Sandfields East
Although quite urban, Sandfields East had a lot of good habitats. There are a lot of grass verges which, in the spring, get covered with Daises and Dandelions offering early food for emerging queen bumblebees. On the coast the Little Warren and Lower River Afan Estuary SINCs are part of a vital coastal habitat that stretches beyond NPT. Little Warren is a coastal sand dune with associated grassland, managed by WTSWW. The Estuary has a mosaic of saltmarsh plants along a strip between mudflats and coastal grassland. There is plenty of potential for managing roadside verges for wildflowers under NPT Bee Friendly, which is in the process of being investigated. The whole ward is in a B-Line.
Little Warren SINC is designated for its Sea Stock, an attractive plant found in sand dunes in association with Marran grass. The area also have Sea spurge, Kidney vetch and Sea-holly. The Estuary is an important feeding site for wading birds such as Redshank, Curlew and Sanderling. The whole ward is an important resource for House sparrows and Starlings. Both of these species have suffered significant declines in the past few decades. Harbour porpoise can sometimes be seen out to sea. We share our urban areas with many species. These include House sparrow which have greatly declined in the UK. Houses can also be used by bats such as Common pipistrelle, they like to roost in small gaps such as under tiles or behind fascia boards.
Actions
- Identify opportunities for green infrastructure in the ward e.g. green roofs, more street trees and/or living walls
- Undertake a project to make Aberavon Seafront pollinator friendly and use it as an educational space to promote nature conservation.
- Look for locations for NPT Bee Friendly management around the ward i.e. sites where flowers would grow if mowing was paused for the summer
