Cliff Wood - Golden Stairs
Also within
Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.
Geology & landscape
Landscape processes: Coastal
Description
Description The best example of a mixed woodland in South Glamorgan which has a canopy of pedunculate oak, ash, maple and yew. The interesting, ungrazed ground flora and wooded cliff areas includes purple gromwell Lithospermum purpurocaeruleum which is restricted to a very small number of sites in the county. Remarks: The local Nature Reserve was declared in 1970 and is managed by the Vale of Glamorgan County Borough Council.