Sugar Loaf Woodlands
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Sandstone
Description
Description Three extensive areas of ancient coppice woodland (St Mary’s Vale, Twyn-yr-Allt and The Park) on the south and east slopes of the Sugar Loaf Mountain on Brownstones of the Old Red Sandstone Series. Most of the woodland is dominated by sessile oak Quercus petraea which gives way to pedunculate oak Q robur and hybrids on the lower slopes. Local areas of alder Alnus glutinosa and beech Fagus sylvatica occur alongside streams. There is a characteristic acidopholous ground flora with large areas dominated by bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus and wavy hairgrass Deschampsia flexuosa which changes to more luxuriant herb, fern and bryophyte communities on the flushed lower slopes and streamsides. Epiphytic lichens are abundant, particularly on the trees of the upper slopes. Remarks: Within Brecon Beacons National Park.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| wavy hair grass | Deschampsia flexuosa | Not listed in GB list | grass | poaceae |
| billberry | Vaccinium myrtillus | LC | shrub | ericaceae |
| alder | Alnus glutinosa | LC | tree | salicaceae |
| beech | Fagus sylvatica | LC | tree | fabiaceae |
| sessile or durmast oak | Quercus petraea | LC | tree | fagaceae |
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 |
| Oak lutestring Cymatophorina diluta |
Endangered | Quercus petraea |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Alnus glutinosa, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp. |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Alnus glutinosa, Quercus spp. |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus petraea |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp., Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Beaded chestnut Agrochola lychnidis |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Rosy marsh moth Coenophila subrosea |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Dingy mocha Cyclophora pendularia |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa |
| Kentish glory Endromis versicolora |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Alnus glutinosa, Quercus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp. |
| The Silurian Eriopygodes imbecilla |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
| Double dart Graphiphora augur |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Clay fan-foot Paracolax tristalis |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Frosted green Polyploca ridens |
Near Threatened | Quercus petraea |
| Scotch burnet Zygaena exulans |
Near Threatened | Vaccinium myrtillus |
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.