Cors Fochno (Welsh pronunciation: [kɔrs ˈvɔχnɔ]) is a raised peat bog near the village of Borth, in the county of Ceredigion, Wales. Lying on the south side of the Dyfi estuary, it forms a component part of the Dyfi National Nature Reserve. It was designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1976, and is the only such reserve in Wales.[1]

Cors Fochno
Cors Fochno, Aberleri Nature Reserve
LocationCeredigion, Wales
Coordinates52°30′14″N 4°02′31″W / 52.50376°N 4.04193°W / 52.50376; -4.04193
Governing bodyCountryside Council for Wales

A significant portion of the 264 hectares (652 acres) former peatland complex was taken for agriculture; the surviving core area supports the largest expanse of primary near-natural raised bog in an estuarine context within the United Kingdom.[2]

General site character edit

 
Cors Fochno with Borth in the background
  • Bogs. Marshes. Water fringed vegetation. Fens (85%)
  • Heath. Scrub. Maquis and garrigue. (9%)
  • Humid grassland. Mesophile grassland (5%)
  • Improved grassland (1%)[2]

Ecology edit

Part of the Dyfi National Nature Reserve, Cors Fochno contains several varieties of peat moss and carnivorous plant.[3]

Wildlife edit

 
Cors Fochno

Otters, red kites, common buzzards, peregrines and hen harriers can be found here together with a number of Welsh Mountain Ponies,[3] and adder, badger, blackcap, Dartford warbler, fallow deer, nightingale, nightjar, willow warbler, and woodcock. The site holds a population of rosy marsh moth, a very rare species in the UK.

In popular culture edit

  • Borth, Borth bog, and the Borth railway station form the backdrop to the main storyline in Season 1, Episode 4 ("The Girl in the Water") of Y Gwyll (Hinterland in English), transmitted on S4C in 2013 and BBC1 Wales in January 2014.
  • Cors Fochno, and Borth and its surroundings also form the backdrop to the young adult classic novel and Newbery Honor Book winner, A String in the Harp, 1976, by Nancy Bond.

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ [1] Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) 20 March 2008
  2. ^ a b Joint Nature Conservation Committee
  3. ^ a b [2] BBC Wales – Cors Fochno 20 March 2008

External links edit