Common Land – the facts
Common Land covers over 8% (173,366 ha) of the
total land area of Wales. It is mainly grassland and heath with
areas of tall bracken and bogs, flushes and fens.
- 45% of Common Land in Wales is included in
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
- 45% of Common Land in Wales lies within
a National Park
- 99% of Common Land in Wales is open to the
public.
- 99% of in Wales is open to public access
There are several examples of common land in
Wales. Some are important for their habitats and include:
- blanket bogs (Elenydd, Migneint, Berwyn)
- raised bog (Cors Fochno near Borth)
- dunes (Aberffraw dunes in Anglesey)
- dry heath (north-west Pembrokeshire
common)
- calaminarian grasslands (Halkyn common)
Others are important because of the wildlife
that lives there such as:
- southern damselfly, marsh fritillary
butterfly (Gower Commons near Swansea)
- upland birds (Berwyn, Elenydd and
Mallaen)
- choughs (St David’s Head, Pembrokeshire and Penrhosfeilw,
Anglesey)