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Aberbargoed Grasslands is a National Nature Reserve in Caerphilly County Borough, South Wales. It is protected under EU legistation becuase of it's large population of Marsh Fritillary Euphydryas aurinia it's also the last remaining site in Gwent/Monmouthshire for this superb butterfly. The reserve is made up of mature grassland that has survived the ravages of coal mining to a great extent and also an encroaching industrial estate. Traditional hay meadows are present along with wet meadows and pasture. Scrub and copses are also highly evident, on the whole there is suitable habitat for most of our commoner species as well as Small Pearl-bordered, Dark Green and Silver-washed Fritillary.Wall is usually found here and there is always good numbers of Grayling present on the coal waste tip adjacent to the grasslands. Marbled White are seen passing through, but for some strange reason they have not yet found it suitable for colonising, I feel sure that will change in the near future. Essex Skipper is another species that should eventually arrive here as it makes it's way further west, it may already be here, and is simply overlooked, Small and Large Skippers are always found here in healthy numbers, Dingy Skipper can also be found but is more uncommon. In all I have recorded 29 species here, including a solitary 'flying through' Clouded Yellow in the summer of 2006.

Purple Moor grass is a great favourite of the Marsh Fritillary and the core pasture is made up predominently of it. Devils Bit Scabious is found in the damper areas. Usually the pasture is spectacular during May with a lovely show of Heath Spotted Orchids. Meadow Thistle and Lousewort are at home on the dryer, heath like areas. If botany is your thing then this site is certainly worth a visit, I'm sure there are uncommon plants waiting to be found here in such a diverse range of habitats.

Visitors can get here by car via the A4049 and limited parking is available off the main road (Commercial Street) in Aberbargoed at Heol Tir-y-Lan or at the St Margaret's Park (Industrial Estate) reserve entrance, which is also on the A4049. You can also get here by train using Valley Lines stopping at Bargoed Station and it's a pleasant twenty minute walk across the valley through Parc Coetir Bargod (Bargoed Woodland Park) to the Aberbargoed Grasslands reserve.

Caerphilly County Borough Council have good reason to be very proud of their efforts at Aberbargoed Grasslands and the inclusion of a full time warden and small Education Centre must be applauded. Another bonus is that you don't get lots of dog walkers here to disturb you (no offence intended to any dog lovers). Highly recommended if your visiting the area, but do allow time it's a pretty big area to do justice too.

Hope this is of interest.

Bill

Hi Bill,
I only visited Aberbagoed Grasslands at the end of last year (after David M mentioned it), but it made an instantly positive impression on me - mostly for the abundance of scabious I could see in flower at the reserve. I've yet to be up there for the adult Marsh Fritillaries but I will be going in the next couple of weeks. I was lucky to see a caterpillar web before the winter really hit. A nice report / and photos, and yes, the council should be proud of the work they've done.
Michael

Good stuff, Bill.

Yes, Aberbargoed Grasslands is quite an unusual location for a rare butterfly, but as you say there is an interesting array of different habitats contained in a fairly small area.

I must say though I never knew Silver Washed Fritillaries and Wall Browns could be found there (although it's a perfect landscape for Wall Browns).

I went there a couple of weeks ago before the Marsh Frits emerged, and if you want to see Dingy Skippers in numbers, just walk up the coal waste hill adjacent to the site where the bird's foot trefoil grows in profusion. There were plenty of Dingies fighting for air space with the Common Blues.

Michael and David,

Thank you both for your prompt, positive responses. Both Marsh Fritillary and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary are on the wing at the grasslands now, and the former are building their numbers up nicely now, just hope their as productive as last year, myself and Mark (Warden) counted in excess of two hundred on the core pasture. I'm delighted to say that I counted half a dozen in an area of the reserve (Monday) that I have hoped they would eventually colonise, but only time will tell if it's a permanent arrangement.

I'm pretty sure that this site is at a higher elevation at around 7-800 feet above sea level than any other in Wales, or perhaps indeed anywhere else in southern Britain. This micro climate often means the Marsh Fritillary are a week or two behind other regions even when we get the type of weather we had in April.

David, I think you may be pleasantly surprised at the extent of the reserve, taking in the perimeter flower meadows it can appear smaller than it actual is. The only cloud on the horizon is that there is a new local housing development imminent meaning several hundred dwellings being built on the meadows on the other side of the coal waste tips (which are not part of the reserve - sadly) and this could put some pressure on the reserve...hope not though!

Bill

My last two counts of Marsh Fritillary on the main pasture both produced figures reaching the 200 mark, and both counts were done in very windy conditions, yesterday it was frustratingly breezy but I still counted approximately 160 in less than two hours. Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary were also in fair numbers with around 30 or so seen. A good sunny still day is what is needed for a real record breaker, but with the season starting so early we could be at or even over the Marsh Fritillary peak now.

Bill

As an update on Aberbargoed Grasslands I'm delighted to report that this superb site is now officially a National Nature Reserve. This secures a bright and healthy future for the last remaining colony of Marsh Fritillary in Monmouthshire (Gwent). It is also a first class area for Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Dark Green Fritillary. Grayling is also found here in very good numbers.

Bill

Thought it might be the right time to remind UK Butterflyer's that the Marsh Fritillary are on the wing at Aberbargoed Grasslands NNR. This morning I counted at least 30 individuals on the core pasture, all were as fresh as the proverbial. Last years weather was pretty awful for the reserve in general, I'm pleased to report that this Spring things are looking a little brighter with Marsh Fritillary numbers already better than a few counts I undertook over a corresponding period last year. Lets hope things get even better and this late Spring provides visitors to this lovely reserve with good sightings and healthy numbers of this superb fritillary.

As a footnote to this short reminder post; I saw perhaps the largest Common Lizard I've ever seen, it was at least 6 inches in length (and I mean at least!) and looked quite capable of taking an emerging Marshy

Bill

Good stuff, Bill. I hope to get over to Welshmoor soon to take a look at Marsh Frritillaries there. If they're out at Aberbargoed I'm sure they'll be out too on the Gower.