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Description
Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve is located in Cardiff Bay in the city of Cardiff. It covers an area of approximately 8 hectares (19.8 acres). The area was officially opened as a wildlife reserve on 25 July 2002 in what was previously an area of Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) up until the opening of the Cardiff Bay Barrage in April 2001. The area had previously been salt marsh, but the Barrage created 200 hectares of freshwater lake, and from this the reserve was developed.
A number of bird species including Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, use this habitat in which to build nests. Reedbed is not only important for birds, but also for invertebrates, fish, and amphibians.
A footpath crosses the reserve from St. David’s Hotel to the Yacht Club on the River Taff. At the end of this footpath, a boardwalk goes out into the water, allowing good viewing across the Reserve, and also provides a good spot for watching the fish shoaling in the shallow waters.
Although public access is not permitted onto the main body of the reserve, this is to allow excellent breeding and feeding conditions to develop for the species present. It is possible to view many bird species from the public area with the naked eye, and binoculars will allow an even better birding experience.
Details
Access
There is limited parking in Windsor Esplanade. Alternatively, there are bus services (e.g. Cardiff Bus Baycar no.6) from the centre of Cardiff to Cardiff Bay.