Cardiff's new nature reserve links Roath Park to the country

Cardiff's Nant Fawr Corridor is to be recognised as a local nature reserve.

The river corridor is part of a public section of open land alongside Llanishen and Lisvane reservoirs which runs 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 bird species including goldfinch, redpoll, bullfinch, firecrest, coal tit and green woodpecker that live in the woodlands, parkland and wildflower meadows that make up thislandscape. Orchids grow in existing meadows.

Executive member for Sport Leisure & Culture, Councillor Nigel Howells, said: "It is vitally important that we protect and enhance this important wildlife corridor. It is well used by the local community and is also close to several schools.

"The decision to make this corridor a designated nature reserve has a lot of local support and will be of great benefit to the area, linking Roath Park up to the wider countryside."

He added: "This proposed Nant Fawr Local Nature Reserve underlines the Council's intention to protect habitats and biodiversity of this area, supported by the local community."

The decision should be approved by the Council's Executive today. A management plan for the nature reserve will then be presented to the Countryside Council for Wales.