Allt y Wern
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Habitats
Description
Description A small oakwood which has apparently been managed as coppice-with-standards, an unusual sylvicultural practice in this part of Wales. Many of the fine mature pedunculate oaks Quercus robur are at least 200 years old. Ash Fraxinus excelsior also occurs as a standard tree whilst hazel Corylus avellana forms the coppiced layer. The species-rich shrub layer includes holly Ilex aquifolia, elder Sambucus nigra, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, roses Rosa spp., guelder rose Viburnum opulus and blackthorn Prunus spinosa. Dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis, wood sorrel Oxalis acetosella, creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens and bramble Rubus spp. are the most abundant species in the equally species-rich ground layer.
Species mentioned
Show the 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| dog's mercury | Mercurialis perennis | LC | herb | euphorbiaceae |
| wood sorrel | Oxalis acetosella | LC | herb | oxalidaceae |
| creeping buttercup | Ranunculus repens | LC | herb | ranunculaceae |
| hawthorn | Crataegus monogyna | LC | shrub | rosaceae |
| blackthorn | Prunus spinosa | LC | shrub | rosaceae |
| elder | Sambucus nigra | LC | shrub | caprifoliaceae |
| gelder rose | Viburnum opulus | LC | shrub | caprifoliaceae |
| hazel | Corylus avellana | LC | tree | corylaceae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
| common oak | Quercus robur | LC | tree | fagaceae |
Insects to look out for
These moths, butterflies and beetles are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.
| Species | Status | Via host-plant |
|---|---|---|
| Oak lutestring Cymatophorina diluta |
Endangered | Quercus robur |
| Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala |
Endangered | Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp. |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp. |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp. |
| Black hairstreak Satyrium pruni |
Endangered | Prunus spinosa |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp. |
| Brown hairstreak Thecla betulae |
Vulnerable | Prunus spinosa |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp. |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus robur |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp. |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna, Ranunculus spp. |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Prunus spinosa |
| Light crimson underwing Catocala promissa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Dark crimson underwing Catocala sponsa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Heart moth Dicycla oo |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria |
Near Threatened | Fraxinus excelsior |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa |
| White-spotted pug Eupithecia tripunctaria |
Near Threatened | Sambucus nigra |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Crataegus spp., Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp. |
| Clay fan-foot Paracolax tristalis |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Common fan-foot Pechipogo strigilata |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Frosted green Polyploca ridens |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.