Caeau Fferm
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Sandstone
Description
Description Caeau Fferm is of special interest for its extensive stands of dry mesotrophic grassland and its associated mixture of other habitat types. The site is situated on the north-eastern flank of the Grwyne Fawr valley approximately 3km south-west of the village of Llanthony and 10km north-west of Abergavenny. It occupies steeply sloping ground, with a south-westerly aspect, at an altitude of 300-400m. The underlying bedrock is Old Red Sandstone which is overlain by brown earths. The dry mesotrophic pasture is characterised by species such as common bent Agrostis capillaris, sweet vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, crested dog’s-tail Cynosurus cristatus, spring-sedge Carex caryophyllea, field wood-rush Luzula campestris, common bird’s-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus, red clover Trifolium pratense, meadow buttercup Ranunculus acris and cat’s-ear Hypochaeris radicata. On steeper slopes, where soils are more free-draining, heath-grass Danthonia decumbens, mouse-ear hawkweed Pilosella officinarum, fairy flax Linum catharticum, burnet-saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga and tormentil Potentilla erecta are common, with harebell Campanula rotundifolia and large thyme Thymus pulegioides locally abundant. In parts of the site, mesotrophic grassland grades into acidic grassland in which sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina and heath bedstraw Galium saxatile are common. In other areas where drainage is impeded, dry grassland grades into sharp-flowered rush Juncus acutiflorus and purple moor-grass Molinia caerulea dominated marshy grassland. Uncommon species recorded at the site include adder’s-tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum, meadow saffron Colchicum autumnale and large thyme, which here, is close to the western limit of its geographical range. Remarks: The site lies within the Brecon Beacons National Park
Species mentioned
Show the 22 species mentioned in the description, with red-list statusPlant communities
MG7 — Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Mesotrophic grassland
Lolium perenne leys and related grasslands Lolium perenne-Alopecurus pratensis grassland
Show 47 indicator speciesJuncus inflexus, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Achillea millefolium, Bellis perennis, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Hypochaeris radicata, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Taraxacum officianalis, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Cardamine pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Cerastium glomeratum, Stellaria media agg., Lathyrus pratensis, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Vicia sativa, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago major, Rumex acetosa, Rumex conglomeratus, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus bulbosus, Ranunculus repens, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Bromus hordeaceous, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium multiflorum, Lolium perenne, Phleum pratense, Poa annua, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus pratensis
MG9 — Brownfield, Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Mesotrophic grassland
Holcus lanatus-Deschampsia cespitosa grassland
Show 79 indicator speciesCarex hirta, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus inflexus, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Achillea millefolium, Achillea ptarmica, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium palustre, Cirsium vulgare, Jacobaea vulgaris, Leucanthemum vulgare, Pulicaria dysenterica, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Senecio aquaticus, Taraxacum officianalis, Cardamine pratensis, Succisa pratensis, Cerastium fontanum, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus corniculatus, Lotus pedunculatus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Vicia cracca, Hypericum perforatum, Mentha aquatica, Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Plantago lanceolata, Rumex acetosa, Rumex conglomeratus, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Rumex sanguineus, Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, Ficaria verna, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Agrimonia eupatoria, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla anserina, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium verum, Silaum silaus, Urtica dioica, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus pratensis, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Briza media, Cynosurus cristatus, Dactylis glomerata, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca rubra, Glyceria fluitans, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Hordeum secalinum, Lolium perenne, Phalaris arundinacea, Phleum pratense, Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Schedonorus pratensis, Trisetum flavescens