Sugar Loaf Woodlands
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Sandstone
Description
Description Three extensive areas of ancient coppice woodland (St Mary’s Vale, Twyn-yr-Allt and The Park) on the south and east slopes of the Sugar Loaf Mountain on Brownstones of the Old Red Sandstone Series. Most of the woodland is dominated by sessile oak Quercus petraea which gives way to pedunculate oak Q robur and hybrids on the lower slopes. Local areas of alder Alnus glutinosa and beech Fagus sylvatica occur alongside streams. There is a characteristic acidopholous ground flora with large areas dominated by bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus and wavy hairgrass Deschampsia flexuosa which changes to more luxuriant herb, fern and bryophyte communities on the flushed lower slopes and streamsides. Epiphytic lichens are abundant, particularly on the trees of the upper slopes. Remarks: Within Brecon Beacons National Park.
Species mentioned
Show the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| wavy hair grass | Deschampsia flexuosa | Not listed in GB list | grass | poaceae |
| billberry | Vaccinium myrtillus | LC | shrub | ericaceae |
| alder | Alnus glutinosa | LC | tree | salicaceae |
| beech | Fagus sylvatica | LC | tree | fabiaceae |
| sessile or durmast oak | Quercus petraea | LC | tree | fagaceae |