Carmarthenshire Bogs Project - Pyllau Cochion

Introduction

2014 funding was received from WG to undertake peat surveys on 6 sites of lowland raised bog on areas of common land near Brechfa and Llanfynydd in Carmarthenshire. Pyllau Cochion Common is one of the most accessible sites in the project, with the peat up to 5.5 m deep with 2 meeting of silt-clay lake deposit beneath. Peat surveys were carried out on all the sites and ditch blocking started. In 2015 a partnership led by Carmarthenshire County Council received a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to further explore five of these sites The Partnership was made up of Carmarthenshire County Council, Swansea University, Dyfed Archaeological Trust and National Botanic Garden of Wales. Funding continues to be sought to continue necessary work on Figyn and Swansea University continue to carry out reserch on site.

Description

Pyllau Cochion Common extends to 12.16 ha and forms one of a series of remnant heathland–peatland complexes, situated on the hills to the south of the Afon Cothi and Brechfa Forest. Pyllau Cochion comprises a raised bog in the western section with wet heath to the east and mosaics of marshy grassland (purple moor grass and rush pasture), scrub and bracken around the periphery. Over time, the raised bog has become degraded. This was partly due to the lowering of the water table by a drainage ditch, which runs northwards from the northern edge of the bog, and also due to regular illegal burning in recent years.

Swansea University analysyed a peat core from this site and contunue to undertake research here.