Gweunydd Penstrowed
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Description
Description The site consists of two discrete steeply sloping fields on either side of a dingle. Their aspects are predominantly north-facing and south-facing respectively. Much of the site is poorly drained, with wet flushes occurring particularly in the north-facing field, but steep banks provide drier habitat in places. The site is used as rough pasture for cattle. The sward is of bents and fescues (Agrostis/Festuca), but with a range of other grass species including cock’s-foot Dactylis glomerata, crested dog's-tail Cynosurus cristatus and wavy hair-grass Deschampsia flexuosa. Quaking-grass Briza media is particularly well represented in the southern (north-facing) field. The plant communities represented here differ according to variations in drainage and in the base-status of the soil. They vary from the more acid types of sward, typified by tormentil/mat-grass Potentilla erecta/Nardus stricta with eyebright Euphrasia officinalis or devil's-bit scabious Succisa pratensis, to more neutral components typified by zones dominated by common knapweed Centaurea nigra in which both primrose Primula vulgaris and cowslip P. veris are well represented. Rush-dominated flushes with tall-herbs and sedges add further diversity. Orchid species recorded from the site include the uncommon lesser butterfly-orchid Platanthera bifolia. Butterfly species recorded from the site include the small skipper Thymelicus sylvestris and common blue Polyommatus icarus.
Species mentioned
Show the 13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| common blue | Polyommatus icarus | LC | butterfly | lycaenidae |
| small skipper | Thymelicus sylvestris | LC | butterfly | hesperiidae |
| quaking grass | Briza media | VU | grass | poaceae |
| crested dog's tail | Cynosurus cristatus | LC | grass | poaceae |
| cock's foot | Dactylis glomerata | LC | grass | poaceae |
| wavy hair grass | Deschampsia flexuosa | Not listed in GB list | grass | poaceae |
| mat grass | Nardus stricta | LC | grass | poaceae |
| black knapweed | Centaurea nigra | LC | herb | asteraceae |
| English sticky eyebright | Euphrasia officinalis | LC | herb | orobanchaceae |
| lesser butterfly orchid | Platanthera bifolia | VU | herb | orchidaceae |
| tormentil | Potentilla erecta | LC | herb | rosaceae |
| primrose | Primula vulgaris | LC | herb | primulaceae |
| devils-bit scabious | Succisa pratensis | VU | herb | caprifoliaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Black-veined moth Siona lineata |
Critically Endangered | Centaurea nigra |
| Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina |
Endangered | Primula vulgaris |
| Marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia |
Vulnerable | Succisa pratensis |
| Satyr pug Eupithecia satyrata |
Vulnerable | Centaurea spp. |
| Grizzled skipper Pyrgus malvae |
Vulnerable | Potentilla erecta |
| Hedge rustic Tholera cespitis |
Vulnerable | Nardus stricta |
| Large nutmeg Apamea anceps |
Near Threatened | Dactylis glomerata |
| Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus |
Near Threatened | Cynosurus cristatus, Nardus stricta |
| Small mountain ringlet Erebia epiphron |
Near Threatened | Nardus stricta |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Centaurea spp. |
| Scarce forester Jordanita globulariae |
Near Threatened | Centaurea nigra |
| Wall Lasiommata megera |
Near Threatened | Dactylis glomerata |
| Rosy minor Litoligia literosa |
Near Threatened | Dactylis glomerata |
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.