Crest Mawr Wood

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Clwyd County

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Carboniferous Limestone, Limestone

Description

Description Botanical interest. An area of mixed deciduous woodland on the Carboniferous Limestone west of the Vale of Clwyd. It represents one of the best examples in Ciwyd of a woodland type occurring mainly in south-east England but also in other parts of Britain at low altitude on shallow slopes with low rainfall. The dominant trees in the wood are sessile oak Quercus petraea and ash Fraxinus excelsior, together with silver birch Betula pendula, qych elm Ulmus glabra, sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus and rowan Sorbus aucuparia. The woodland is currently ungrazed and there is extensive natural regeneration of tree and shrub species, especially of ash. The shrub layer is dominated by hazel Corylus avellana but there are a variety of other shrub species characteristic of woodland on calcareous soils including privet Ligustrum vulgare, the uncommon spurge laurel Daphne laureola and a large population of spindle Euonymus europaeus. The herb layer is rich, with dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis locally dominant and wood sanicle Sanicula europaea, sweet woodruff Galium odoratum, wood sedge Carex sylvatica and wood melick Melica uniflora are widespread. The uncommon herb Paris Paris quadrifolia occurs in part of the wood. Soils are generally thin throughout the wood and there are several areas of rock outcrops and boulders where extensive moss carpets occur, particularly of Brachythecium rutabulum and Thuidium tamariscinum.

Species mentioned