Blackmill Woodlands
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Habitats
Description
Description Blackmill Woodlands is of special interest for the size and geographical position of its semi-natural woodland being the largest known stand of this Annex 1 habitat in the Mid and South Glamorgan Area of Search. The site comprises two woodland blocks on opposing slopes of the Afon Ogwr valley, 6 kilometres north of Bridgend. The woodlands lie between 80 and 210 metres on shallow, sandy, mineral soils over Pennant Sandstones of the Coal Measures. Both woodlands are situated on Common Land and have been managed subject to common rights since the Middle Ages. Allt y Rhiw has a north-westerly aspect and is dominated by a uniform stand of sessile oak Quercus petraea. The field layer is characterised by bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus and wavy hair-grass Deschampsia flexuosa, with bryophytes such as Polytrichum formosum and Mnium hornum. Craig Tal-y-fan is situated on the opposite valley side, with a south-easterly aspect. Sessile oak also dominates on this slope, with the field layer characterised by common bent grass Agrostis capillaris, sweet vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina and wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella. Bracken Pteridium aquilinum is also present and forms dense stands in more open areas. Typical bryophytes of the ground layer include the mosses Polytrichum formosum, Mnium hornum, Dicranum majus and Leucobryum glaucum. Remarks: The site supports woodland vegetation assignable to the habitat type ‘Old sessile oak woods with Ilex and Blechnum in the British Isles’, listed on Annex I of the EC Habitats and Species Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and Wild Flora and Fauna).
Species mentioned
Show the 12 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
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IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bracken | Pteridium aquilinum | LC | fern | dennstaedtiaceae |
| common bent | Agrostis capillaris | LC | grass | poaceae |
| sweet vernal grass | Anthoxanthum odoratum | LC | grass | poaceae |
| wavy hair grass | Deschampsia flexuosa | Not listed in GB list | grass | poaceae |
| sheep's fescue | Festuca ovina | LC | grass | poaceae |
| wood sorrel | Oxalis acetosella | LC | herb | oxalidaceae |
| greater fork moss | Dicranum majus | LC | moss | dicranales |
| large white moss | Leucobryum glaucum | LC | moss | dicranales |
| swan necked thyme moss | Mnium hornum | LC | moss | bryales |
| bank haircap | Polytrichum formosum | LC | moss | polytrichales |
| billberry | Vaccinium myrtillus | LC | shrub | ericaceae |
| sessile or durmast oak | Quercus petraea | LC | tree | fagaceae |
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