The Countryside Commission for Wales (CCW) has announced that Maes-y-Facrell, a 5-hectare (12.4-acre) site near Llandudno, has been designated as a national nature reserve.

Much of the site, located on the Great Orme on the north coast of Wales, has been fenced by the CCW in order to allow mountain ponies and other livestock to graze, which in turn will encourage some of its rich plant life to flourish. John Osley, a CCW senior conservation officer, said: "The mountain ponies are useful animals to graze the area as they will eat the rough grassland. They are hardy and can cope with the weather conditions, are friendly to visitors and fit into the beautiful landscape.

"Eventually, we would also like sheep to graze the area, as their nibbling is essential to maintain a short turf and a rich diversity of flowering herbs."