Coed-y-Person
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Devonian · Rock Type: Limestone, Sandstone
Description
Description A large area of ancient semi-natural woodland on the steep north facing lower slopes of the Blorenge mountain. The lower edge is formed mainly by the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal except that in places the canal passes through the wood cutting off a small area of the lower slopes. The underlying rocks are principally Old Red Sandstone with occasional inclusions of Devonian Limestone. The soils are mainly infertile acidic loam with a notably less acidic band below the canal. The site includes one of the most extensive areas of coppice beech Fagus sylvatica in the county. Other canopy trees include oak Quercus petraea and Quercus robur, ash Fraxinus excelsior and elm Ulmus glabra. The ground flora is generally sparse with large areas dominated by bracken Pteridium aquilinum and grass Deschampsia flexuosa and D. caespitosa reflecting the high level of grazing. The small area of woodland below the canal is of particular interest because it has been isolated from grazing since the construction of the canal (circa 1792). There is a greater diversity of canopy trees including lime Tilia cordata and alder Alnus glutinosa. The ground flora of this area is also rich with such species as wood melic Melica uniflora, moschatel Adoxa moschatellina and woodruff Galium odoratum. Remarks: Within the Brecon Beacons National Park.
Species mentioned
Show the 12 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bracken | Pteridium aquilinum | LC | fern | dennstaedtiaceae |
| wavy hair grass | Deschampsia flexuosa | Not listed in GB list | grass | poaceae |
| wood melick | Melica uniflora | NT | grass | poaceae |
| moschatel | Adoxa moschatellina | LC | herb | adoxaceae |
| woodruff | Galium odoratum | LC | herb | rubiaceae |
| alder | Alnus glutinosa | LC | tree | salicaceae |
| beech | Fagus sylvatica | LC | tree | fabiaceae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
| sessile or durmast oak | Quercus petraea | LC | tree | fagaceae |
| common oak | Quercus robur | LC | tree | fagaceae |
| lime small leaved | Tilia cordata | LC | tree | malvaceae |
| wych elm | Ulmus glabra | LC | tree | ulmaceae |
Plant communities
W25 — Bracken scrub
Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub
Show 53 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Luzula multiflora, Mnium hornum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Potentilla erecta, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium saxatile, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas