Another small project for Welsh Water, this time appraising some very minor repairs indeed, but in a highly designated location. The Migneint is a place of legend amongst Welsh botanists, not least for its consistently horrible weather. It is part of Migneint-Arenig-Dduallt SSSI and internationally important for its blanket bogs and upland bird communities as well as home to otters, water voles and an array of interesting and notable species.
Fortunately the repairs as well as being minor were in locations accessible from an existing track, which meant there was no need for workers to traverse the adjacent semi-natural habitats. Just as well, really, because our survey found that the ground was rather soft in places, with plenty of Sphagnum and bottle sedge. Put me in mind of the kinds of stories digger drivers like to tell, the ones which start with them being asked to “just drive across the river so you can start digging from the other side” and end with them losing a second digger in the mud whilst trying to pull out the first !
Luckily there was no evidence of water vole either, so provided an ecologist is there to check everything again before the works start, there should be no problem with the repair project.
