Cardiganshire

The vice-county of Cardiganshire has a low-lying coastal belt reaching into the Cambrian Mountains which has historically been used for arable cultivation as part of mixed faming. Small scale arable cultivation was a feature of the area as shown by the 1930s land use survey which is considered a low point in th arable cultivation. Growing crops will probably have increased during the World Wars in the 20 Century as there was a greater need to be more self- th reliant, and the advent of herbicides and inorganic fertilisers in the mid 20 Century has led to an increase in crop production in some areas as weed control has improved. However, the reverse trend is apparent in Cardiganshire with a huge decrease in arable farmland by an estimated 93% between the 1930s and 1990s. There are still pockets of arable cultivation concentrated around Cardiganshire according to the latter land use map, but the lower revenue from small-scale cropping may mean that it is uneconomical to continue producing crops at this scale for the commercial market. There are a number of other reasons why arable cropping may have declined including the general change in farming businesses towards more livestock farming and pastoral land; the increase in herbicides and fertiliser costs which may lie beyond the means of small-scale farms; and transport links which may have made it uneconomical for small-scale arable and mixed farming to be continued where transport is a significant cost for the farm business.

The only Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for arable plants in Wales is located around Mwnt on the south west coast of Cardiganshire. Several threatened plants are known from this area including annual knawel Scleranthus annuus, small-flowered catchfly Silene gallica and narrow-fruited cornsalad Valerianella dentata. There are 17 out of 30 threatened arable plants in Cardiganshire and new naturally-occurring populations have been found in recent years. Two populations of cornflower Centaurea cyanus have been found near Pennant and another in the south of the vice-county east of Newcastle Emlyn. Several locations of large-flowered hemp-nettle Galeopsis speciosa have been identified including near Pennant and inland near Capel Bangor and south of Devil’s Bridge. Cardiganshire may be a hotspot for both species and further searches are recommended. The distribution of corn mint Mentha arvensis is an oddity as it has generally been recorded at too small a scale to provide an accurate fix on location. This means that it appears to be relatively sparsely distributed across Cardiganshire whereas it may actually be more widespread. However, the small scale of the records, generally hectads (10x10km squares), may hide a population decline and further investigation of the population dynamics of this species is required across Wales. Two arable plants corn spurrey Spergula arvensis and field woundwort Stachys arvensis are widespread across Cardiganshire and Wales is probably the hotspot in the UK as they are sparsely distributed elsewhere. Seventy tetrads (2x2km squares) have three or more threatened arable plants and should be targeted for suitable management practices.

Cardiganshire has a number of locations that would qualify for Important Arable Plant Area status as they have good assemblages of arable plants. There are two tetrads considered to be of European Importance, 30 considered to be of National Importance and 53 considered to be of County Importance for arable plants concentrated along the low-lying coastal belt. These locations should be targeted for arable plant conservation along with threatened plant populations to maintain the diversity of these flowering species across the vice-county.

There has been a huge amount of recording of arable plants in parts of Cardiganshire, particularly around the Mwnt SSSI fields. However, as new populations of naturally occurring arable plants are being found there is a need for further systematic survey of arable land across the vice-county. This should target some of the arable fields inland as they seem to be the locations which may have not been surveyed previously, particularly in the areas where recent cornflower and large-flowered hemp-nettle populations have been recorded. This would provide more rigorous data that could be used for targeting management measures for arable plants used in agri-environment schemes and voluntarily by conscientious farmers.

Cardiganshire 1933-1949 Arable Land Use

The extent of arable land in 1933-49 across Cardiganshire totalled 30845 ha along the coastal strip inland to the Cambrian Mountains. In total, 428 tetrads out of 529 tetrads had arable land use present. The 1930s are considered a low point in arable land use, and the coverage of cultivated land may have been historically much greater. Cultivated land was fairly extensive in the vice-county except for the uplands and marsh – sand dune habitats of the Dyfi estuary.

Contains Ordnance © Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, Survey data © Crown 2014. © Natural Resources copyright and database Wales, 2014. right 2014.

