Pen-Dugwm Woods
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Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Ordovician
Description
Description These woodlands have developed on the steep sides of the narrow valley of the Nant-y- Pandy, cut in Ordovician shales. The base status of the soils in the valley as reflected by the flora appears to vary greatly. Thus parts of the north-facing oak woodlands at the western end of the site have a ground flora dominated by bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus and wavy hair-grass Deschampsia flexuosa, whilst the east-facing slopes at the southern end (with oak and some ash and elm) support a rich and varied flora, including early-purple orchid Orchis mascula and tutsan Hypericum androsaemum. The bird’s nest-orchid Neottia nidus-avis has also been recorded from the area. On the trunks of the older oak and ash trees a well developed epiphytic moss and lichen vegetation is found, including the lichen Thelotrema lepadinum. Remarks: 3 hectares of the site are owned by the North Wales Naturalists’ Trust and managed as a nature reserve, called Coed Pendugwm.
Species mentioned
Show the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| wavy hair grass | Deschampsia flexuosa | Not listed in GB list | grass | poaceae |
| tutsan | Hypericum androsaemum | LC | herb | hypericaceae |
| birdsnest orchid | Neottia nidus-avis | VU | herb | orchidaceae |
| early purple orchid | Orchis mascula | LC | herb | orchidaceae |
| barnacle lichen | Thelotrema lepadinum | LC | lichen | no common name |
| billberry | Vaccinium myrtillus | LC | shrub | ericaceae |