Cardiff Council’s Executive has agreed to declare and manage the Nant Fawr Corridor as a local nature reserve.
The decision follows discussions with the Countryside Council for Wales who has confirmed that it welcomes and supports the proposal.
The existing river corridor is part of a public section of open land that runs alongside Llanishen and Lisvane reservoirs down through the wards of Llanishen and Cyncoed to Llandennis Road.
The area contains lots of wildlife including grass snakes, newts, frogs, toads, slow worms as well as a range of birds species including Goldfinch, Redpoll, Bullfinch, Firecrest, Coal Tit and Green Woodpecker that exist within the woodlands, parkland and wildflower meadows that make up this diverse green space.
There are also existing flower meadows with orchids that can be preserved and maintained within a local nature reserve.
The area is also extensively used by ramblers, dog walkers and for nature study and a proposed Nant Fawr Trail running through the site is one of four major strategic walking routes in Cardiff providing links between populated areas and the wider countryside.
The idea of creating a local nature reserve was first looked at by the Executive last year. However Western Power Distribution (WPD), who own Llanishen Reservoir, called for a Judicial Review challenging the Council’s proposals and raising a number of queries relating to the plan.
The Council has now looked at these issues and having addressed them feels it is in a position to proceed with the proposal to create a local nature reserve.
Executive member for Sport Leisure and Culture, Councillor Nigel Howells, said: “This is the latest in a significant number of challenges brought by WPD in relation to Llanishen Reservoir. A number of technicalities were raised in regard to the process which the Council feels it has now addressed and for this reason the Council has now revisited its decision-making process.
“This is an important wildlife corridor which is well used by the local community, who have supported the decision to make this corridor a designated nature reserve. If approved the decision will effectively link Roath Park up to the wider countryside giving an environment for wildlife to flourish.”
Executive member for Environment, Councillor Margaret Jones added: “Having a Nant Fawr Local Nature Reserve is something that the local community has wanted for a long time and the Council is fully committed to protecting this habitat and creating a nature reserve that links up the Nant Fawr Community, the Rhyd y Penau complex which has important wet woodland areas, and the Nant Fawr Meadows.”
