Visit Lanlay countryside

Fancy a walk? 

Whether you have 20 minutes or an hour, if you’re walking the dog or wandering with friends, Lanlay is the perfect escape. Two routes meander through the meadows and along the river. 

A gentle walk around the meadows takes in the best of the place and boardwalks help you over the wettest areas so you can enjoy everything Lanlay has to offer.

Wildlife to see at Lanlay

Birds 

Dense hedgerows, long grasses, veteran trees and winding riverbanks combine to make Lanlay a wonderful place for birds. From kingfishers darting along the banks of the River Ely to buzzards swooping overhead and woodpeckers delving into old oaks to a variety of songbirds flitting from bush to hedgerow, these meadows are worth visiting at any time of year. 

Butterflies 

A huge number of butterflies make their homes here, from meadow brown to speckled wood and peacock to gatekeeper. And bees and other insects provide your soundtrack to lazy summer days. 

Other wildlife to look out for includes bats, Lizards and small mammals. And if you’re lucky, you might even catch sight of an otter in and around the river. 

Be patient 

Wildlife watching takes patience, so spread out a blanket in the shade of an old oak or perch on the riverbank with the water rushing beneath your feet and you’ll find you can while away hours in this corner of the countryside. Lose yourself in the long grass with a picnic and you’ll feel a world away. 

Veteran trees  

The enormous oaks dotted around Lanlay are known as veteran trees and are around 500 years old. You can spot them by their gnarled and knotted limbs, brimming with character and providing a vital habitat for birds, insects and other creatures. 

They’re often a great place to find some fantastic fungi, which along with lichen and dead wood, invertebrates rely on for survival.

The ancient oak 

Whilst a veteran tree is very old compared to others of the same species, there’s no strict definition. Oaks of 500 or 600 years old like those at Lanlay are considered veterans, whilst beech trees are considered veteran at a more youthful age of 300 years. This is because different varieties of trees grow at different rates. 

If you’re feeling adventurous, climb onto the lower branches to get a closer look and really appreciate the special environment of these giants. 

Lanlay Community Orchard 

Enjoy the tranquil setting of the Lanlay Community Orchard, created to provide a balance between good crops and valuable wildlife. Managed by Cyswllt Peterston Connect, the orchard is flourishing in the Lanlay Meadows Local Nature Reserve. In 2019 the site was awarded a Community Green Flag Award. 

A good microclimate 

The orchard was planted with a mixture of Welsh heritage apple, pear, damson and plum trees. A good microclimate has encouraged tall herbs such as comfrey, willow herb and red campion, retained in sections to encourage pollinating insects.

Being part of a floodplain, not ideal for deep rooted trees, the herbs’ deep roots help with drainage and provide mass floral displays in early summer.  

In winter, there are insect bug hotels, bird’s nest boxes and areas to encourage overwintering reptiles.  

The willow shelter 

A woven willow shelter was created in 2016 using cuttings from Peterston Primary School with assistance from Clare Revera from Out to Learn Willow based at Ogmore by Sea. 

If you want to visit the orchard you can park at the entrance or the nearby lay-by for parking opposite the village pub.