Bach-y-cwm

Just above Neath Abbey the River Clydach flows through a small wooded valley where the remains of what was presumably a mill lie at the base of a small waterfall. Invariably mosses are the dominant plants at such sites and extensive mats of Endive Pellia (Pellia endiviifolia) were noted along the base of the cliff to the left of the waterfall. This is an easily recognised thalose liverwort characteristic of base-rich sites.

note symmetrically branched tips of thallus

A peculiar narrow-leaved form of Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium cf var. angustifolium) was found growing above the waterfall, which was attracting good numbers of insects including several female specimens of the rather local hoverfly Leucozona glaucia.

narrow-leaved form of Hogweed

Leucozona glaucia