An extremely rare lichen has been discovered at a beauty spot in Eryri.
The southern oceanic lichen, Porina atlantica, was found at the Fairy Glen Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) near Conwy Falls.
This is only the second time the species has been found in the UK.
The discovery was made as part of a Natural Resources Wales (NRW) survey which identified 209 lichen species at the site, with 94 classed as 'nationally scarce'.
This almost doubles the number previously recorded.
The Fairy Glen site has been the focus of conservation efforts to protect wildlife and plant species by controlling non-native invasive plants.
Rhododendron, cherry laurel, yellow azalea, and western hemlock have been removed from the site over the past 12 months as they threaten native tree species.
These native trees provide shelter and food for breeding birds like redstart and wood warbler, and bats including lesser horseshoe and brown long-eared.
The work was commissioned by NRW in partnership with the National Trust Cymru and Eryri National Park Authority, and is funded by the Welsh Government’s Nature Network Fund.
Rob Booth, Biodiversity Restoration Officer for NRW, said: "Fairy Glen and Conwy Falls have been an enduring attraction for visitors for more than 200 years.
"Control and removal of non-native invasive species reduces shading and competition with native species, helping the gorge provide ideal conditions for mosses, lichen, and ferns, which grow on boulders in the river, on trees and exposed rocky outcrops in the woodland.
"This latest survey has shown the importance of this work and guided how we go about it.
"It’s fantastic to see so many species thrive in this environment."
This autumn and winter, small-scale halo-felling of conifers and beech around key veteran oak trees identified in the survey will take place to help lichen which require sunlight to survive and spread.
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