Torfaen County Borough Council has designated six sites in the borough as Local Nature Reserves (or LNR's). LNR's are for both people and wildlife. They are places with wildlife that are of special interest locally, which give people opportunities to study and learn about them or simply enjoy and have contact with nature. They are for conservation, quiet enjoyment and public appreciation of nature.
Local Nature Reserves may be abandoned quarries, redundant canals or disused railway sidings as well as the more familiar woodland, wetlands and heathland. The areas in which they will be situated are: Cwmynyscoy Quarry, Henllys Open Space, the Cwmavon Corridor (the Cycleway between Talywain and Blaenafon), Church Wood and Springvale Ponds, Tirpentwys and Garn Lakes.