± 5 km

Cardiganshire 1979-1991 Arable Land Use

Between the 1933-49 land use survey and 1979-1991 Phase 1 habitat survey of Wales there was a 93% decrease in arable land use across Cardiganshire. 2258 ha of arable land was identified in the Phase 1 habitat survey with cultivated parcels of land falling in 269 out of 529 tetrads.

There are several accounts of arable coverage across Cardiganshire over time (see the Flora of Cardiganshire for references). Table 1 draws this information together with the digital maps presented in the first land use survey and Phase 1 habitat survey. It shows clearly how the amount of cultivated land has changed over time with a recent decline at the end of the 20th Century.

Table 1: Summary of arable land coverage over time Period Hectares Reference 1801 15933 Acreage returns 1911-13 37938 Agriculture of Wales 1939 29590 and Monmouthshire account 1933-1949 30847 First Land Utilisation Survey of the UK 1988 5529 Account of an economic perspective of Cardiganshire agriculture 1979-1991 2258 Phase 1 habitat survey of Wales

The decrease in arable land in Cardiganshire may be related to a change to a more

pastoral landscape with livestock farming, particularly sheep rearing, dominating. The

Contains Ordnance © Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, poorer transport links between Cardiganshire and the rest of the UK may have made Survey data © Crown 2014. © Natural Resources copyright and database Wales, 2014. growing crops un-economic resulting in a right 2014. reduction in cropped land. In addition, the use of inorganic fertilisers and herbicides ± increased from the 1960s onwards which 5 would affect the arable plant communities. km As a consequence, the decline in arable plants may be greater than the decline in arable land.

Cardiganshire Soil Map

The most common soils in Cardiganshire fall within the clay category and is the dominate substrate for 406 tetrads out of 529 tetrads. The clays are generally drift soils, gleyed brown earths and soils with low water permeability.

Sandy soils are the dominant soil type for 6 tetrads and include the larger expanses of sand dunes in the vice county. There is also an area of sandy soils near Penparc which has been quarried.

There are no soils that could be considered to be derived from weathered limestone in Cardiganshire.

The other soil category is the dominant substrate for 116 tetrads. This includes deep peat-rich soils that are present in upland areas, disturbed soils from old mining activity and peat bogs / raised bogs.

Contains Ordnance © Cyfoeth Naturiol Survey data © Crown Cymru, 2014. © Natural copyright and database Resources Wales, 2014. right 2014.

Corn Chamomile Anthemis arvensis

One population of corn chamomile has been found near Aberystwyth. It is likely that this is from introduced seed as the population was a casual occurrence on a rubbish-tip.

Corn chamomile and the closely related introduced species Austrian chamomile Anthemis australis are often components of annual seed mixes or cornfield flower mixes. This creates some confusion over whether populations are native or introduced.

5 km Cross-reference has been made with the 2010 vice-county Flora and the Cardiganshire card index provided and maintained by the BSBI VC46 Cardiganshire Recorder.

Stinking Chamomile Anthemis cotula

Two populations of stinking chamomile have been identified in Cardiganshire. One of these populations is considered to be naturally occurring. Stinking chamomile is occasionally present in cornfield flower seed mixtures and some scrutiny of records is required to make sure that they are genuine.

Both records are from agricultural holdings, with the population size of the 1996 record near Temple Bar being recorded as ‘sparse throughout the oat and potato crop’ and a single plant noted from a manure heap in 2006 near Aberystwyth. It is very likely that the latter population arose from seed transported in livestock fodder.

Contains Ordnance Contains species data maintained Survey data © Crown by the Vice-County Recorder and copyright and database provided by the Botanical Society right 2014. of the British Isles and Ireland and accessed from the BSBI ± 5 Distribution Database 2014. km Cross-reference has been made with the 2010 vice-county Flora and the Cardiganshire card index provided and maintained by the BSBI VC46 Cardiganshire Recorder. Cornflower Centaurea cyanus

There are scattered cornflower records across Cardiganshire. Generally they are located along the western and southern areas of the vice-county, which historically were cultivated rather than the eastern area of the Cambrian Mountains.

The records have been mapped with the most recent date reference. However, on occasion this crosses date class boundaries. Six tetrad records, including the population along the A486 south of Synod Inn and the roadside population at Newcastle Emlyn, were recorded in the period 1987-2009. In this instance they have been mapped in the recent post- 2000 date class, but may actually be dated from 1987-1999. The Newcastle Emlyn cornflower record is probably much older as the Cardiganshire Flora dates the record from 1879. This means that there could be further errors in the data used.

There are several recently found naturally occurring populations of cornflower in Cardiganshire. These are centred on the area between Aberarth, Cross Inn and Ciliau-Aeron. The two records from 2010 and 2011 both had reasonably sized populations with 250- 300 plants estimated at the Monachty field. The records indicate that there may be larger population of cornflower in the area waiting for the fields to be cultivated creating the right germination conditions.

The majority of the recent records are Contains Ordnance Survey Contains species data maintained confirmed as introduced populations data © Crown copyright and by the Vice-County Recorder and from seed mixtures. For example, the database right 2014. provided by the Botanical Society of 2006 record at Aberystwyth was on a the British Isles and Ireland and building site at the University Campus, Contains data from the Tir accessed from the BSBI Distribution and the 1990 record at the Wstrws gravel ± Gofal Monitoring 2009-2012. Database 2014. pit was on tipped soil. 5 © Welsh Government 2014. km Cross-reference has been made Contains species data with the 2010 vice-county Flora and maintained by Plantlife on the Cardiganshire card index the Important Arable Plant provided and maintained by the

Area database 2014. BSBI VC46 Cardiganshire Recorder.

Large-flowered Hemp-nettle Galeopsis speciosa

The northern half of Cardiganshire is a hotspot for large-flowered hemp-nettle. The large date range for the tetrad records (2x2km) of 1987-2009 masks the actual date of the record and straddles two date categories. The records have all been mapped to the most recent date and this may hide a population decline. Detailed point records for some of the tetrads are included where known. These indicate the actual date when the record was made, and there are some cases where it falls into 1987-1999 rather than the more recent post-2000. As not all of the detailed records are present the tetrad records have been included to provide a representation of distribution.

There are two new locations in Cardiganshire recorded in 2010 and 2011. One population of large-flowered hemp-nettle was found in cereal fields near Pennant whilst the other group of records is further inland at Pont- rhyd-y-groes. There is the possibility that there are other undiscovered populations of large-flowered hemp-nettle in Cardiganshire.

Contains Ordnance Survey Contains species data maintained data © Crown copyright by the Vice-County Recorder and and database right 2014. provided by the Botanical Society of the British Isles and Ireland Contains data from the and accessed from the BSBI ± Tir Gofal Monitoring 2009- 5 Distribution Database 2014. 2012. © Welsh km Government 2014. Cross-reference has been made with the 2010 vice-county Flora Contains species data and the Cardiganshire card index maintained by Plantlife provided and maintained by the on the Important Arable BSBI VC46 Cardiganshire Plant Area database 2014. Recorder. Corn Marigold Glebionis segetum

The majority of corn marigold records in Cardiganshire are thought to be natural occurring from the soil seed bank. Corn marigold is often used as a component of annual flower seed mixtures and populations are often sown. This is the case with some of the more recent records in the north of the vice-county along road verges close to Aberystwyth and Borth.

Cardiganshire is one of the main strongholds for corn marigold, particularly in the west and south of the vice-county. The large date range for the tetrad records (2x2km) of 1987-2009 masks the actual date of the record and straddles two date categories. The records have all been mapped to the most recent date but this may hide a population decline. Detailed point records for some of the tetrads are included where known. These indicate the actual date when the record was made, and there are some cases where it falls into 1987-1999 rather than post-2000. However, as not all of the detailed records are present the tetrad records have been included to provide a representation of distribution.

