Internationally important bird area

"A sad day for conservation” - that is how the Countryside Council for Wales described Thursday 4 November 1999.

The closure of the Cardiff Bay Barrage destroys the Taf/Ely Site of Special Scientific Interest, an internationally important area for birds. As the people of Cardiff watch the mud of the estuary disappear for the last time today, CCW hopes that they will spare a thought for the consequences for wildlife.

Dr Peter Williams, CCW’s South Wales Area Officer said: ”The estuary has been a rich feeding ground for as many as 8,000 wading birds, particularly redshank, dunlin and curlew, using the Bay during the winter from late September to mid March. Adding to the loss it is deeply regretable that the Bay is being closed now in early November, the time of year when many of these birds are returning to the Bay in large numbers”

This Taf/Elai has played a key role in the broader Severn Estuary picture. Here, the mud flat feeding areas become available at the earliest and latest parts of the tidal cycle, giving wading birds a food supply for a longer period. The loss of this feeding ground will have a knock on effect on the tens of thousands of birds which live on or around the Severn Estuary. The loss of the Taf/Ely SSSI is the first case of a whole SSSI being lost as a result of a development supported by Government.

One of the conditions set out by the European Commission as compensation for wildlife was the construction of a Wetlands Reserve on the Gwent Levels to the east of Newport. Work on the 375-hectare Gwent Wetlands Reserve, between Uskmouth and Goldcliff is well advanced - and the wetland habitats are reaching their target water levels. They will hopefully attract many birds. “From now on it will be important to ensure that further developments around the Severn are carefully regulated to prevent further pressure being placed on wading birds and other wildlife. The patnership between CCW and other authorities, in developing a conservation initiatives for the wider Severn Estuary Special Protection Area, is a very timely and important one.” added Dr Peter Williams

The Taf/Ely Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) was first notified under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act (1949) in January 1980. The importance of this site for nature conservation was re-affirmed in 1983 when it was re-notified as an SSSI under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981).The remainder of the Severn Estuary was designated as a Special Protection Area in 1995.