Beddmanarch–Cymyran


Beddmanarch–Cymyran is a site of special scientific interest on the Welsh island of Anglesey extending to just over, and centred on the Cymyran Strait. It was first notified in 1961 for its coastal botanical and ornithological interest. The site is also a marine protected area as it includes intertidal areas and contains marine components.

Area

The Beddmanarch–Cymyran site comprises the area of coastal salt-marshes, mud-flats and shallow coastal water lying between Holy Island and the mainland of Anglesey. This includes the Cymyran Strait, the tidal reaches of the Afon Alaw to the east and extends northwards to Porth Penrhyn-Mawr. There are two crossings over the water that makes up the site, Four Mile Bridge and the Stanley Embankment. The area between the two bridges in known as the Inland Sea.

Importance

The site includes four special areas of interest:
More generally, the area is also important for a mixture of environments including mudflats and sandbanks, tidally swept areas of bedrock, rock outcrops, shingle bars, muddy gravels, and coastal grassland and scrub. All of these support a variety of wildlife including breeding birds, such as arctic and common terns, and plants like dwarf rush and spiral tasselweed.
As a marine protected area the site is important for the common ringed plover,
common greenshank, eel grass and tide-swept algae, and for its inter-tidal, salt marsh, muddy gravel, and sheltered mud environments.
The wintering populations of the ringed plover and greenshank are monitored by the RSPB.

Risks

While many activities can damage protected sites, Beddmanarch–Cymyran SSSI is sensitive to a number of possible changes and activities:
A wide variety of operations may affect the site and require consultation with Natural Resources Wales and may further require consent. 28 operations are currently listed and include activities relating to farming, fishing, water utilisation, and the introduction or removal of flora and fauna. The list is not prohibitive, but many activities may be limited to certain areas or times of the year.