Cadnant Dingle
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Geology & landscape
Geological Feature: Rock Outcrop
Landscape processes: Volcanic / Igneous
Description
Description Cadnant Dingle, a woodland in a narrow valley near Llandegfan, has been selected as a representative example of the Brachypodium sylvaticum - Quercus/Fraxinus (slender false brome -oak/ash) group of broadleaved woodlands. For the most part the woodland is situated on the steeply sloping valley sides of the Dingle and the principle canopy-forming trees are ash Fraxinus excelsior, wych elm Ulmus glabra, sessile oak Quercus petraea and birch Betula, whilst hazel Corylus avellana with hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and elder Sambucus nigra are characteristic of the understorey. The soil conditions are variable and base-rich volcanic intrusions outcrop locally in the valley. The ground flora includes a range of woodland herbs and corns and is notably rich in bryophytes amongst which there are a number of locally uncommon species such as Lophocolea fragrans, Marchesinia mackaii and Fissidens celticus. It is also one of the few remaining localities in the area which is still frequented by red squirrel.
Species mentioned
Show the 10 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 false brome | Brachypodium sylvaticum | LC | grass | poaceae |
| fragrant crestwort | Lophocolea fragrans | LC | liverwort | jungermanniales |
| Mackay's pouncewort | Marchesinia mackaii | LC | liverwort | jungermanniales |
| Welsh pocket moss | Fissidens celticus | LC | moss | dicranales |
| hawthorn | Crataegus monogyna | LC | shrub | rosaceae |
| elder | Sambucus nigra | LC | shrub | caprifoliaceae |
| hazel | Corylus avellana | LC | tree | corylaceae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
| sessile or durmast oak | Quercus petraea | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chequered skipper Carterocephalus palaemon |
Endangered | Brachypodium sylvaticum |
| Oak lutestring Cymatophorina diluta |
Endangered | Quercus petraea |
| Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala |
Endangered | Crataegus spp. |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Crataegus monogyna |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| White-letter hairstreak Satyrium w-album |
Endangered | Ulmus glabra, Ulmus spp. |
| Mouse moth Amphipyra tragopoginis |
Vulnerable | Crataegus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Ulmus spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Grayling Hipparchia semele |
Vulnerable | Brachypodium sylvaticum |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus spp., Ulmus glabra |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp. |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus petraea |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Grey chi Antitype chi |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| Dusky-lemon sallow Cirrhia gilvago |
Near Threatened | Ulmus glabra |
| The sallow Cirrhia icteritia |
Near Threatened | Ulmus glabra |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria |
Near Threatened | Fraxinus excelsior |
| Grey pug Eupithecia subfuscata |
Near Threatened | Crataegus monogyna |
| White-spotted pug Eupithecia tripunctaria |
Near Threatened | Sambucus nigra |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Crataegus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp. |
| Wall Lasiommata megera |
Near Threatened | Brachypodium sylvaticum |
| Clay fan-foot Paracolax tristalis |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Frosted green Polyploca ridens |
Near Threatened | Quercus petraea |
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.