| Description
Yr Wyddfa/Snowdon is an upland ECN site incorporating the summit of Yr Wyddfa or Snowdon, the highest mountain in England and Wales, 19km south-east of Bangor in North Wales. It is co-located with the Nant Teyrn freshwater site. The altitude ranges from 298-1085m and includes three additional summits over 800m. The bedrock is a mixture of Ordovician acidic and basic volcanic rocks, with localised igneous intrusions. Evidence of glaciation is widespread, with prominent corrie moraines. There are 5 lakes within the site, three of which form a 'staircase'. The soils are varied and include brown podzolic soil, gleys, organic peat soils and humic rankers. The dominant vegetation is acidic grassland with Festuca ovina (sheep's fescue) and Agrostis sp (bent grass) in the drier areas and Nardus stricta (mat grass) in the wetter areas. The site is part of the Yr Wyddfa/Snowdon National Nature Reserve, managed by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) under agreement with the owner. The land is unenclosed and grazed by sheep and a small herd of feral goats. |
