Radnor Forest

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.2616, -3.1862

Also within

Climate exposure

This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.

Peatland

Peat habitats store centuries of carbon and depend on a stable, waterlogged water table. Warmer, drier summers dry out peat, making it far more vulnerable to wildfire and to carbon release — a pressure that can undo years of restoration work regardless of how well the site is otherwise managed.

Coastal

Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.

Habitats

Blanket bog

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Silurian · Rock Type: Shale

Landscape processes: Coastal, Karst, Peatland / Mire

Description

Description Radnor Forest lies on the highest hill block in Radnor, built of Silurian shale and rising to 661 metres. Over 405 hectares of the rounded summit ridges lie above 610 metres and support well developed submontane heath communities over thin blanket peat. The vegetation of the summit ridges is fairly uniform, and is dominated by a mixture of dwarf shrubs, heather Calluna vulgaris, crowberry Empetrum nigrum, bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus and, a feature that distinguishes it from other moorland in Radnor, cowberry Vaccinium vitis-idaea. Mixed with these dwarf shrubs are hare’s-tail cottongrass Eriophorum vaginatum, purple moor-grass Molinia caerulea, sedges (e.g. Carex binervis) and a number of mosses (e.g. Racomitrium lanuginosum) and lichens (e.g. Cladonia impexa). The dwarf shrubs are very well grown and suggest the area has suffered little from fires in the recent past and that grazing pressures are light. Purple moor-grass is but thinly scattered and does not form the extensive stands so familiar only a few miles west. Peat pools support common cottongrass Eriophorum angustifolium, the bog moss Sphagnum cuspidatum, and occasionally cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccos. The steep-sided dingles and rock outcrops of the Forest’s edge support rich plant communities, since these eastern Silurian shales are slightly calcareous. Mossy saxifrage Saxifraga hypnoides and rock stonecrop Sedum forsterianum are common on some cliff faces, with marjoram Origanum vulgare and a number of interesting mosses and liverworts – Brachydontium trichodes, Anomobryum filiforme, Encalypta ciliata, Seligeria brevifolia, Phaeoceros laevis and Porella cordaeana also occurring. Remarks: Part owned by the Forestry Commission, who lease 27 hectares to the Herefordshire and Radnorshire Nature Trust. This is managed as a nature reserve, known as Mynydd Ffoesidoes. Part registered as common land.

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
purple moor grass	Molinia caerulea	LC	grass	poaceae
wild marjoram	Origanum vulgare	LC	herb	lamiaceae
mossy saxifrage	Saxifraga hypnoides	NT	herb	saxifragaceae
cowberry	Vaccinium vitis-idaea	LC	herb	ericaceae
smooth hornwort	Phaeoceros laevis	LC	hornwort	anthocerotales
no common name	Cladonia impexa	Not listed in GB list	lichen	no common name
cliff scalewort	Porella cordaeana	LC	liverwort	jungermanniales
bristle leaf	Brachydontium trichodes	LC	moss	seligeriales
wooly fringe moss	Racomitrium lanuginosum	LC	moss	grimmiales
short rock bristle moss	Seligeria brevifolia	EN	moss	seligeriaceae
feathery bog moss	Sphagnum cuspidatum	LC	moss	sphagnales
green ribbed sedge	Carex binervis	LC	sedge	cyperaceae
common cottongrass	Eriophorum angustifolium	NT	sedge	cyperaceae
hare's-tail cottongrass	Eriophorum vaginatum	LC	sedge	cyperaceae
billberry	Vaccinium myrtillus	LC	shrub	ericaceae
cranberry	Vaccinium oxycoccos	LC	shrub	ericaceae
bell heather or ling	Calluna vulgaris	NT	shrub dwarf	ericaceae
crowberry	Empetrum nigrum	LC	shrub dwarf	empetraceae

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
Speckled footman Coscinia cribraria	Critically Endangered	Vaccinium myrtillus
Black-veined moth Siona lineata	Critically Endangered	Origanum vulgare
Chequered skipper Carterocephalus palaemon	Endangered	Molinia caerulea
Shoulder-striped clover Heliothis maritima	Endangered	Calluna vulgaris
Broom moth Ceramica pisi	Vulnerable	Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus
Large heath Coenonympha tullia	Vulnerable	Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Molinia caerulea
Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria	Vulnerable	Vaccinium myrtillus
Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata	Vulnerable	Calluna vulgaris
True lover's knot Lycophotia porphyrea	Vulnerable	Calluna vulgaris
Silver studded blue Plebejus argus	Vulnerable	Calluna vulgaris
The anomalous Stilbia anomala	Vulnerable	Molinia caerulea
Early moth Theria primaria	Vulnerable	Vaccinium myrtillus
Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi	Vulnerable	Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus
Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola	Near Threatened	Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus
Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis	Near Threatened	Vaccinium myrtillus
Rosy marsh moth Coenophila subrosea	Near Threatened	Empetrum nigrum, Eriophorum spp., Vaccinium myrtillus
Silver barred Deltote bankiana	Near Threatened	Molinia caerulea
Grey scalloped Dyscia fagaria	Near Threatened	Calluna vulgaris
The Silurian Eriopygodes imbecilla	Near Threatened	Vaccinium myrtillus
Autumnal rustic Eugnorisma glareosa	Near Threatened	Calluna vulgaris
Weaver's wave Idaea contiguaria	Near Threatened	Calluna vulgaris, Empetrum nigrum
Scotch burnet Zygaena exulans	Near Threatened	Empetrum nigrum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium vitis-idaea

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

M19 — Blanket bog, Raised bog

Calluna vulgaris-Eriophorum vaginatum blanket mire

Matches 11 species from the description above: Calluna vulgaris, Carex binervis, Cladonia impexa, Empetrum nigrum, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Molinia caerulea, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Vaccinium vitis-idaea

Show 84 indicator species

Empetrum nigrum, Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Betula nana, Arctostaphylos alpinus, Vaccinium microcarpum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex nigra, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum fuscescens, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum compactum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Calypogeia trichomanis, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Diplophyllum albicans, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia anomala, Mylia taylorii, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Ptilidium ciliare, Hypogymnia physodes, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia bellidiflora, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia floerkeana, Cladonia gracilis, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia tenuis, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Cornus suecica, Drosera rotundifolia, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Pinguicula vulgaris, Narthecium ossifragum, Neottia cordata, Potentilla erecta, Rubus chamaemorus, Galium saxatile, Melanpyrum pratense, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca vivipara, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant

M18 — Blanket bog, Raised bog

Erica tetralix-Sphagnum papillosum raised and blanket mire

Matches 10 species from the description above: Calluna vulgaris, Cladonia impexa, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Molinia caerulea, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Vaccinium vitis-idaea

Show 54 indicator species

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Andromeda polifolia, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rhynchospora alba, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum scoparium, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum pulchrum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Calypogeia muelleriana, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Cephalozia connivens, Cladopodiella fluitans, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia anomala, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Hypogymnia physodes, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia gracilis, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Drosera anglica, Drosera rotundifolia, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Narthecium ossifragum, Rubus chamaemorus, Deschampsia flexuosa, Molinia caerulea

M17 — Blanket bog

Scirpus cespitosus-Eriophorum vaginatum blanket mire

Matches 9 species from the description above: Calluna vulgaris, Cladonia impexa, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Molinia caerulea, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium vitis-idaea

Show 78 indicator species

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex demissa, Carex echinata, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rhynchospora alba, Schoenus nigricans, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula multiflora, Huperzia selago, Aulacomnium palustre, Breutelia chrysocoma, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus atrovirens, Campylopus flexuosus, Campylopus setifolius, Campylopus shawii, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum imbricatum, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum strictum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Calypogeia fissa, Diplophyllum albicans, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia anomala, Mylia taylorii, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Pleurozia purpurea, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania gracilis, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Drosera anglica, Drosera rotundifolia, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Pinguicula vulgaris, Narthecium ossifragum, Pedicularis sylvatica, Polygala serpyllifolia, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Agrostis canina, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta

M15 — Blanket bog, Raised bog, Upland wet heath

Scirpus cespitosus-Erica tetralix wet heath

Matches 8 species from the description above: Calluna vulgaris, Carex binervis, Cladonia impexa, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Molinia caerulea, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Vaccinium myrtillus

Show 95 indicator species

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex binervis, Carex demissa, Carex dioica, Carex echinata, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Carex pilulifera, Carex pulicaris, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Schoenus nigricans, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus bulbosus, Juncus conglomeratus, Juncus effusus, Juncus squarrosus, Luzula multiflora, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Breutelia chrysocoma, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus atrovirens, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum scoparium, Leucobryum glaucum, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum cupressiforme, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Scorpidium revolvens, Scorpidium scorpioides, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum compactum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum tenellum, Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophozia ventricosa, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Pleurozia purpurea, Aneura pinguis, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Succisa pratensis, Drosera anglica, Drosera rotundifolia, Hypericum pulchrum, Triglochin palustre, Pinguicula vulgaris, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Dactylorhiza maculata, Euphrasia officinalis, Pedicularis palustris, Pedicularis sylvatica, Polygala serpyllifolia, Trientalis europaea, Potentilla erecta, Galium saxatile, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Festuca vivipara, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Blechnum spicant, Pteridium aquilinum

M2 — Blanket bog, Raised bog, Valley mire

Sphagnum cuspidatum/recurvum bog pool community

Matches 7 species from the description above: Calluna vulgaris, Cladonia impexa, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Molinia caerulea, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Vaccinium oxycoccos

Show 37 indicator species

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Andromeda polifolia, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Carex canescens, Carex magellanica, Carex rostrata, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rhynchospora alba, Aulacomnium palustre, Polytrichum commune, Polytrichum strictum, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum pulchrum, Sphagnum tenellum, Cephalozia connivens, Cephalozia lunulifolia, Gymnocolea inflata, Mylia anomala, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia uncialis, Drosera anglica, Drosera intermedia, Drosera rotundifolia, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Agrostis canina, Deschampsia flexuosa, Molinia caerulea

M20 — Blanket bog, Raised bog, Valley mire

Eriophorum vaginatum blanket and raised mire

Matches 5 species from the description above: Calluna vulgaris, Cladonia impexa, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Vaccinium myrtillus

Show 43 indicator species

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Carex bigelowii, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Trichophorum cespitosum, Juncus squarrosus, Orthodontium lineare, Pohlia nutans, Campylopus flexuosus, Dicranum scoparium, Drepanocladus fluitans, Hypnum jutlandicum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fuscum, Sphagnum papillosum, Barbilophozia floerkei, Calypogeia muelleriana, Calypogeia trichomanis, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Cephaloziella hampeana, Diplophyllum albicans, Gymnocolea inflata, Kurzia pauciflora, Lophozia ventricosa, Mylia taylorii, Ptilidium ciliare, Cetraria islandica, Cladonia arbuscula, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia floerkeana, Cladonia impexa, Cladonia squamosa, Cladonia uncialis, Cornicularia aculeata, Rubus chamaemorus, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina

M25 — Blanket bog, Coastal floodplain grazing marsh, Lowland fen, Purple moor grass and rush pasture, Upland acid grassland

Molinia caerulea-Potentilla erecta mire

Matches 4 species from the description above: Calluna vulgaris, Eriophorum angustifolium, Molinia caerulea, Vaccinium oxycoccos

Show 85 indicator species

Salix cinerea, Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Vaccinium oxycoccos, Ulex europaeus, Ulex gallii, Carex echinata, Carex flacca, Carex nigra, Carex panicea, Eriophorum angustifolium, Schoenus nigricans, Juncus acutiflorus, Juncus articulatus, Juncus effusus, Juncus subnodulosus, Luzula campestris, Luzula multiflora, Aulacomnium palustre, Pohlia nutans, Calliergon giganteum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Hypnum jutlandicum, Kindbergia praelonga, Pleurozium schreberi, Pseudoscleropodium purum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Calypogeia fissa, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Lophocolea bidentata, Lophozia ventricosa, Angelica sylvestris, Carum verticillatum, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Achillea ptarmica, Centaurea nigra, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Pulicaria dysenterica, Serratula tinctoria, Cardamine pratensis, Lobelia urens, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Equisetum palustre, Lotus pedunculatus, Hypericum pulchrum, Hypericum tetrapterum, Mentha aquatica, Scutellaria minor, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Epilobium palustre, Dactylorhiza maculata, Rumex acetosa, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus flammula, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla erecta, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium palustre, Viola palustris, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis curtisii, Agrostis stolonifera, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Danthonia decumbens, Deschampsia cespitosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Nardus stricta, Phragmites australis, Dryopteris carthusiana, Osmunda regalis

M3 — Blanket bog, Raised bog

Eriophorum angustifolium bog pool community

Matches 4 species from the description above: Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Molinia caerulea, Sphagnum cuspidatum

Show 15 indicator species

Empetrum nigrum subsp.nigrum, Erica tetralix, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eriophorum vaginatum, Campylopus brevipilus, Drepanocladus fluitans, Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum papillosum, Gymnocolea inflata, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Drosera rotundifolia, Agrostis canina, Molinia caerulea

M1 — Blanket bog, Raised bog

Sphagnum auriculatum bog pool community

Matches 3 species from the description above: Eriophorum angustifolium, Molinia caerulea, Sphagnum cuspidatum

Show 30 indicator species

Erica tetralix, Myrica gale, Carex limosa, Eriophorum angustifolium, Rhynchospora alba, Rhynchospora fusca, Trichophorum cespitosum, Eleocharis multicaulis, Juncus bulbosus, Sphagnum auriculatum, Sphagnum cuspidatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum magellanicum, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum papillosum, Sphagnum pulchrum, Sphagnum subnitens, Cladopodiella fluitans, Gymnocolea inflata, Ordontoschisma sphagni, Drosera anglica, Drosera intermedia, Drosera rotundifolia, Utricularia intermedia, Utricularia minor, Menyanthes trifoliata, Narthecium ossifragum, Potamogeton polygonifolius, Scheuchzeria palustris, Molinia caerulea