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Wildlife along the River Wye

View south past Chepstow Castle on the River Wye. © Phil Conridge - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

The Wye Valley through which the River Wye flows, has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It contains three National Nature Reserves and 45 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). It is also a candidate Special Area of Conservation (under the European Habitats and Species Directive).

Luckily it is relatively unpolluted and as such, is able to retain its natural beauty and be home to a wealth of wildlife, plants, birds and mammals.

There are water crowfoot beds, liverworts, mosses and algae; invertebrates common to waters edges like dragonflies, damselflies, a number of mollusc species and crustaceans like the Atlantic stream crayfish.

Birdlife is a myriad of species and colours, from kingfishers, herons and dippers, to rascal cormorants, sand martins, goosanders and pairs of swans.

Interestingly the rare polecat seems to be firmly rooted and breeding in the Lower Wye Valley, despite being missing from the area for over a century. There are otters too, though down in numbers since pollution to the river in the 1950s. Also in the bankside there are 10 species of British bat enjoying the habitat.

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  1. Amazing Hedge Puzzle and Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo »

    Address: Jubilee Park, Ross on Wye, HR6 6DA

    Tel: 01600 890360

    Services: Nature reserve | Visitor centre

  2. Brecon Mountain Railway »

    Address: Pant Station, South west Wales CF48 2UP

    Tel: 01685 722 988

    Services: Historic structure | Country park

  3. Symonds Yat Leisure Park »

    Address: Ross on Wye, Herefordshire

    Tel: 01600 890350

    Services: Country park | Boat trips

  4. The Weir (Hereford) »

    Address: The Weirr, Herefordshire HR4 7QF

    Tel: 01981 590509

    Services: Garden

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