Crymlyn Bog is a national nature reserve, Site of Special Scientific Interest and Ramsar Convention Site straddling the border between Neath Port Talbot and Swansea.
Technically it is not actually a bog but a fen and it is the largest area of lowland fen in Wales. Much of the flora is more typical of what would be found in East Anglia. There are a range of habitats present on the site and there are a range of rare plants and invertebrates.
Swansea Friends of the Earth has been involved in a number of campaigns involving the site over the years. Andrew Lees, who later became Campaigns Director of FoE nationally, led a campaign starting in the late 1970's to prevent the pollution and destruction of part of the site.
Subsequently we have been involved in preventing a potentially damaging rubbish dump being placed on the side of the hill above the bog. Our biodiversity campaigner gave evidence at the Public Inquiry where a developer was appealing the council's decision to refuse planning permission. The dump was refused permission.
Currently we have the appalling situation of the Tir John Landfill site, adjacent to the bog which brings shame on the city. It is a landfill site, the main one for Swansea and it is polluting a national nature reserve. The council were prosecuted some years ago for polluting the bog. Essentially we have a large compost heap placed next to a wetland habitat which is important because of the low nutrient levels in the soil.
Alongside the bog is also the notorious Crymlyn Burrows Incinerator which has been another campaign of ours. Among its numerous environmental drawbacks is the production of nitrogen dioxides which act as a fertiliser when they are deposited on the bog.