Glamorgan coastline complete: only two Southbya sites

Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, or so the saying goes. Well in the case of Southbya tophacea, at least on the Glamorgan coastline I can report there is very little evidence and perhaps a lot of absence ! Since my last post on this about a year ago (see here) myself and Hannah have complete all 45km of the Glamorgan coastline, from Penarth Head to Ogmore. We walked all of it on the beach, and she must be patient, as I checked every single bit of tufaceous cliff face I could find. All I have to report is that Southbya could only be found at the well known Aberthaw Site and at the relocated Porthkerry site. 


That said I could only search the accessible parts of the cliff and there is a lot of tufaceous habitat high up that one would imagine is ideal, so maybe its just teasing me...im not about to start abseiling as a hobby. 

I must admit my bryo identification is quite basic so dont expect a flora for the coastline, however I do have a list of 74 locations where there is tufa forming (ranging from a few cm to many meters) and there are associated byros, like Eucladium and so on. Ill happily send this list, complete with 10 FIG NGRs to anyone that wants it, I think the highlight must be Cwm Bach (SS8965471836) -mainly from the beach up the metal ladder, but I bet you've all been there already.

The big 'lump' of tufa at Cwm Bach, complete with handy bryo exploring metal ladder  for access. Dripping in bryos and worth a look.

We have also managed to survey in all of the Maidenhair fern (nice and easy for a beginner like me), a short write up in BSBI news will follow.

As for Southbya, I have only to visit Sams sites in Pembs then Ive been around all that Wales has to offer. Tim Blackstock took me out on Abberfraw, Anglesey, now the only dune site in Wales with Southbya. 

another great picture from my camera phone, but this is Southbya struggling for open space on its last dune habitat in Abberfraw (North Wales - sorry !)

On Sams suggestion, I will write a short review  for Field Bryology. I hope that some of the more distinguished people amongst us may want to review this or better still contribute (Barry maybe some of your great photos could adorn this article?). 

Ill circulate in a few months once its in final draft form.

Gareth