Priory Wood
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Habitats
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Silurian
Description
Description The best remaining example of ancient semi-natural woodland on the Silurian rocks of the Usk Inlier. Woodland types range from oak Quercus robur and Q. petraea and birch Betula pendula and Betula pubescens in the west to ash Fraxinus excelsior/wych elm Ulmus glabra dominated woodland with a rich ground flora in the east.
Species mentioned
Show the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| birch | Betula pendula | LC | tree | betulaceae |
| downy birch | Betula pubescens | LC | tree | betulaceae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
| common oak | Quercus robur | LC | tree | fagaceae |
| 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 robur |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Betula spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| White-letter hairstreak Satyrium w-album |
Endangered | Ulmus glabra, Ulmus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp., Ulmus glabra |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Betula spp., Quercus spp. |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Betula pendula, Quercus robur |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Light crimson underwing Catocala promissa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Dark crimson underwing Catocala sponsa |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Dusky-lemon sallow Cirrhia gilvago |
Near Threatened | Ulmus glabra |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Ulmus glabra |
| Heart moth Dicycla oo |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Kentish glory Endromis versicolora |
Near Threatened | Betula pendula, Betula pubescens |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., 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. |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Betula spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Clay fan-foot Paracolax tristalis |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Common fan-foot Pechipogo strigilata |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| Frosted green Polyploca ridens |
Near Threatened | Quercus robur |
| 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.