The Rhos Pastures of South-west Wales and their Conservation Presidential Address, 10 May 2003

摘要

A personal view is presented of rhos pastures, the damp acid, often heathy grasslands which still occur frequently in South-west Wales. Their typical vegetation communities including examples of characteristic species and their survival, management, and social significance are described. The significance of Carum verticillatum (Whorled Caraway) in these grasslands, together with several other plants, are examples of species having Atlantic distributions which contribute to the particular character ofrhos pastures. The history of the recording of Carum in South-west Wales and its distinctive character, together with its often abundant survival on the Carmarthenshire coalfield are explained but the example of the area between Cross Hands and Ammanford is given to illustrate how, in recent years, major losses have occurred due to opencast coalmining, commercial and domestic development and agricultural changes. In view of the apparent ineffectiveness of current protection measures, a plea is made toall concerned, for a concerted effort to conserve and maintain what remains.