Contains data from the Tir accessed from the BSBI ± Gofal Monitoring 2009-2012. Distribution Database 2014. 5 © Welsh Government 2014. km Cross-reference has been made Contains species data with the 2010 vice-county Flora maintained by Plantlife on and the Cardiganshire card index the Important Arable Plant provided and maintained by the

Area database 2014. BSBI VC46 Cardiganshire Recorder. Henbane Hyoscyamus niger

All of the henbane records in Cardiganshire are coastal. The plant was first found at Clarach and Borth in 1850 and the plant has been sporadically recorded in the area around Aberystwyth since. Some seeds were sown at Clarach as part of a university teaching programme in 1926. Other locations where henbane has been found are on waste ground and recently tipped earth. None of the records occur on arable land.

There is only one population of smooth cat’s-ear in Cardiganshire at Tywyn Warren. The population is of several thousand plants present in the disturbed trackways, lawns and short grazed turf of the pastures in the area. None of the plants are present on arable land.

5 Distribution Database 2014. km Cross-reference has been made with the 2010 vice-county Flora and the Cardiganshire card index provided and maintained by the

BSBI VC46 Cardiganshire Recorder.

Corn mint Mentha arvensis

Although the records of corn mint are scattered across the county, a large amount of information has not been mapped as it is only recorded at the hectad (10x10km) spatial scale considered too small to provide an accurate location fix. The large date range for the tetrad records (2x2km) of 1987-2009 masks the actual date of the record and straddles two date categories. The records have all been mapped to the most recent date and this may hide a population decline. Detailed point records for some of the tetrads are included where known. These indicate the actual date when the record was made, and there are some cases where it falls into 1987-1999 rather than the more recent post-2000. However, as not all of the detailed records are present the tetrad records have been included to provide a representation of distribution.

Many of the records were recorded on grassland and even an occurrence in fen habitat rather than arable land. Corn mint has been recorded on arable land near Pennant in 2010 and 2011 and Llechryd in 1993. Corn mint is thought to be relatively rare in the vice-county and, as it hybridises with similar members of the mint family, it may be over-recorded elsewhere. There is also the possibility that corn mint has drastically declined, but it is not possible to refine this likelihood as the underlying data is not present due to both the scale of historical records and identification problems.

Contains Ordnance Survey Contains species data maintained data © Crown copyright and by the Vice-County Recorder and database right 2014. provided by the Botanical Society of the British Isles and Ireland and Contains data from the Tir accessed from the BSBI ± Gofal Monitoring 2009-2012. Distribution Database 2014. © Welsh Government 2014. 5 Cross-reference has been made km Contains species data with the 2010 vice-county Flora maintained by Plantlife on and the Cardiganshire card index the Important Arable Plant provided and maintained by the Area database 2014. BSBI VC46 Cardiganshire Recorder.

Weasel’s-snout Misopates orontium

The majority of weasel-snout records are coastal in Cardiganshire. The large date range for the tetrad records (2x2km) of 1987-2009 masks the actual date of the record and straddles two date categories. The records have all been mapped to the most recent date but this may hide a population decline. Detailed point records for some of the tetrads are included where known. These indicate the actual date when the record was made, and there are some cases where it falls into 1987- 1999 rather than the more recent post-2000. However, as not all of the detailed records are present the tetrad records have been included to provide a representation of distribution.

There are a few inland records for weasel’s- snout along the Teifi and Capel Bangor.

Contains Ordnance Survey Contains species data maintained data © Crown copyright by the Vice-County Recorder and and database right 2014. provided by the Botanical Society of the British Isles and Ireland Contains data from the and accessed from the BSBI ± Tir Gofal Monitoring 2009- Distribution Database 2014. 5 2012. © Welsh km Government 2014. Cross-reference has been made with the 2010 vice-county Flora Contains species data and the Cardiganshire card index maintained by Plantlife provided and maintained by the BSBI VC46 Cardiganshire on the Important Arable Plant Area database 2014. Recorder.

Prickly Poppy Papaver argemone

There are no recent prickly poppy records from Cardiganshire. The population recorded in 1978 is in Aberystwyth from a car park and is likely to have been transferred to the site on a vehicle. Prickly poppy has not been found at this location since.

Contains Ordnance Contains species data maintained Survey data © Crown by the Vice-County Recorder and copyright and database provided by the Botanical Society right 2014. of the British Isles and Ireland and accessed from the BSBI ± Contains Plantlife Distribution Database 2014. 5 Important Arable Plant km Area database data Cross-reference has been made 2014. with the 2010 vice-county Flora and the Cardiganshire card index provided and maintained by the BSBI VC46 Cardiganshire Recorder.

