The freshwater Dyfi valley, its brackish estuary and the surrounding hills, the sea of Cardigan Bay and the rainy Welsh weather have combined to provide rich environmental niches for different types of vegetation and the wildlife that they attract. The Dyfi valley has carved flat coastal and inland sands and gravels, whilst Balkan Hill, rising from the riverfront, and the rest of the hilly topography, is part of the same rock formations that make up the famous Cader Idris.
Estuary waters are brackish until they meet the River Dyfi, which penetrates inland beyond Machynlleth and produces a freshwater ecology, with a rich water and floodplain profile. Along the rocky estuary plants survive on astonishingly barren surfaces, whilst on the beach, a variety of seaweeds are always present. In the dunes the saline sands produce a distinctive maritime vegetation, both saline- and wind-tolerant, requiring little in the way of nutrients. The acidic soil of Balkan Hill favours a completely different and much denser environmental profile. Rising sharply from the beach and the narrow ribbon of road and promenade, it soars sharply before levelling out towards the Bearded Lake, offering challenges for gardeners, but providing wind-tolerant shrubs, hedges and trees with sufficient soil to get a grip against the elements. These in turn supply resources for insects and birds and function as much-needed wind-breaks for both people and their wildlife visitors. Beyond this is undulating hill-farming country, dropping steeply to a small river at the base of the appropriately named Happy Valley.
Walks in the sand dunes, through the countryside and observations in my own garden supply a lot of material for the blog. All of the walks are linked to on the Living page. A random selection of posts that I have published in this category are as follows:
- A squirrel visitor – and a short history of the grey squirrel in Britain
- Dance of the red admirals on a beautiful sunny day
- Videos: A round-up of some of the garden birds in early September
- The Panorama Walk on a sunny day
- Video: A coal tit at the garden bird feeder
- Videos: Pheasants, doves and all the usual suspects: feasting after Storm Bronagh
- Videos: Fabulous sand-drifts travelling over the beach at Aberdovey
- A proper seaside walk – the beach, the sea, the waves, sun and even a sandcastle
- Speed-eating: Video of a close-up of a blue tit feeding
- Autumn scenery around Castell-y-Bere on a perfect day
- Short walk along the Welsh Coast Path from Tywyn to the Tonfanau footbridge
- Videos: January in Aberdovey
- Preparing for the RSPB Garden Watch 2019
- Panorama Walk on August Bank Holiday, 2019
- Video: Oystercatchers on the beach at Aberdovey
- A thin strip of cloud at floodplain level on the road from Aberdovey to Machynlleth
- The minor miracle of a mermaid’s purse – and The Shark Trust
- The latest strandline discoveries: a jellyfish, more eggsacks and a large common piddock
- Walking in Ynyslas and Borth, February 2020
- An idyllic circular walk in March 2020, from Aberdovey via Happy Valley
- Walking above Aberdovey and back along the beach, March 2020
- Sand dunes and beach in mid April, 2020
- The Welsh results of the Big Garden Birdwatch 2020
- Wild flowers in the dunes, including wild orchids, June 2020
- Exploring the origins of Tal y Llyn lake (Lake Mwyngil)
- Video: Sounds of the sea for absent visitors during Covid-19
- Video: Oystercatchers at Tonfanau beach