Coed Ffordd-Las

Also within

Clwyd County

Habitats

Fast flowing river and stream

Description

Description A biological site selected to represent a type of broadleaved woodland which is uncommon in North Wales. The woodland is situated in a steep sided stream valley at low altitude and with a low rainfall. The soils are predominantly of an acid nature with a tree canopy dominated by sessile oak Quercus petraea and sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus. Other tree species present include ash Fraxinus excelsior and wych elm Ulmus glabra. The woodland has a good structural diversity with a shrub layer consisting of holly Ilex aquifolium, rowan Sorbus aucuparia and hazel Corylus avellana. A number of dead elms are the result of dutch elm disease. Many trees have climbers such as ivy Hedera helix and honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum. The ground flora is dominated by wood rush Luzula sylvatica and bramble Rubus fruticosus. Several species occur which reflect more basic, nutrient-rich soils including ramsons Allium ursinum, harts tongue fern Asplenium scolopendrium and wood avens Geum urbanum. Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta are abundant, together with other woodland species such as giant fescue Schedonorus giganteus and dogs mercury Mercurialis perennis.

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