Machynys Ponds


Machynys Ponds is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Carmarthenshire, Wales, designated in 1993 for its botanical features.

SSSI

Machynys Ponds SSSI is located approximately to the south-east of Llanelli and immediately to the east of the village of Machynys. The site is approximately inland from the north bank of the River Loughor estuary, covers and is above sea-level.
The SSSI comprises four ponds, one large and to the east, three smaller, connected by fen-carr hosting willow and scrub. The site is designated for its standing-water and swamp habitats, which are of interest of themselves, but also support a diverse and rich species mix. Of special note, and an additional reason for designation, is the presence of 14 species of dragonfly and damselfly found at the ponds.
The ponds are situated on a glacial terminal moraine – debris at the front of a glacier – which forms the Machynys Peninsula. They are flooded clay pits, dug to supply local 19th century brickworks and inundated in a great storm in 1896, and are in part of interest for the habitats that have formed in the decades since their creation.
The large pond is populated with spiked water-milfoil, Canadian waterweed, yellow-flowered fringed water-lily, and beds of bulrush, common reed, sea club-rush and grey club-rush . The pond provides a habitat and breeding ground for a variety of waterfowl such as the mute swan, tufted duck, coot and dabchick. Other avians species nesting at the pond include gadwall, water rail, reed warbler, sedge warbler, reed bunting and other passerines.

The three smaller ponds are more shallow – one sufficiently so to dry up in times of low rainfall. They host rushes and bulrush, water mint, false fox-sedge, great willowherb, common fleabane, gipsywort, branched bur-reed, common marsh-bedstraw, and water-plantain. Two species, parsley water-dropwort and sea club-rush indicate brackish water.
More shallow areas of the ponds contain mare's-tail and lesser water-parsnip, grey willow ; various-leaved water-starwort, brackish water-crowfoot and stonewort.
Amongst the dragonfly fauna of the site are the fenland hairy dragonfly, the black-tailed skimmer, the ruddy darter, and the migrant hawker. The site also hosts a diversity of beetle and fly species, and the profile of invertebrates found at the ponds is found to be related to ponds of south and south-east England.