River Syfynwy

River Syfynwy (Welsh: Afon Syfynwy, Syfnwy or Syfni) is a river entirely within Pembrokeshire, Wales, rising in the Preseli Hills, feeding the Rosebush and Llys y Fran reservoirs and joining the Eastern Cleddau to the south. It is a river considered to be important as an ecological indicator and part is in a site of special scientific interest.

Farthing's Hook Bridge

Course

The river is formed by the confluence of several streams rising in the southern slopes of the Preseli Hills at some 350 metres (1,150 ft) and flows southwards into Rosebush Reservoir, where it passes through or over the dam. Cascades, Syfynwy Falls, are immediately below the dam and are a visitor attraction when the reservoir is overflowing.[1] Continuing south west, the river flows through a wooded valley - Holmus Wood, Farthing's Hook Wood and Dan-y-Coed, then under the Grade II-listed Farthing's Hook Bridge.[2] It runs between Pen-yr-Allt Wood and Velindre Wood before entering the northern end of Llys y Fran reservoir. This reservoir's dam produces electricity. After the dam, the river flows in a more southerly direction before turning south east, passing under Step-aside Bridge, near Clarbeston, and the 18th century Grade II-listed Gelli Bridge[3][4] at Gelli Hill to meet the Eastern Cleddau.[5] The river is approximately 10 miles (16 km) long.[6]

Ecology

The river has been used by some researchers as an indicator of ecological health and is included in the River Cleddau catchment area's Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its wide range of indigenous wild plants and animals, including water crowfoot, lamprey and otter. The Syfynwy is included in the Eastern Cleddau Special Area of Conservation (SAC).[7] In 2009 the Bro Syfynwy Heritage Group were granted £2,750 to produce a leaflet covering rural and historical life around the upper Syfynwy.[8]

The Llys y Fran Catchment Project is an ecological study based on the Afon Syfynwy catchment from its source to the Llys y Fran dam. The study, begun in July 2014, is focussed on understanding the blue green algae blooms that have been occurring in the reservoir and, with the support of landowners, will involve soil sampling and nutrient management. The project is being run in collaboration with Welsh Water and Natural Resources Wales (NRW). As well as farming, the project will also consider the impact of sewage and forestry on the study area as well as water quality and invertebrate populations.[9]

Over the winter of 2013-14 Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust monitored riverflies at Gelli Bridge as part of a wider study of the Eastern Cleddau catchment area. They found fewer numbers than usual, but that most sensitive species were present.[10]

Pollution

A pollution incident in 1999 where trade effluent was discharged into the river causing the death of an estimated 1,000 brown trout[11] resulted in a fine of £2,500 and £13,021 costs when the case went to court the following year.[12]

World War 2

During the war the railway at Glan Syfynwy, near Rosebush, was used for bombing practice by the RAF and USAF.[13]

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See also

References
  1. "Rosebush waterfall walk". Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  2. "British Listed Buildings - Farthings Hook Bridge". Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  3. "British Listed Buildings - Gelli Bridge". Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  4. "Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust - Gelli Bridge". Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  5. "Explore Britain - Afon Syfynwy". Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  6. Ordnance Survey: Explorer Series.
  7. "Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust - Llys y Fran Catchment project" (PDF). Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  8. "Bro Syfynwy Heritage Group". Western Telegraph. 14 December 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  9. "Afonydd Cymru - Llys y Fran Catchment Project". Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  10. "Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust - Riverfly monitoring" (PDF). Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  11. "Fear of threat to river pollution fight". BBC Wales. 15 August 1999. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  12. "Water firms fined for Syfynwy pollution". News Wales. 24 October 2000. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  13. "Glan Syfynwy, Rosebush". Archived from the original on 3 November 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.

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