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Tag Archives: Aberbargoed spoil tip

194/365 On the top of the tip

13 Saturday Jul 2019

Posted by sconzani in 365DaysWildin2019, insects, nature

≈ 2 Comments

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#365DaysWild, Aberbargoed spoil tip, British butterflies, butterfly, colliery spoil tip, Grayling

The coal-mining spoil tip in Aberbargeod was once 400 feet high, a disaster waiting to happen, until the tragedy at Aberfan in 1966 (when 144 people, mostly children in the town’s primary school, were killed by the local spoil tip sliding down the valley) caused an urgent re-evaluation of the dangers of these tips. Aberbargoed’s was reduced in size, walkways and culverts were built around it, trees have been planted on it, and it’s now a wondrous place for biodiversity.

190713 grayling (1)

It is, however, still a steep huffing-puffing walk to the top on a hot summer’s day, particularly when, as I did yesterday, you walk straight up, instead of using one of the longer zigzagging paths. But it was worth every drop of sweat I exuded as, not only are the panoramic views superb, but Aberbargoed tip is also home to a colony of Grayling butterflies.

190713 grayling (2)

Graylings prefer dry, well-drained locations with sparse vegetation, so a spoil tip is the perfect spot for them. And, as they like to hunker down with the bright eye spots on their forewings well hidden, the mottled colouring on their hind wings means they’re incredibly well camouflaged on the stone chippings.

190713 grayling (3)

I was lucky, though, that a couple of the Graylings I spotted yesterday seemed curious about this stranger who had invaded their territories. So, I plonked myself down on a slope next to a path and waited. And sure enough, first one, then a second butterfly came to investigate. If it hadn’t been as hot as hell, I could’ve stayed there for hours.

190713 grayling (4)

You can read more about the environmental importance of preserving the spoil tip sites on Liam Old’s excellent website, Colliery Spoil Biodiversity Initiative.

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sconzani

sconzani

I'm a writer and photographer; researcher and blogger; birder and nature lover; countryside rambler and city strider; volunteer and biodiversity recorder.

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