Coedydd Afon Menai
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Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Carboniferous Limestone, Limestone
Description
Description Coedydd Afon Menai is a representative example of an ivy-oak/ash Hedera Helix - Quercus/Fraxinus type woodland. It consists of narrow strips of broadleaved woodland along sections of the southern shore of the Menai Strait. The woodland largely occurs on steep, sometimes rocky slopes although flatter sections of interesting woodland above the slope are included. The most northerly section of woodland (Coed Siliwen) is dominated by sessile oak Quercus Petraea in the canopy and great wood-rush Luzula sylvatica in the ground flora. Wild service tree Sorbus torminalis, a rarity in Gwynedd, occurs here. Around Nantporth the woodland is associated with Carboniferous Limestone. Here ash Fraxinus excelsior with wych elm Ulmus glabra and sessile oak dominate the canopy and hazel Corylus avellana the understorey. Dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis, woodruff Galium odoratum and enchanter's-nightshade Circaea lutentiana are abundant in the ground flora. Various whitebeams are present, including the nationally rare Sorbus porrigentiformis. Other locally uncommon species present include yellow-wort Blackstonia perfoliata, wild madder Rubia Peregrina and spindle Euonymus europaeus. The western section of woodland, including Coed Mair, Coed y Mor and Coed Crawley, typically supports sessile oak and ash dominated woodland with hazel, ash, guelder-rose Viburnum opulus and crab apple Malus sylvestris in the understorey and a basiphilous ground flora, which occurs on the heavy calcareous soils present, particularly on the flatter sections. great woodrush occasionally dominates the ground flora on the steeper slopes. The local reed wood-grass Calamagrostis Epigeos occurs above the shoreline. heron breed in this section of wood.
Species mentioned
Show the 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phalacrocorax aristotelis | Not listed in GB list | bird | phalacrocoracidae | |
| yellowwort | Blackstonia perfoliata | LC | herb | gentianaceae |
| enchanter's nightshade | Circaea lutentiana | Not listed in GB list | herb | onagraceae |
| woodruff | Galium odoratum | LC | herb | rubiaceae |
| great wood rush | Luzula sylvatica | LC | rush | juncaceae |
| spindle tree | Euonymus europaeus | LC | shrub | celastraceae |
| whitebeam | Sorbus porrigentiformis | VU | shrub | rosaceae |
| gelder rose | Viburnum opulus | LC | shrub | caprifoliaceae |
| hazel | Corylus avellana | LC | tree | corylaceae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
| crab apple | Malus sylvestris | LC | tree | rosaceae |
| wych elm | Ulmus glabra | LC | tree | ulmaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Malus spp. |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Corylus avellana, Ulmus spp. |
| White-letter hairstreak Satyrium w-album |
Endangered | Ulmus glabra, Ulmus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Ulmus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Ulmus spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Ulmus spp. |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Ulmus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Ulmus glabra |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Malus sylvestris |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Ulmus spp. |
| Dusky-lemon sallow Cirrhia gilvago |
Near Threatened | Ulmus glabra |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Ulmus glabra |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Corylus avellana, Ulmus spp. |
| Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria |
Near Threatened | Fraxinus excelsior |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Galium spp. |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Ulmus spp. |
| Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata |
Near Threatened | Galium spp. |
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.