Cornfield knotgrass Polygonum rurivagum

There are two main locations with cornfield knotgrass records in Cardiganshire, around Mwnt and near Aberystwyth. It is generally known from arable fields.

accessed from the BSBI ± Contains species data Distribution Database 2014. 5 maintained by Plantlife km on the Important Arable Cross-reference has been made Plant Area database with the 2010 vice-county Flora 2014. and the Cardiganshire card index provided and maintained by the

BSBI VC46 Cardiganshire Recorder.

Shepherd’s-needle Scandix pecten-veneris

There is one record of shepherd’s-needle in Cardiganshire. It was found on a roadside bank in Aberporth in 1941 and not present on arable ground.

Contains Ordnance Contains species data maintained Survey data © Crown by the Vice-County Recorder and copyright and database provided by the Botanical Society right 2014. of the British Isles and Ireland and accessed from the BSBI Distribution ± Database 2014. 5 km Cross-reference has been made with the 2010 vice-county Flora and the Cardiganshire card index provided and maintained by the BSBI VC46 Cardiganshire Recorder.

Annual Knawel Scleranthus annuus

Annual knawel is present in arable fields and tracks around Mwnt and Cardigan. The large date range for the tetrad records (2x2km) of 1987-2009 masks the actual date of the record and straddles two date categories. The records have all been mapped to the most recent date but this may hide a population decline. Detailed point records for some of the tetrads are included where known. These indicate the actual date when the record was made, and there are some cases where it falls into 1987-1999 rather than the more recent post-2000. However, as not all of the detailed records are present the tetrad records have been included to provide a representation of distribution.

The records around Mwnt are particularly recent and the presence of this plant is part of the SSSI designation for three blocks of coastal arable fields. The population can number in the thousands.

There are also recent records from Horeb in 2002, Talgarreg in 2008, and near Cribyn in 2003.

Contains Ordnance Contains species data maintained

Survey data © Crown by the Vice-County Recorder and

right 2014. of the British Isles and Ireland and

accessed from the BSBI ± Contains species data Distribution Database 2014. 5 maintained by Plantlife km on the Important Arable Cross-reference has been made

Plant Area database with the 2010 vice-county Flora

2014. and the Cardiganshire card index

provided and maintained by the

BSBI VC46 Cardiganshire Recorder.

Small-flowered Catchfly Silene gallica

The stronghold for small-flowered catchfly in Cardiganshire is around Mwnt. The species is used as part of the designation for the arable fields SSSI in this area and population estimates vary from very few to over a thousand. All three separate blocks of fields have recent records of small- flowered catchfly falling into the post-2000 date class.

The record from 1993 at Penparc was recorded in some disturbed ground in a sand quarry. All of the other records fall into the historical pre-1987 date class.

Contains species data maintained Contains Ordnance by the Vice-County Recorder and Survey data © Crown provided by the Botanical Society copyright and database of the British Isles and Ireland and right 2014. accessed from the BSBI

± Contains species data Distribution Database 2014.

5 maintained by Plantlife km Cross-reference has been made on the Important Arable with the 2010 vice-county Flora Plant Area database and the Cardiganshire card index 2014. provided and maintained by the

BSBI VC46 Cardiganshire Recorder.

Corn Spurrey Spergula arvensis

Corn spurrey is a widespread plant across Cardiganshire. The large date range for the tetrad records (2x2km) of 1987-2009 masks the actual date of the record and straddles two date categories. The records have all been mapped to the most recent date but this may hide a population decline. Detailed point records for some of the tetrads are included where known. These indicate the actual date when the record was made, and there are some cases where it falls into 1987-1999 rather than the more recent post-2000. However, as not all of the detailed records are present the tetrad records have been included to provide a representation of distribution.

Contains Ordnance Survey Contains species data maintained

database right 2014. provided by the Botanical Society

of the British Isles and Ireland and

Contains data from the Tir accessed from the BSBI

± Gofal Monitoring 2009-2012. Distribution Database 2014.

