Carmarthenshire Bogs Project Site - Figyn

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.

Figyn Common is one of the largest sites in the project, with the deepest peat within the 7 ha of bog on the common land.

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

Figyn Common extends to just under 36 ha and is towards the eastern end of a series of remnant heathland–peatland complexes, situated on the hills to the south of the Afon Cothi and Brechfa Forest. The site is fairly remote; the village of Llanfynydd is 3 km to the south and the site is approached from there via a long, dead-end road to the nearby forestry. The site lies within Llanfynydd Community Council area. Figyn has rather an upland feel, despite being surrounded to the south and east by improved, enclosed pasture. It is fenced around all boundaries apart from the western edge which gives way directly to the forestry access track, separating the common from a large, north-west-facing conifer plantation; an extensive area of forestry land to the north has been felled in recent years and has now been replanted. The raised bog on Figyn is almost intact and has a distinct dome; it lies to the eastern end of the common and extends to just under 7 ha of the total area. The bog itself is drained by three ditches, two of them being fairly deep. Scattered conifers, some dead or dying, have established on the bog while to the south of the common, scrub (predominantly willow) has taken hold.