Limestone grassland common with views of Snowdonia and Puffin Island.
From Mariandyrys you can enjoy the magnificent views of the mountains of Eryri and Traeth Lavan and catch a glimpse of some of the wildlife that makes Anglesey special. Mariandyrys is made of carboniferous limestone, the rock that also forms the Great Orme. The limestone is important because it provides the soil conditions for a characteristic group of plants.
At various times you may see blue carpets of spring squill, the white or pale pink flowers of common-spotted orchid (left), the purple saw-wort, or the bright yellow of the common rockrose.
In places on the hillside a different sort of soil has developed on material originally deposited many thousands of years ago during an Ice Age. Such areas can be recognised by the plants that grow on them: common heather, bell heather and the low growing western gorse. They often mingle with lime-loving species such as salad burnet and dropwort.
The abundant wildflowers provide opportunities for butterflies and their caterpillars to feed. The bristly black caterpillars of red admirals feed on nettles and the grayling butterfly feeds on bell heather - its grey-brown and black marbling is perfect camouflage. As summer turns to autumn the ripening seed-heads provide an important food source for birds such as the goldfinch (left). The dense gorse bushes provide nest sites and song perches for noisy stonechats and brightly coloured yellowhammers.
Mariandyrys is a product of many thousands of years of human use. The North Wales Wildlife Trust actively manages with pony grazing, controlled burning and gorse cutting. As a result of this work we can provide the right habitat for many animals and plants.

The reserve is on the eastern tip of Anglesey. To reach the reserve, pass through Beaumaris on B5109 towards Llangoed. At Llangoed follow signposts to Glan-yr-afon and continue along this road for 1 mile, passing the telephone box on the left and into the village of Glan-yr-afon. There are three entrances to the reserve, all of which can be reached by continuing up the hill through Glan-yr-afon.

For further information on this reserve, please contact Chris Wynne on 01248 351541 or 07764 897411 or by email.

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Other NWWT nature reserves >>

Quarry at Mariandyrys

Red Admiral

Goldfinches

Further information on the biodiversity of Anglesey is also available from:
Biodiversity Officer of the Isle of Anglesey County Council 01248 752400
www.anglesey.gov.uk
Countryside Council for Wales
01248 672500
www.ccw.gov.uk