Gilwern Hill
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Limestone
Description
Description An area of limestone grassland and old quarries supporting a characteristic limestone grassland community. There are several species that are rare in the county, e.g. autumn gentian Gentianella amarella and brittle bladder fern Cystopteris fragilis. The steeper slopes support ash Fraxinus excelsior woodland over a rich ground flora. Remarks: Within the Brecon Beacons National Park.
Species mentioned
Show the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| brittle bladder fern | Cystopteris fragilis | CR | fern | woodsiaceae |
| autumn gentian | Gentianella amarella | LC | herb | gentianaceae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
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 sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Fraxinus excelsior |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Fraxinus excelsior |
| Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria |
Near Threatened | Fraxinus excelsior |
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.