Cors Caron

General site character

• Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (2%)
  
• Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (70%)
  
• Humid grassland, Mesophile grassland (21%)
  
• Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (7%)
  

Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site

• 7110 Active raised bogs  * Priority feature

  This sequence of peat domes (also known as Tregaron Bog) developed on the floodplain of the Afon (River) Teifi in mid-Wales now represents the most intact surviving example in the UK of a raised bog landscape (macrotope). The three main extant domes are hydrologically isolated by the River Teifi and associated surface drainage features, and all three have suffered extensive damage as a consequence of past drainage and peat-cutting. The river terraces associated with the component bog mesotopes are regularly flooded and support vegetation that includes reed canary-grass Phalaris arundinacea, soft rush Juncus effusus, purple moor-grass Molinia caerulea and, more rarely, water sedge Carex aquatilis. Substantial areas of the surface of each of the three component bogs still retain good quality active raised bog vegetation mainly referable to NVC type M18 Sphagnum papillosum – Erica tetralix community, with frequent bog-rosemary Andromeda polifolia and white beak-sedge Rhynchospora alba and, more locally, the bog-mosses Sphagnum magellanicum and S. pulchrum. Extensive areas with a high cover of heather Calluna vulgaris and deergrass Trichophorum cespitosum are also present, while purple moor-grass M. caerulea is particularly prominent on the more modified bog margins. Although present as a important peat-former until as recently as the 18^th century, Sphagnum imbricatum is absent from the contemporary bog flora.

• 7120 Degraded raised bogs still capable of natural regeneration

  Areas of degraded raised bog occur peripheral to 7110 active raised bog at this extensive inland composite raised mire site. The vegetation cover is predominantly composed of species-poor rank swards of purple moor-grass Molinia caerulea developed over surfaces grossly modified by drainage and peat-cutting. Many of the most modified sections are subject to an extensive programme of hydrological rehabilitation aimed at elevating and stabilising water levels adjacent to the core surviving raised bog interest.

Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site

• 7140 Transition mires and quaking bogs
• 7150 Depressions on peat substrates of the Rhynchosporion
• 91D0 Bog woodland  * Priority feature

Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site

• 1355 Otter Lutra lutra

  Cors Caron is one of the largest wetland areas in Wales and feeds into the River Teifi. Historically it is a very important site for otters and has been an important source of breeding otters Lutra lutra for the River Teifi and probably other catchments such as the Severn and Dovey. Cors Caron provides a very important amphibian food resource for breeding otters in spring.

Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection

• Not Applicable