Castell Coch Woodlands and Road Section
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Geology & landscape
Geological Feature: Gorge / Ravine · Geological Period: Carboniferous, Devonian · Rock Type: Carboniferous Limestone, Limestone, Sandstone
Landscape processes: Fluvial
Description
Description The woodlands surrounding Castell Coch occupy steep south and west facing slopes overlooking Cardiff and the Taff Vale. They form part of the "Taff Gorge complex" of woodlands of which beech is a major constituent species, and this is thought to be one of its most westerly natural sites in Britain. The woodland is dominated by mature beech Fagus sylvatica. Herbaceous species abundant here include dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis, ramsons Allium ursinum and sanicle Sanicula europaea. In terms of the National Vegetation Classification, the woodland type represented is the Mercurialis perennis sub-community of Xagus sylvatic a - Mercurialis-perennis woodland. Although these woods have been intensively managed in the past, they continue to support species that reflect their "ancient" nature. A number of the herbaceous species present are now also of limited distribution in Mid and South Glamorgan. These include bird's-nest orchid Neottia nidus-avis, greater butterfly-orchid Platanthera chlorantha and yellow bird'snest Hypopitys monotropa. Within the site is a locality of importance for showing a sequence from the Devonian Old Red Sandstone into the Carboniferous Limestone. It shows a comparatively complete section in the Lower Limestone Shales with a number of faunally-rich horizons. Here the base of the thick lowest Carboniferous Limestone corresponds to the base of the Carboniferous Period, in contrast to sections on the north crop of the South Wales Coalfield. A key site with sections crossing the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary.
Species mentioned
Show the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ramson | Allium ursinum | LC | herb | liliaceae |
| yellow birds nest | Hypopitys monotropa | DD | herb | monotropaceae |
| dog's mercury | Mercurialis perennis | LC | herb | euphorbiaceae |
| birdsnest orchid | Neottia nidus-avis | VU | herb | orchidaceae |
| greater butterfly orchid | Platanthera chlorantha | NT | herb | orchidaceae |
| sanicle | Sanicula europaea | LC | herb | apiaceae |
| beech | Fagus sylvatica | LC | tree | fabiaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Fagus sylvatica |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Fagus sylvatica |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Fagus sylvatica |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Fagus sylvatica |
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.