Bron-y-Buckley Wood

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.6642, -3.1533

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Also within

Powys County

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Ordovician

Description

Description A locality of great historical as well as current scientific importance, the site was named by Murchison who was greatly impressed by the abundance of trilobites there. The only mixed graptolitic and shelly assemblage in the Welsh Harnagian and a type locality for certain trinucleid trilobites. In layman's terms, the interest of this site may be expressed more simply, and such a statement is provided below. This should not be taken as definitive and further information as to details of the interest can be obtained from the Nature Conservancy Council. This locality is a most important site for the study of fossil trilobites (relatives of the king-crab) which are found in the mudstones which are seen in the stream section. These mudstones were laid down some 425 million years ago, during the late Ordovician portion of geological time, when this part of Wales lay beneath an extensive ocean. The locality has been well-known to geologists for nearly 150 years, and is the source of many important specimens of trilobites, being the first place at which many of them were ever found. In addition, the other fossils which occur with the trilobites are valuable for helping geologists to understand how conditions which prevailed in the Welshpool area during late Ordovician times related to conditions elsewhere in Wales at that time. Remarks: Sometimes referred to as Trilobite Dingle.

Plant communities

A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream

Potamogeton natans community

Schoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa

A14 — Fast flowing river and stream

Myriophyllum alterniflorum community

Isolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina

A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community

Berula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans

A18 — Fast flowing river and stream

Ranunculus fluitans community

Fontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea