Carmel Nature Reserve

Five miles south-west of Llandeilo, straddling the A476 from Llandeilo to Cross Hands, Carmel National Nature Reserve is managed by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. It comprises a mosaic of habitats with a distinct patchwork pattern of woodland blocks, with the intervening grassland rides kept open by grazing animals. Surrounding this grassland-woodland mosaic are a number of unimproved and semi-improved hay meadows which are also grazed after the hay crop is taken each summer. The woodland is dominated by ash with large amounts of coppiced hazel, also spindle and hawthorn. There is a typical spring limestone ground flora including bluebell, dog’s mercury, wood anemone, wild garlic and hart’s-tongue fern.