weed treatment / Triniaeth chwyn ymledol
Non-native invasive weeds such as Himalayan balsam and Japanese knotweed outgrow our native plant species, including Monkshood leading to a reduction in riparian biodiversity. SEWRT have employed local specialist weed control experts to treat large areas of knotweed in order to control its spread and if possible eradicate it.
Mae chwyn goresgynnol anfrodorol fel balsam yr Himalaya a chlymog Japan yn tyfu’n fwy na’n rhywogaethau planhigion brodorol, gan gynnwys Monkshood gan arwain at ostyngiad mewn bioamrywiaeth glannau. Mae SEWRT wedi cyflogi arbenigwyr rheoli chwyn arbenigol lleol i drin ardaloedd mawr o glymog er mwyn rheoli ei ledaeniad ac os yn bosibl ei ddileu.
Community engagement / Ymgysylltu â’r gymuned
Throughout the project’s delivery, Olie, our Catchment Coordinator has liaised with local community groups, volunteers and local land owners, explaining about the project, the ecology of the river and the work that we have been undertaking to protect the SSSI the presence of which was unknown to many people. Practical volunteering events have been organised during which our 127 volunteers spent hundreds of hours clearing litter, helping to remove invasive plant species and planting over 1000 native trees.
Drwy gydol cyflwyno’r prosiect, mae Olie, ein Cydlynydd Dalgylch wedi cysylltu â grwpiau cymunedol lleol, gwirfoddolwyr a pherchnogion tir lleol, gan esbonio am y prosiect, ecoleg yr afon a’r gwaith yr ydym wedi bod yn ei wneud i ddiogelu’r SoDdGA nad oedd ei bresenoldeb yn hysbys i lawer o bobl. Mae digwyddiadau gwirfoddoli ymarferol wedi’u trefnu lle treuliodd ein 127 o wirfoddolwyr gannoedd o oriau yn clirio sbwriel, helpu i gael gwared ar rywogaethau planhigion goresgynnol a phlannu dros 1000 o goed brodorol.
Education / Addysg
We have worked with several schools throughout the catchment, providing lessons to primary aged children about river ecology and even providing aquariums to schools with a population of elvers (young European eels). We have produced a River Explorer’s Activity Booklet for young children to learn about river-life through various activities. Please contact us if you would like to receive a copy.
Rydym wedi gweithio gyda sawl ysgol ledled y dalgylch, gan ddarparu gwersi i blant oedran cynradd am ecoleg afonydd a hyd yn oed darparu acwariwm i ysgolion gyda phoblogaeth o elvers (llyswennod ifanc Ewropeaidd). Rydym wedi cynhyrchu Llyfryn Gweithgareddau River Explorer’s i blant ifanc ddysgu am fywyd yr afon trwy weithgareddau amrywiol. Cysylltwch â ni os hoffech dderbyn copi.
Access to the River / Mynediad i’r afon
A key element of the RePrEEV project has been to encourage more people to experience the environment and wildlife of the River Ely Ely at first hand. We have developed the Monkshood Meander, a walk along public rights of way, from Grangemoor Park in Cardiff to Pontyclun in the mid-reaches of the river. We have positioned interpretation boards with maps showing the route at four locations along the river.
Elfen allweddol o’r prosiect RePrEEV yw annog mwy o bobl i brofi amgylchedd a bywyd gwyllt Afon Trelái yn uniongyrchol. Rydym wedi datblygu’r Monkshood Meander, taith gerdded ar hyd hawliau tramwy cyhoeddus, o Barc Grangemoor yng Nghaerdydd i Bont-y-clun yng nghanol yr afon. Rydym wedi gosod byrddau dehongli gyda mapiau sy’n dangos y llwybr mewn pedwar lleoliad ar hyd yr afon.
