North West Pembrokeshire Commons/ Comins Gogledd Orllewin Sir Benfro

General site character

• Inland water bodies (Standing water, Running water) (0.3%)
  
• Bogs, Marshes, Water fringed vegetation, Fens (14.4%)
  
• Heath, Scrub, Maquis and Garrigue, Phygrana (29.7%)
  
• Dry grassland, Steppes (0.2%)
  
• Humid grassland, Mesophile grassland (42%)
  
• Improved grassland (0.4%)
  
• Broad-leaved deciduous woodland (11.6%)
  
• Other land (including Towns, Villages, Roads, Waste places, Mines, Industrial sites) (1.4%)
  

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

• 4030 European dry heaths

  North West Pembrokeshire Commons support an important area of European dry heath which consists predominantly of humid H4 Ulex gallii – Agrostis curtisii heath but also with smaller amounts of dry H8 Calluna vulgaris – Ulex gallii heath. The humid heath is an atypical form from that described in the NVC in that bristle bent Agrostis curtisii is absent, but in all other respects the heath conforms to the NVC description, and is the westernmost example of this vegetation type in Wales. The heath forms part of a set of excellent transitions between dry and humid heath to wet heath, various forms of fen meadow vegetation and other habitats. Notable species associated with the heath include pale dog-violet Viola lactea and yellow centaury Cicendia filiformis.

• 7140 Transition mires and quaking bogs

  Species occurrence description not yet available.

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

• 4010 Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix
• 6410 Molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clayey-silt-laden soils (Molinion caeruleae)

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

• 1831 Floating water-plantain Luronium natans

  Floating water-plantain Luronium natans in Pembrokeshire is relatively isolated from its central and north Wales population centres and it occupies a distinctive – and now highly relict – habitat here, in heathland pools. The species was recorded at Dowrog in the early 19^th century but it has only recently been rediscovered, following extensive remedial management. Here, in shallow rain-fed pools, it flowers and sets seed prolifically, almost certainly enabling colonisation of transient habitat elsewhere.

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

• Not Applicable