Llanymynech and Llynclys Hills

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.8018, -3.0844

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable No Change (2) Favourable (4) Unfavourable Recovering (6)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SJ265227 Unfavourable No Change 26.15 2022-05-20
SJ267218 Favourable 7.21 2016-07-20
SJ267229 Unfavourable No Change 1.01 2011-09-14
SJ267230 Favourable 1.32 2011-07-01
SJ268231 Unfavourable Recovering 1.16 2011-07-11
SJ269225 Favourable 12.17 2016-09-27
SJ271233 Unfavourable Recovering 7.74 2020-02-04
SJ271236 Unfavourable Recovering 7.51 2020-02-04
SJ271237 Unfavourable Recovering 31.25 2020-02-04
SJ272230 Favourable 2.08 2011-09-14
SJ274233 Unfavourable Recovering 6.44 2016-06-21
SJ275236 Unfavourable Recovering 0.91 2014-02-06

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Coastal

Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.

Geology & landscape

Mining / Industrial: Copper Mine, Mine Spoil · Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Carboniferous Limestone, Limestone

Landscape processes: Coastal

Birds & fish recorded

Fish

SpeciesSeason
Grayling Unknown

Description

Area, 172.4 ha. 426.0 ac. Description An isolated group of Carboniferous limestone hills which have been extensively mined and quarried for stone and minerals. There are extensive grassland, scrub and woodland communities and also natural rock faces, screes, a series of abandoned quarries and areas affected by past lead and copper mining. This site is particularly important for its limestone plants. The extensive and varied grassland communities include: i. tall, coarse vegetation dominated by cock’s foot Dactylis glomerata, sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina and false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum; ii. enclosed fields dominated by a range of grasses and supporting a flora which includes cowslip Primula veris, lady’s mantle Alchemilla vestit and green winged orchid Anacamptis morio; and iii. open communities with a high proportion of rock rose Helianthemum nummularium and lichens especially Cladonia spp. which have developed on screes and in association with mine waste. The grasslands of Llanymynech and Llynclys Hills differ from calcareous grasslands elsewhere in the Midlands owing to the scarcity of stemless thistle Cirsium acaule, upright brome Bromus erectus, tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum and meadow oat Avenula pratensis. Uncommon species occurring in grassland communities on this site include autumn lady’s tresses Spiranthes spiralis, frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis, fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea, autumn gentian Gentianella amarella, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria, cat’s foot Antennaria dioica and knotted hedge parsley Torilis nodosa. Much of Llynclys Hill supports a type of heathland dominated by western gorse Ulex galliion acid soils which have developed as a result of leaching. There are also patches of open grassland in which moonwort Botrychium lunaria and greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha occur. Scrub of hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, silver birch Betula pendula and bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. is also extensive. The wooded rocks and cliffs of the west facing scarp contain many interesting species, despite extensive reforestation. The screes and shaded rocks at the base of the cliff are especially valuable for mosses and liverworts. The rare endemic whitebeam Sorbus anglica occurs on the cliffs. This site has a rich butterfly fauna which includes grayling Hipparchia semele and brown argus Aricia agestis.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
brown argus Aricia agestis LC butterfly lycaenidae
grayling Hipparchia semele EN butterfly nymphalidae
moonwort Botrychium lunaria VU fern ophioglossaceae
meadow oat grass Avenula pratensis Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum LC grass poaceae
wood false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum LC grass poaceae
upright brome Bromus erectus Not listed in GB list grass poaceae
cock's foot Dactylis glomerata LC grass poaceae
sheep's fescue Festuca ovina LC grass poaceae
green-winged orchid Anacamptis morio NT herb orchidaceae
mountain everlasting Antennaria dioica VU herb asteraceae
dwarf thistle Cirsium acaule VU herb asteraceae
frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis VU herb orchidaceae
autumn gentian Gentianella amarella LC herb gentianaceae
fragrant orchid Gymnadenia conopsea NT herb orchidaceae
rock roses Helianthemum nummularium VU herb cistaceae
greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha NT herb orchidaceae
cowslip Primula veris LC herb primulaceae
bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. Not listed in GB list herb rosaceae
small scabious Scabiosa columbaria LC herb caprifoliaceae
autumn lady's tresses Spiranthes spiralis LC herb orchidaceae
knotted hedge parsley Torilis nodosa LC herb apiaceae
hawthorn Crataegus monogyna LC shrub rosaceae
whitebeam Sorbus anglica VU shrub rosaceae
birch Betula pendula LC tree betulaceae

Plant communities

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Salix arbuscula, Salix cinerea, Salix lapponum, Salix myrsinites, Salix phylicifolia, Salix reticulata, Empetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Salix lanata, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex atrata, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Philonotis fontana, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum bonjeanii, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens adianthoides, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Palustriella commutatum, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Scorpidium revolvens, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum teres, Barbilophozia barbata, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila porelloides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania undulata, Cladonia squamosa, Peltigera canina, Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Hieraclium spp., Saussurea alpina, Solidago virgaurea, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Rhodiola rosea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Dactylorhiza viridis, Euphrasia officinalis, Rhinanthus minor, Oxalis acetosella, Oxyria digyna, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla glabra, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Dryopteris dilatata, Phegopteris connectilis

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Hedera helix, Salix cinerea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Malus sylvestris, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus procera, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Juncus effusus, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhynchostegium confertum, Tamus communis, Heracleum sphondylium, Torilis japonica, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria media agg., Calystegia sepium, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Lamium purpureum, Origanum vulgare, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Poterium sanguisorba, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubia peregrina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis erecta, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris filix-mas

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Hedera helix, Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Ulex europaeus, Prunus spinosa, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium striatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Achillea millefolium, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Armeria maritima, Rumex acetosa, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris filix-mas

W23 — Brownfield, Hedgerow scrub

Ulex europaeus-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Hedera helix, Calluna vulgaris, Cytisus scoparius, Ulex europaeus, Kindbergia praelonga, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Achillea millefolium, Crepis capillaris, Hypochaeris radicata, Jacobaea vulgaris, Campanula rotundifolia, Jasione montana, Cerastium fontanum, Silene dioica, Teucrium scorodonia, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Veronica officinalis, Rumex acetosa, Rumex acetosella, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium saxatile, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Aira praecox, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa pratensis, Pteridium aquilinum