Coed Cae-Awr
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Habitats
Description
Description A small area of predominantly oak woodland on a rocky knoll in the Llugwy Valley. Other trees present include some ash Fraxinus excelsior, willows Salix spp. hazel Corylus avellana and the locally uncommon bird cherry Prunus padus. Many of the oaks have outstanding epiphytic lichen populations; the lobarian community is magnificently developed with abundant lungwort Lobaria pulmonaria and L.amplissima but lesser amounts of L.scrobiculata. Associated species include Sticta limbata, Stachys sylvatica and Parmeliella plumbea, all lichens confined to the western parts of Britain and now uncommon. The parmelion lichen community is also well represented, with such species as Parmelia laevigatum and the very uncommon P. taylorensis and P. cetrarioides. The presence of some waterlogged ground, mainly in the form of willow carr, around the base of this rocky knoll is important in maintaining humidity which is essential for such lichens to establish on new trees. Remarks: Within the Snowdonia National Park
Species mentioned
Show the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hedge woundwort | Stachys sylvatica | LC | herb | lamiaceae |
| tree lungwort | Lobaria pulmonaria | LC | lichen | no common name |
| no common name | Parmeliella plumbea | Not listed in GB list | lichen | no common name |
| floury sticta | Sticta limbata | LC | lichen | no common name |
| hazel | Corylus avellana | LC | tree | corylaceae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
| bird cherry | Prunus padus | LC | tree | rosaceae |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Figure of eight Diloba caeruleocephala |
Endangered | Prunus spp. |
| The lappet Gastropacha quercifolia |
Endangered | Prunus spp. |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Corylus avellana |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Prunus padus |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Prunus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Corylus avellana, Prunus spp. |
| Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria |
Near Threatened | Fraxinus excelsior |
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.