Assessment of the Recreational Use and Conservation Value of Heathland and Associated Habitats on the Coal Spoils of South Wales (paper data)
The coal extraction industry has had a massive impact on the natural environment at a landscape level, the most obvious legacy of the operations being the extensive coal spoil tips apparent across the region. In recent years millions of pounds have been spent on the stabilisation and eventual reclamation of these spoil areas and their redevelopment for housing, new industry or local open spaces. In the past the potential ecological value of the tips has generally been overlooked or understated. However, old coal spoil sites are now recognised as an important habitat for a range of species and the few remaining sites in the Valleys also have cultural and community value, however general awareness of the value of these sites is low. This has resulted in a loss of site value in term of heritage, ecology, landscape and amenity and there was a need to put individual sites into a context. The former Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), which is now part of Natural Resources Wales (NRW), conducted an integrated strategic assessment of the recreational use and conservation value of heathland and associated habitats on the coal spoils of South Wales. This dataset is a collation of all biological data associated with 25 coal spoil sites in the South Wales valleys. The purpose of this data capture was to conduct a strategic assessment of conservation, recreation and education use and potential of these sites. Specific aims included initial classification of coal spoil types, collation of species and habitat data to allow an initial assessment of conservation value, assessment of recreational and amenity use and assessment of the potential for enhancements. The area covered by this work included the South Wales valleys. The current dataset covers Torfaen, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr County Borough Council (CBCs).
- Identification
- Extent
- Distribution
- Quality
- Keywords
- Spatial Reference System
- Content
- Constraints
- Maintenance
- Metadata
Identification
- Identifier
- NRW_DS109898
- Alternative Title
-
- Coal Spoil Habitats Assessment
- Metadata Language
- English
- Lineage
-
Biodiversity assessment carried out using a desk study methodology to collate data from South East Wales Biological records centre, Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales and other partners. Recreation and amenity use and potential assessed by carrying out site visits to the 25 sites followed by discussion with the local authority ecologists.
- Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
- 2006-04-01
Temporal Extent
- Begin date
- 2005-04-01
- End date
- 2005-10-31
- Topic category
-
- Environment
- Biota
Extent
Extent
- Geographic Extent
- Wales (WLS)
))
Vertical Extent
Vertical Extent
- Minimum value (metres)
- 140
- Maximum value (metres)
- 400
- Vertical CRS
Distribution
- Format Type and Description
-
-
Documents
(
)
- Specification
-
[A] GIS products in the form of MapInfo tables- location of sites (point data), site boundaries (polygon data). [B] Word files [C] Excel files containing species data
-
Documents
(
)
Quality
Data quality
- Quality Scope
- Dataset
- Conformity
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services
- Explanation
-
This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation.
- Degree
- false
- Lineage
-
Biodiversity assessment carried out using a desk study methodology to collate data from South East Wales Biological records centre, Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales and other partners. Recreation and amenity use and potential assessed by carrying out site visits to the 25 sites followed by discussion with the local authority ecologists.
Keywords
Keywords
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2008-06-01
Keywords
-
NRW Thesaurus
-
- Torfaen
- mines (mining)
- Abandoned Coal Mines
- Merthyr Tydfil
- lichen-heath
- conservation assessment
- calluna vulgaris
- recreation (see also outdoor recreation,sports and narrower terms eg. recreation planning)
- coal spoils
- heather
- heathland (heaths)
- Blaenau Gwent (and county borough since 4/96)
- paper data
- public access
- the Valleys, South Wales
- coastal lichens
- Rhondda Cynon Taff (Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council)
- Caerphilly
- species (see also endangered species)
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2026-08-27
Spatial Reference System
Content
Content Information
NRW Profile
Custom Elements
- NRW Related Title
-
An integrated strategic assessment of the recreational use and conservation value of heathland and associated habitats on the coal spoils of south Wales
Constraints
Constraints
Limitations on Public Access and Use
- Restriction type
- Other restrictions
Access Constraints Directive
- Limitations
- no limitations
Access Constraints Text
- Other constraints
-
The following data is considered OS derived data and is therefore jointly owned by NRW and the Ordnance Survey. There are no access restrictions on this data. However there are third party use restrictions.
Use Constraints
- Use constraints type
- Other restrictions
- Other constraints
-
© CNC/NRW and © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Natural Resources Wales, AC0000849444 © Hawlfraint y Goron. Cedwir pob hawl. Cyngor Cefn Gwlad Cymru, AC0000849444. Data may be re-used under provision and in line with the terms of a NRW licence. Those seeking commercial re-use require a commercial licence available from the OS.
Metadata
Metadata
- File Identifier
- 4f4c4942-4343-5764-6473-313039383938 XML
- Metadata Language
- English
- Parent Identifier
-
Coal Spoil Conservation Project
NRW_DS109916
- Resource type
- Dataset
- Metadata Date
- 2026-09-28T11:32:31.848Z
- Metadata Standard Name
- NRW
- Metadata Standard Version
-
1.0