Biodiversity

The Afon Ystwyth in the valley of Cwmystwyth is scarred with the remains of some of the biggest lead and silver mines in the UK, active to the 1930s.

The waterfall at Y Graig Fawr used to power the turbines for the machinery which took over from hand labour going back to the Bronze Age around four thousand years ago. The Romans continued mining here as did the medieval monks of Strata Florida. The Elenydd area includes internationally important peatland bog as well as heath. It is a Natura 2000 site with SSSI and SAC designation with the peatland important for European relevant bird species such as hen harrier, dunlin and golden plover. It also supports amphibians and invertebrates such as newts, adders and dragonflies.