Nature and Wildlife

The river and natural surroundings of Aberdulais, make it perfect for nature and wildlife. Birds, bees, insects, as well as floral and fungus. It all has a home at Aberdulais.

Grab your binoculars

The river is an ideal home for the grey wagtails and dippers. You'll often see them "bobbing" in the river looking for food. The dippers tend to nest by the weir, and we've also noticed Sand Martins nesting near the river the past couple of years.

And there's our nocturnal flying friends too...the Daubenton bats nest in the cracks of the Bastion, and come out at dusk to feed from the river.

One of nature's not so friendly animals, the Mink, has also been spotted a few times in the river. 

Seasonal sights

In February and March, Snowdrops emerge around the bare beech tree on the lawn. And as the month progresses, we start to see shoots of other flowers such as our bluebells, primroses and daffodils start to break through. Even unwanted vegetation gets in on the act with small stinging nettles popping up around the site. 

April is when Mother Nature rolls up her sleeves and gets to work. The daffs move over and make way for the bluebells which are out in force on the upper levels and there are dandelions and daisies everywhere.

Look closely, and you may also spot the tiny purple Ivy Toadflax in the nooks and crannies of old walls.
The birds are getting busy too.  Dippers and wagtails perform their mating routines and their song is loud enough to be heard above the rush of the waterfall.  Look out too for our goosander family – and maybe the occasional heron. 

June is the month when spring turns to summer. As the bluebells die down, clover and foxgloves take their place alongside wildflowers like Herb Robert and Toadflax.  The birds are busily feeding their young and the bats may well be visible flying around the waterfall and buildings, catching small insects and moths. 

Wildflowers are at their best in July – keep an eye out for Catsear, Clover, Trefoils, Speedwell, Herb Robert and Meadowsweet. Insects are also at their busiest and butterflies at their best. And then there's the beautiful blue dragon and damsel flies (can you tell the difference? Look at the wings). Unfortunately, it’s also the time when midges, flies and wasps start to become a nuisance!

While many of our summer flowers remain in bloom, in September the trees are starting to show signs of Autumn. Although most remain green, you’ll notice signs of leaf, fruit and nuts fall to the ground. Good news for the birds and small mammals who’ll be storing it all for the winter ahead.

The winter months of November and December are when the trees finally shut down; high winds will ensure most of their leaves have fallen by the end of the month.  It’s also a bit of a challenge for the few remaining flowering plants, especially if the frosts come early. But some, like chickweed, may hang on a bit longer.

So, whatever time of year you visit, there's something to see. Many a good reason to return.