Cors Caron
topCors Caron is said to be one of the finest raised bog systems in the whole of Britain and covers a huge area of around 2,000 acres filling the valley of the upper Teifi river between Tregaron and Pontrhydfendigaid
Last updated: 08 April 2011
The reserve in Ceredigion boasts three raised bogs - areas of deep peat that have built up over the last 12,000 years and a complex and unique mix of habitats including reedbed, wet grassland, rivers, streams, ponds and woodland making the reserve a fantastic place for wildlife.
The bog is also known locally as the Treregaron bog and in Welsh translates as the red bog due to the peat found here.
The reserve has an excellent bird hide for birdwatchers and you can see a range of raptor here including peregrine, merlin, sparrowhawk, hen harrier and the occasional montagu's harrier.
When the red kite faced extinction, Cors Caron was one of the few places where this bird of prey could still be found and it's now a common sight across this protected area.
The wetlands also attract a large variety of wildfowl such as the teal, curlew, redshank and water rail, snipe.
Red grouse, tree pippit, grasshopper warbler and whinchat can be seen more in the drier areas and the common redstart and willow warbler nest in the willow scrub.
The bog itself was formed 12,000 years ago when the last of the Ice Age glaciers melted away, leaving behind a large, shallow lake. Over time, the lake filled with sediments and vegetation, forming peat and later, acid peat.
For centuries, local people would go and cut this peat from the bog to burn on the hearth. But there was mounting international concern that peat land habitats like Tregaron were being destroyed so in 1955, Cors Caron was declared a National Nature Reserve.
In 1993, Cors Caron was placed on a list of wetland sites of international importance under the terms of the Ramser Convention. The bog is now managed by the Countryside Council for Wales.
Cors Caron is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a wetland of international importance (Ramsar site).
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