Migneint-Arenig-Dduallt

General site character

• Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (0.8%)
  
• Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (51.9%)
  
• Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (16.3%)
  
• Dry grassland, Steppes (14.8%)
  
• Humid grassland, Mesophile grassland (12.9%)
  
• Improved grassland (0.1%)
  
• Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (0.4%)
  
• Coniferous woodland (2.2%)
  
• Inland rocks, Screes, Sands, Permanent Snow and ice (0.4%)
  
• Other land (including Towns, Villages, Roads, Waste places, Mines, Industrial sites) (0.2%)
  

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

• 4030 European dry heaths

  Upland European dry heath at Migneint–Arenig–Dduallt is predominantly referable to NVC type H12 Calluna vulgaris – Vaccinium myrtillus heath. Locally at higher altitudes this shows the effects of wind-pruning, and is lichen-rich in places. Other forms of heath present include H18 Vaccinium myrtillus – Deschampsia flexuosa heath, H21 Calluna vulgaris – Vaccinium myrtillus – Sphagnum capillifolium heath on damp north- to north-east facing cliffs, and H8 Calluna vulgaris – Ulex gallii heath at lower altitudes. The Calluna – Vaccinium – Sphagnum heath supports the Red Data Book liverwort Gymnocolea acutiloba.

• 7130 Blanket bogs (* if active bog)  * Priority feature

  Migneint and Dduallt mark the limits of a large upland block located along the eastern fringe of Snowdonia National Park. The site supports the largest area of blanket bog in north Wales after Berwyn and is particularly significant for the extent and quality of comparatively Sphagnum-rich M19 Calluna vulgaris – Eriophorum vaginatum blanket mire. M18 Erica tetralix – Sphagnum papillosum blanket mire is also widespread, with localised representation of the bog-moss Sphagnum magellanicum and, rarely, S. imbricatum ssp. affine. Other notable species found at the site include lesser twayblade Listera cordata, tall bog-sedge Carex magellanica and few-flowered sedge C. pauciflora, here approaching the southern limit of its British distribution. The significant representation of more degraded vegetation types, including M20 Eriophorum vaginatum blanket mire, attests to a long history of anthropogenic modification including burning, grazing and moor-gripping – significant parts of the site were formerly managed as grouse moor. Large areas of dry and wet heath are also present, while soligenous mire communities feature as widespread and extensive components of the blanket mire.

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

• 3130 Oligotrophic to mesotrophic standing waters with vegetation of the Littorelletea uniflorae and/or of the Isoëto-Nanojuncetea
• 3160 Natural dystrophic lakes and ponds
• 4010 Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix
• 91A0 Old sessile oak woods with Ilex and Blechnum in the British Isles

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

• Not Applicable

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

• Not Applicable