The long, dry, sunny spring has had some serious drawbacks for uplands from the North of Scotland to South Wales, and the Cambrians, sadly, were not exempt.  Huge fires ravaged Cwm Rheidol and the moors above Strata Florida and Abergwesyn Common, burning for days and destroying hundreds of hectares of peatland.  The picture below shows the top of Cwm Gwesyn towards Drygarn Fawr.  Although no human lives were lost, any ground-nesting birds, and all the amphibians as well as many small mammals and invertebrates, will have been roasted as well as the plants which were just beginning their spring growth.

What can we say?  It’s horrifying.  Here’s hoping the recent rain will be enough to forestall any recurrence this year…..