Coed y Ciliau

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Powys County

Habitats

Ancient woodland, Coppiced woodland

Description

Description The once extensive west-facing oakwoods of the steeply sloping sides of the Gwenwst and Dulas valleys have in recent years been largely cleared to be replanted with conifers, or converted to pasture. This site remains as the last substantial fragment displaying, it is believed, most of the range of variation once present in the formerly more extensive woodlands. As an example of an acidic sessile oakwood, it is particularly notable for its species-rich wet flushes. Much of the oak is of coppice origin, through scattered maiden or singled trees occur. The drier freely drained slopes support a ground flora of bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus and wavy hair-grass Deschampsia flexuosa amongst moss lawns dominated by Dicranum and Rhytidiadelphus species. Large wet flushes are present where ash and alder add diversity to the canopy. A wide range of herbs occurs, including primrose Primula vulgaris, sanicle Sanicula europaea, common valerian Valeriana officinalis, dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis and enchanter's-nightshade Circaea lutetiana. These grow amongst sedges and grasses normally scarce in steeply sloping sessile oak woods, such as false brome Brachypodium sylvaticum and smooth-stalked sedge Carex laevigata. A rich lichen flora is recorded from the trees, including the rare tree lungwort Lobaria pulmonaria and other species characteristic of ancient woodland, such as Phyllopsora rosei, Bacidia biatorina and Dimerella lutea. No systematic survey of the animal-life of the wood has yet been undertaken, but a good population of pied flycatchers is present amongst the more widespread and common woodland bird species.

Species mentioned