Benarth Wood
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Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Silurian
Landscape processes: Coastal
Description
Description A mixed deciduous woodland on Silurian rocks adjacent to the Conwy Estuary and receiving a low rainfall. The wood is ungrazed and has a diverse ground flora and adequate tree regeneration. Oak Quercus petraea dominates the estuary edge but is elsewhere co-dominant with sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus, or Beech Fagus sylvatica. A range of shrubs comprise the understorey including elder Sambucus nigra, Holly Ilex aquifolium and hazel Corylus avellana. The nationally uncommon Wild Service Tree Sorbus torminalis occurs. Bramble is often prevalent and great Wood Rush Luzula sylvatica carpets large areas of the woodland floor adjacent to the estuary. Species such as dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis, Herb Robert Geranium robertianum and Wood Melick Melica uniflora are common. Until recently the wood supported a small heronry (heron).
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 melick | Melica uniflora | NT | grass | poaceae |
| herb Robert | Geranium robertianum | LC | herb | geraniaceae |
| dog's mercury | Mercurialis perennis | LC | herb | euphorbiaceae |
| great wood rush | Luzula sylvatica | LC | rush | juncaceae |
| elder | Sambucus nigra | LC | shrub | caprifoliaceae |
| sycamore | Acer pseudoplatanus | Not listed in GB list | tree | aceraceae |
| hazel | Corylus avellana | LC | tree | corylaceae |
| beech | Fagus sylvatica | LC | tree | fabiaceae |
| holly | Ilex aquifolium | LC | tree | aquifoliaceae |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Oak lutestring Cymatophorina diluta |
Endangered | Quercus petraea |
| Scarce vapourer Orgyia recens |
Endangered | Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp. |
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp. |
| Mottled umber Erannis defoliaria |
Vulnerable | Acer pseudoplatanus, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp. |
| The lackey Malacosoma neustria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Quercus spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Quercus spp. |
| Early moth Theria primaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus spp. |
| Pale eggar Trichiura crataegi |
Vulnerable | Corylus avellana, Quercus spp. |
| Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria |
Vulnerable | Quercus petraea |
| Flounced chestnut Agrochola helvola |
Near Threatened | Quercus spp. |
| Large thorn Ennomos autumnaria |
Near Threatened | Acer pseudoplatanus, Corylus avellana, Quercus spp. |
| September thorn Ennomos erosaria |
Near Threatened | Fagus sylvatica, Quercus spp. |
| White-spotted pug Eupithecia tripunctaria |
Near Threatened | Sambucus nigra |
| 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 |
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.