Ystradfellte Waterfalls - Untouched by Man

Posted on July 22nd, 2007 in Full Size Trees by Adam

I live quite close to Ystradfellte Waterfalls, known to a lot of people as Glyn-Neath Waterfalls. It is part of the Brecon Beacons National Park and is therefore protected from development. There are some clumps of planted forestry here and there but the interesting part is the natural woodland that surrounds the falls. It is made up mainly of oaks, hazels and birches. All that is very normal until you see the sizes and shapes of them. They grow in such harsh conditions they are forced to curl in every different direction just to hang onto the cliffs they are growing on.

Most of the trees are covered in moss and lichen and some even have ferns growing out of the trunks. Just as Porth-yr-Ogof it is like stepping back in time and a refreshing experience to daily life. Even the ferns I was looking at look like they have been there for many many years. They are common ferns but have been around so long they are turning into tree ferns. It makes me think that they have been there 50-100 years which is enough time to grow 10 inches tall.

Here is one tree I spotted which is an English Oak clinging perilously close to the cliff edge.

Clifftop oak

Below is detail of what every branch looks like on the trees there

Mossy Branch

3 Responses to 'Ystradfellte Waterfalls - Untouched by Man'

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  1. James said,

    on July 23rd, 2007 at 6:33 am

    Trees that grow in these harsh conditions (nutrient/soil wise)will naturally be stunted. Its not uncommon to see species that otherwise would be large, growing as natural bonsai along cliff edges. I’m sure this characteristic is what forms the basis for the cascading styles. By the way, its not often we get to see the moss laden branches of an old oak at eye level?

  2. admin said,

    on July 23rd, 2007 at 5:49 pm

    The second picture there is actually from a hawthorn. You are right, the trees on the cliff edge really have to struggle to stay upright and I think it’s definitely where people have created cascade styles from.

  3. admin said,

    on August 3rd, 2007 at 3:45 pm

    Somebody helpfully pointed out that I had the name wrong of the waterfalls! There were listed as Aberdulais when in fact it is Ystradfellte falls. Sorry.

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