Coed Trefraith

Also within

Clwyd County

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Carboniferous Limestone, Limestone

Description

Description Botanical interest. One of the best examples in Clwyd of a woodland type found mainly in Wales and south-west England but also in the Midlands and north-east England. In North Wales the majority of the examples are in Clwyd at low altitudes, the remainder being in West Gwynedd. The wood occupies the steep eastern valley side of a tributary of the River Wheeler on rocks of the Carboniferous Limestone serieswhich form small outcrops in part of the wood. The dominant tree in the wood is sessile oak Quercus petraea together with ash Fraxinus excelsior and, less commonly, wych elm Ulmus glabra. Alder Alnus glutinosa grows along the stream and non-native sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus is distributed through the wood but is generally, uncommon. Absence of grazing has resulted in a well developed shrub and herb layer in the wood and there is significant natural regeneration, particularly of ash. hazel Corylus avellana is dominant in the shrub layer, together with holly Ilex aquifolium, rowan Sorbus aucuparia, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, guelder rose Viburnum opulus, and extensive carpets of bramble Rubus fruticosus. The ground flora is varied and typically includes dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis, wood sanicle Sanicula europaea, ramsons Allium ursinum and bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta with wood sedge Carex sylvatica and slender false-brome Brachypodium sylvaticum widespread. Less common species include mountain melick Melica nutans, greater butterfly orchid Platanthera chlorantha, columbine Aquilegia vulgaris and abundant early purple orchid Orchis mascula.

Species mentioned

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.

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.

Plant communities