Hendre, Llangedwyn
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Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Slate
Description
Description This site is notified for its species interest, lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros. The site is located on the steep, north-facing side of the Tanat Valley, 0.5 kilometres south of the village of Llangedwyn, 12 kilometres west-south-west of the town of Oswestry. It is at an altitude of 170-210 metres above mean sea level, with the Afon Tanat 70-110 metres below in the valley bottom. The valley runs from west to east and is richly provided with hedges, tree-and-shrub-lined river and stream banks and extensive mixed woodlands, some of which are ancient woodland sites. There are numerous traditional farm buildings that are not intensively used and a few small disused mines. The valley thus affords excellent habitat for bats. The site comprises a small cottage (the bat roost) and, on both sides of green lanes near it, tall, overgrown species-rich hedges that provide vital access for feeding and links to adjacent mixed woodland, such as Flag Plantation. The cottage is half-timbered with cruck-frame and is believed to be medieval in origin. In the nineteenth century some stone gable-ends were added and the thatch roof replaced with slate. It shelters the tenth (1993 records) largest breeding (nursery) roost of lesser horseshoe bat in Wales, and the second largest in Clwyd, with annual counts of well in excess of 100 adults. The individuals that breed here are known to use the nearby Garth-eryr mine as a winter roost (hibernaculum). Two other species of bat also use the cottage, pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus and brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus. Small numbers of all three species hibernate in the cottage. The hedges are dominated by hazel Corylus avellana with locally abundant hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, blackthorn Prunus spinosa, ash Fraxinus excelsior, holly Ilex aquifolium, field maple Acer campestre, alder Alnus glutinosa, crab apple Malus sylvestris and oak Quercus sp. The mixed woodland is co-dominated by oak and larch Larix sp., with some ash, sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus, birch Betula sp., and wych elm Ulmus glabra along the woodland edge. These habitats provide good feeding areas and are vitally important in allowing the breeding bats access to feeding sites elsewhere. Remarks: Hendre Cottage is a Grade 2 listed building and a Vincent Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve.
Species mentioned
Show the 13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| common pipstrelle bat | Pipistrellus pipistrellus | LC | bat | vespertillonidae |
| brown long-eared bat | Plecotus auritus | LC | bat | vespertillonidae |
| lesser horseshoe bat | Rhinolophus hipposideros | LC | bat | vespertillonidae |
| hawthorn | Crataegus monogyna | LC | shrub | rosaceae |
| blackthorn | Prunus spinosa | LC | shrub | rosaceae |
| field maple | Acer campestre | LC | tree | aceraceae |
| sycamore | Acer pseudoplatanus | Not listed in GB list | tree | aceraceae |
| alder | Alnus glutinosa | LC | tree | salicaceae |
| hazel | Corylus avellana | LC | tree | corylaceae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
| holly | Ilex aquifolium | LC | tree | aquifoliaceae |
| crab apple | Malus sylvestris | LC | tree | rosaceae |
| wych elm | Ulmus glabra | LC | tree | ulmaceae |
Plant communities
A9 — Fast flowing river and stream, Marginal and inundation, Pond ditch and canal, Sluggish river and stream
Potamogeton natans community
Show 20 indicator speciesSchoenoplectus lacustris, Juncus bulbosus, Sparganium angustifolium, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Lemna trisulca, Nymphaea alba, Callitriche platycarpa, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus trichophyllus, Glyceria fluitans, Chara subspinosa
A14 — Fast flowing river and stream
Myriophyllum alterniflorum community
Show 15 indicator speciesIsolepis fluitans, Juncus bulbosus, Fontinalis antipyretica, Lobelia dortmanna, Equisetum fluviatile, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Littorella uniflora, Potamogeton filiformis, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Ranunculus peltatus, Chara spp., Nitella hyalina
A17 — Chalk river and stream, Fast flowing river and stream
Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans community
Show 11 indicator speciesBerula erecta, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea canadensis, Lemna minor, Callitriche stagnalis, Veronica beccabunga, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans
A18 — Fast flowing river and stream
Ranunculus fluitans community
Show 12 indicator speciesFontinalis antipyretica, Fontinalis squamosa var. curnowii, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Elodea canadensis, Mentha aquatica, Lemna gibba, Lemna minor, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Ranunculus fluitans, Glyceria fluitans, Phalaris arundinacea