Coed Allt Craig Arth

Also within

Dyfed County

Habitats

Ancient woodland, Coppiced woodland, Fast flowing river and stream

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Silurian

Description

Description A semi-natural broadleaved woodland clothing both sides of the Afon Arth Valley, overlying Silurian grits and shales. The north side of the river is predominantly pure sessile oak Quercus petraea, coppiced in places, with an understorey of hazel Corylus avellana, occasional holly Ilex aquifolium and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, and a typical herb flora normally associated with acidic western oakwoods. The south side of the river is narrower and has generally more mixed woodland. Numerous wet flushes occur, containing ash Fraxinus excelsior and several basiphilous herbs -sanicle Sanicula europaea, woodruff Galium odoratum and dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis. Occasional stands of wych elm Ulmus glabra and small-leaved lime Tilia cordata occur along the river banks with alder Alnus glutinosa on the wetter flood plains. Of special interest are the scattered groups of wild service-tree Sorbus torminalis, known only in one other wood in Ceredigion, and indicative of ancient woodland with permanent tree cover.

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