Penhow Woodlands

Also within

Gwent County

Habitats

Ancient woodland, Coppiced woodland

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Limestone

Description

Description These two areas of ancient semi-natural woodland are situated mainly on the steep slopes and summits of limestone hills covered with superficial deposits of a calcareous nature. The structure is a mixture of high forest, coppice and coppice-with-standards comprising a range of woodland types, several of which have a restricted distribution in Britain. The dominant canopy tree species are lime Tilia cordata, ash Fraxinus excelsior, gean Prunus avium, elm Ulmus glabra and hybrids, field maple Acer campestre and localised oak Quercus robur. The absence of birch Betula spp and oak from much of the wood and the presence of a number of fine ancient pollarded trees along a complex of parish boundaries are additional features. The ground flora is predominately calcicolous and includes a number of nationally rare and locally distributed species, for example Tintern spurge Euphorbia stricta, green hellebore Helleborus viridis, bird’s nest orchid Neottia nidus-avis and wild daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus. Remarks Part of this site is subject to a Tree Preservation Order. This site was formerly names Salisbury Wood

Species mentioned