Crest Mawr Wood
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Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Carboniferous Limestone, Limestone
Description
Description Botanical interest. An area of mixed deciduous woodland on the Carboniferous Limestone west of the Vale of Clwyd. It represents one of the best examples in Ciwyd of a woodland type occurring mainly in south-east England but also in other parts of Britain at low altitude on shallow slopes with low rainfall. The dominant trees in the wood are sessile oak Quercus petraea and ash Fraxinus excelsior, together with silver birch Betula pendula, qych elm Ulmus glabra, sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus and rowan Sorbus aucuparia. The woodland is currently ungrazed and there is extensive natural regeneration of tree and shrub species, especially of ash. The shrub layer is dominated by hazel Corylus avellana but there are a variety of other shrub species characteristic of woodland on calcareous soils including privet Ligustrum vulgare, the uncommon spurge laurel Daphne laureola and a large population of spindle Euonymus europaeus. The herb layer is rich, with dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis locally dominant and wood sanicle Sanicula europaea, sweet woodruff Galium odoratum, wood sedge Carex sylvatica and wood melick Melica uniflora are widespread. The uncommon herb Paris Paris quadrifolia occurs in part of the wood. Soils are generally thin throughout the wood and there are several areas of rock outcrops and boulders where extensive moss carpets occur, particularly of Brachythecium rutabulum and Thuidium tamariscinum.
Species mentioned
Show the 18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| wood melick | Melica uniflora | NT | grass | poaceae |
| woodruff | Galium odoratum | LC | herb | rubiaceae |
| dog's mercury | Mercurialis perennis | LC | herb | euphorbiaceae |
| herb paris | Paris quadrifolia | VU | herb | melanthiaceae |
| sanicle | Sanicula europaea | LC | herb | apiaceae |
| rough stalked feather moss | Brachythecium rutabulum | LC | moss | hypnales |
| common tamarisk moss | Thuidium tamariscinum | LC | moss | hypnales |
| wood sedge | Carex sylvatica | LC | sedge | cyperaceae |
| spurge laurel | Daphne laureola | LC | shrub | thymelaeaceae |
| spindle tree | Euonymus europaeus | LC | shrub | celastraceae |
| wild privet | Ligustrum vulgare | LC | shrub | oleaceae |
| sycamore | Acer pseudoplatanus | Not listed in GB list | tree | aceraceae |
| birch | Betula pendula | LC | tree | betulaceae |
| hazel | Corylus avellana | LC | tree | corylaceae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
| sessile or durmast oak | Quercus petraea | LC | tree | fagaceae |
| rowan | Sorbus aucuparia | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Oak lutestring Cymatophorina diluta |
Endangered | Quercus petraea |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| White-letter hairstreak Satyrium w-album |
Endangered | Ulmus glabra, Ulmus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Acer pseudoplatanus, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Sorbus aucuparia, Ulmus spp. |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| Bedstraw hawk-moth Hyles gallii |
Vulnerable | Galium spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp., Ulmus glabra |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Quercus spp. |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Quercus petraea |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Garden tiger Arctia caja |
Near Threatened | Sorbus aucuparia |
| Dusky-lemon sallow Cirrhia gilvago |
Near Threatened | Ulmus glabra |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Ulmus glabra |
| Kentish glory Endromis versicolora |
Near Threatened | Betula pendula |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Acer pseudoplatanus, Betula spp., Corylus avellana, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp. |
| Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria |
Near Threatened | Fraxinus excelsior |
| Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Galium spp. |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Clay fan-foot Paracolax tristalis |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Frosted green Polyploca ridens |
Near Threatened | Quercus petraea |
| Dark-barred twin-spot carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata |
Near Threatened | Galium spp. |
| White prominent Leucodonta bicoloria |
Regionally Extinct | Betula 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.