Colliery Spoil Tips... 'Biodiversity Gems'
Collieries are in important part of Wales' mining heritage, but what most people don't know is how significant they are for biodiversity.
Last updated 4th May 2021
There are over 2,500 in South Wales alone.
These sites were once barren of wildlife when used for heavy industry, but times have changed. Having been left for over a hundred years in some cases, the wildlife has been allowed to flourish and naturally "revegetate". Call it an 'accidental rewildling project' if you will.
Coal tips are now home to some of Wales' largest proportions of rare species in the UK. Some of which are totally new to science, such as the Maerdy Monster Millipede. Founder of The Colliery Spoil Biodiversity Initiative is Entomologist Liam Olds and he says: "It goes to show, you don't have to go to the Amazon to find new species. You can just go to a colliery site somewhere in the valleys and you could find something brand new."
He goes on to explain why the colliery sites are so good for wildlife: "They're so low in nutrients, it prevents dominant species from taking over, like grasses. So, you get these really species rich environments. A lot of the colliery sites are some of the most wildflower rich sites in Wales, and they're really beautiful."
The Colliery Spoil Biodiversity Initiative is trying to raise awareness about these "underappreciated" sites because many have been threatened with development. Liam says his greatest achievement would be for the most important sites to be given Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) protection to preserve the fantastic wildlife and mining heritage for future generations to come.
He encourages people to visit their nearest colliery spoil and admire them, saying people should move on from the "old mentality that they are derelict waste land and instead appreciate how important they are."