Oxwich National Nature Reserve

Fe reolir Gwarchodfa Natur Genedlaethol Oxwich gan Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, ac mae’n un o’r safleoedd arfordirol naturiol mwyaf amrywiol yn y DU.

Lleolir Gwarchodfa Natur Genedlaethol Oxwich ym mherfeddion Gŵyr, ardal o harddwch naturiol eithriadol gyntaf Prydain. Gwarchodfa natur gymharol fechan ydyw, oddeutu 250 hectar; ond er gwaethaf ei maint, y warchodfa hon yw un o’r casgliadau mwyaf amrywiol a thoreithiog o gynefinoedd prin yng Nghymru. Mae’r Warchodfa’n rhan o safle o ddiddordeb gwyddonol arbennig Bae Oxwich ac mae mwy na 600 o blanhigion blodeuol gwahanol wedi’u cofnodi arni, gan gynnwys y Maenhad Gwyrddlas a’r Crwynllys Cymreig sy’n brin drwy’r wlad.

Mae hanes diddorol yn perthyn i Warchodfa Natur Genedlaethol Oxwich, ac fe’i crëwyd yn sgil diwydiannau, datblygiadau a natur. Cafodd y twyni eu ffurfio yn yr Oesoedd Canol, ac unwaith eto yn y 1960au yn fuan ar ôl cael eu difrodi gan weithgareddau milwrol, a oedd yn gysylltiedig â hyfforddiant ar gyfer Dydd D. Mae’r coetiroedd calchfaen sy’n amgylchynu’r bae yn rhan o ‘Ardal Cadwraeth Arbennig’ coetiroedd ynn Gŵyr, a chawsant eu ffurfio wrth gloddio am y calchfaen gwerthfawr yr aethpwyd ag ef i Ddyfnaint.

Arferai llynnoedd a chors dŵr croyw Oxwich fod yn forfa heli ac yn angorfeydd dwfn ar gyfer llongau masnach a gludai galchfaen, glo a da byw o amgylch arfordir Abertawe ac ymhellach. Yn ddiweddarach, cafodd y rhain eu datblygu’n gorsydd dŵr croyw ac yn llynnoedd er mwyn ail-greu llynnoedd ‘Serpentine’ Hyde Park. Erbyn hyn, mae’r ardal yn gartref i blanhigion dŵr [Macroffytau] prin a myrdd o adar dŵr a rhywogaethau diddorol eraill fel dyfrgwn, gweision neidr blewog ac ambell aderyn y bwn.

Ymhellach, mae traeth poblogaidd Oxwich yn rhan o’r Warchodfa Natur. Mae miloedd o bobl o bob cwr o’r DU ac ymhellach yn ymweld ag ef, ac mae wedi’i enwi fel ‘Traeth y Flwyddyn’ ddwywaith.

Mae cyfleusterau parcio ceir sy’n berchen i, ac sy’n cael eu rhedeg gan, ystad Pen-rhys i’w cael yma. Mae’r rhain ar agor yn rhannol drwy gydol y flwyddyn, ac yn llwyr rhwng Ebrill a Hydref am dâl. Yn y fan hon ceir cyfleusterau fel toiledau a siopau sy’n gwerthu bwydydd a diodydd, ynghyd â bwyty poblogaidd.

Mae Oxwich oddeutu 20 milltir y tu allan i Abertawe ac mae gwasanaeth bws rheolaidd i’w gael o ddepo bysiau Canol Abertawe.

Oxwich National Nature Reserve is situated in the heart of Gower, Britain’s first area of outstanding natural beauty, it is a relatively small nature reserve roughly around 250 Hectares, despite its small size, it is one of the most diverse and species rich collection of rare habitats in Wales. The Reserve is part of Oxwich Bay special site of scientific interest, over 600 flowering plant species have been recorded on the Reserve, including the nationally rare Purple Gromwell and Dune Gentian.
Oxwich NNR is steeped in history and has been forged through industry, development and nature. The dunes were formed in the Middle Ages, and again in the 1960’s shortly after being decimated by military manoeuvres, linked with D day training. The limestone woodlands which envelope the bay are part of the Gower ash woodlands ‘Special area of conservation’, and were formed through quarrying for the precious limestone taken across to Devon.
The lakes and Freshwater marsh at Oxwich were once saltmarsh and deep dug moorings for trade ships, carrying limestone, coal and livestock around the coast of Swansea and further afield, later these became freshwater marshes, and lakes to replicate the Serpentine lakes of Hyde park London, now the area is home to rare water plants [Macrophytes] a plethora of diverse wildfowl and other interesting species like otter, hairy dragonfly and the occasional passing bittern.
The popular beach at Oxwich is also part of the Nature Reserve, and is visited by thousands of people from around the UK and further afield, and has twice been named ‘Beach of the year’.
There are car parking facilities owned and ran by the Penrice estate, which are partly open all year around, and fully open between April and October at a cost, here there are facilities such as toilets, shops selling food and drink, and also a popular restaurant.
Oxwich is roughly 20 miles outside of Swansea, has a regular bus service available from Swansea Central Bus depot