Contains species data with the 2010 vice-county Flora

maintained by Plantlife on and the Cardiganshire card index

the Important Arable Plant provided and maintained by the

Area database 2014. BSBI VC46 Cardiganshire Recorder.

Field Woundwort Stachys arvensis

Field woundwort is widely scattered across Cardiganshire. The large date range for the tetrad records (2x2km) of 1987-2009 masks the actual date of the record and straddles two date categories. The records have all been mapped to the most recent date but this may hide a population decline. Detailed point records for some of the tetrads are included where known. These indicate the actual date when the record was made, and there are some cases where it falls into 1987-1999 rather than the more recent post-2000. However, as not all of the detailed records are present the tetrad records have been included to provide a representation of distribution.

The majority of field woundwort records are concentrated on the lower lying coastal land.

Narrow-fruited cornsalad Valerianella dentata

The recent records for narrow-fruited cornsalad are located on the coastal strip near to Mwnt and form part of the feature for the arable SSSI. All three sets of field parcels contributing to the SSSI have had records of narrow-fruited cornsalad post- 2000. There is some ambiguity over the tetrad record as this is recorded for the time period 1987-2009 and the point record is more accurate.

Historical records presented in the Flora of Cardiganshire indicate that the species had a dozen records pre-1950 over a much wider area of the vice-county.

Contains Ordnance Survey Contains species data maintained data © Crown copyright and by the Vice-County Recorder and database right 2014. provided by the Botanical Society of the British Isles and Ireland Contains data from the Tir and accessed from the BSBI ± Gofal Monitoring 2009-2012. Distribution Database 2014. 5 © Welsh Government 2014. km References have been made with Contains Plantlife Important the 2010 vice-county Flora Arable Plant Area database provided by the BSBI VC46 data 2014. Cardiganshire Recorder.

Cardiganshire IAPA Status

Two of the 529 tetrads are considered to be of European Importance, 30 tetrads are of National Importance and 53 tetrads are of County Importance in Cardiganshire for arable plants. Cardiganshire is known as a hotspot for arable plants and the only SSSI for arable plants in Wales is located at Mwnt. Small-flowered catchfly Silene gallica and annual knawel Scleranthus annuus are features of the SSSI and management measures are in place to maintain the plant diversity of the arable fields. Cardiganshire is a hotspot for large- flowered hemp-nettle Galeopsis speciosa between Capel Bangor, Devil’s Bridge and Pennant. Around Pennant and Newcastle Emlyn there have been recent records of naturally occurring cornflower Centaurea cyanus populations and there is the possibility that further searches in this area may locate new populations.

Arable plant records located on disturbed ground along transport corridors, within cities and towns, brown field land and sand dunes have been excluded as many arable plants also live on disturbed ground. However, no habitat description was appended to a large number of tetrad records and a precautionary approach including these records has been followed. As a consequence some of the included records may be related to disturbed ground rather than cultivated land.

Further survey of arable land in Cardiganshire is required to make a better assessment of the distribution of rare and threatened arable plants. The decrease in low-intensity arable land in the vice- Contains Ordnance Survey Contains species data maintained county may have caused a sharp decline in data © Crown copyright and by the Vice-County Recorder and arable plants. This cannot be judged solely database right 2014. provided by the Botanical Society from the priority plant mapping as many of of the British Isles and Ireland and the records were allocated to a broad date Contains data from the Tir accessed from the BSBI Distribution range potentially hiding a decline. ± Gofal Monitoring 2009-2012. Database 2014. Targeting surveys could be undertaken by 5 © Welsh Government 2014. comparing the arable land in the 1930s km Cross-reference has been made with the 1990s and, in addition, areas Contains species data with the 2010 vice-county Flora along the coast between Cardigan and maintained by Plantlife on and the Cardiganshire card index Aberystwyth, around Newcastle Emlyn, the Important Arable Plant provided and maintained by the Pennant and Capel Bangor and Devil’s Area database 2014. BSBI VC46 Cardiganshire Recorder. Bridge.