Coed Llechwedd

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 52.8679, -4.0881

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Cave / Cavern

Landscape processes: Karst

Birds & fish recorded

Birds

SpeciesSeason
buzzard Breeding
pied flycatcher Breeding
redstart Breeding
wood warbler Breeding

Description

Description An important woodland for invertebrates and for breeding birds. Coed Llechwedd has nine recorded invertebrates, mainly non-insects, which have a limited British distribution. They include three snails, the tree snail Balea perversa, brown snail Zenobiella subrufescens and silky snail Ashfordia granulata, five species of fungus gnat including the usually cave-dwelling Speolepta leptogaster, and a cranefly. It is the fourth most important woodland in Gwynedd for breeding birds, including pied flycatcher, redstart, wood warbler, Buzzard, Tawny Owl, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Raven. There is a small heronry (heron), usually with less than 10 pairs. Located on a steep slope, much of the higher parts are developed on acid rocks where sessile oak Quercus petraea dominates the canopy with common woodland mosses, areas of bracken and some Blackthorn Prunus spinosa scrub. The rest of the wood is on richer soils overlying manganese shales with Ash Fraxinus excelsior, wych elm Ulmus glabra and hazel Corylus avellana, occasional shrubs such as spindle Euonymus europaeus and flowering plants including Ramsons Allium ursinum and sweet woodruff Galium odoratum. An uncommon subspecies of wood stitchwort Stellaria nemorum ssp. glochidisperma is recorded. Alder Alnus glutinosa is common in the wetter parts; cliffs boulder screes and streams add diversity. Ferns and lichens such as Lungwort Lobaria pulmonaria frequently grow as epiphytes on trees. Sheep grazing, particularly in the northern half of the wood, is preventing tree regeneration and has resulted in much bare ground, contributing to the abundance of foxglove Digitalis purpurea.

Species mentioned

English name
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Latin name
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IUCN / Red List Type Family
pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca VU (Breeding) bird-robin muscicapidae
redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus LC (Breeding) bird-robin muscicapidae
wood warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix VU (Breeding) bird-warbler phylloscopidae
ramson Allium ursinum LC herb liliaceae
foxglove Digitalis purpurea LC herb plantaginaceae
woodruff Galium odoratum LC herb rubiaceae
wood stitchwort Stellaria nemorum LC herb carophyllacaea
tree lungwort Lobaria pulmonaria LC lichen no common name
brown snail Zenobiella subrufescens Not listed in GB list mollusc hygromiidae
spindle tree Euonymus europaeus LC shrub celastraceae
blackthorn Prunus spinosa LC shrub rosaceae
silky snail Ashfordia granulata LC snail hygromiidae
alder Alnus glutinosa LC tree salicaceae
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.

SpeciesStatusVia host-plant
Oak lutestring
Cymatophorina diluta
Endangered Quercus petraea
Figure of eight
Diloba caeruleocephala
Endangered Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
The lappet
Gastropacha quercifolia
Endangered Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp.
Heath fritillary
Melitaea athalia
Endangered Digitalis purpurea
Scarce vapourer
Orgyia recens
Endangered Alnus glutinosa, Corylus avellana, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
Black hairstreak
Satyrium pruni
Endangered Prunus spinosa
White-letter hairstreak
Satyrium w-album
Endangered Ulmus glabra, Ulmus spp.
The sprawler
Asteroscopus sphinx
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
Broom moth
Ceramica pisi
Vulnerable Ulmus spp.
Mottled umber
Erannis defoliaria
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
Satyr pug
Eupithecia satyrata
Vulnerable Galium spp.
Bedstraw hawk-moth
Hyles gallii
Vulnerable Galium spp.
The lackey
Malacosoma neustria
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
Pale brindled
Phigalia pilosaria
Vulnerable Alnus glutinosa, Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp., Ulmus glabra
Brown hairstreak
Thecla betulae
Vulnerable Prunus spinosa
Early moth
Theria primaria
Vulnerable Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Pale eggar
Trichiura crataegi
Vulnerable Corylus avellana, Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp.
Oak hook-tip
Watsonalla binaria
Vulnerable Quercus petraea
Flounced chestnut
Agrochola helvola
Near Threatened Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
Beaded chestnut
Agrochola lychnidis
Near Threatened Stellaria spp.
Grey chi
Antitype chi
Near Threatened Digitalis purpurea
Garden tiger
Arctia caja
Near Threatened Prunus spinosa
Dusky-lemon sallow
Cirrhia gilvago
Near Threatened Ulmus glabra
The sallow
Cirrhia icteritia
Near Threatened Ulmus glabra
Dingy mocha
Cyclophora pendularia
Near Threatened Alnus glutinosa
Kentish glory
Endromis versicolora
Near Threatened Alnus glutinosa
Large thorn
Ennomos autumnaria
Near Threatened Alnus glutinosa, Corylus avellana, Prunus spinosa, Prunus spp., Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
September thorn
Ennomos erosaria
Near Threatened Quercus spp.
Dusky thorn
Ennomos fuscantaria
Near Threatened Fraxinus excelsior
Autumnal rustic
Eugnorisma glareosa
Near Threatened Galium spp.
Grey pug
Eupithecia subfuscata
Near Threatened Prunus spinosa
Double dart
Graphiphora augur
Near Threatened Prunus spinosa, Quercus spp., Ulmus spp.
Clay fan-foot
Paracolax tristalis
Near Threatened Quercus spp.
Frosted green
Polyploca ridens
Near Threatened Quercus petraea
Dark-barred twin-spot carpet
Xanthorhoe ferrugata
Near Threatened Galium spp.

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

W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub

Matches 6 species from the description above: Allium ursinum, Corylus avellana, Euonymus europaeus, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Ulmus glabra

Hedera helix, Salix cinerea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Malus sylvestris, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus procera, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Juncus effusus, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhynchostegium confertum, Tamus communis, Heracleum sphondylium, Torilis japonica, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria media agg., Calystegia sepium, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Lamium purpureum, Origanum vulgare, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Poterium sanguisorba, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubia peregrina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis erecta, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris filix-mas

W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub

Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub

Matches 3 species from the description above: Corylus avellana, Digitalis purpurea, Prunus spinosa

Hedera helix, Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Ulex europaeus, Prunus spinosa, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium striatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Achillea millefolium, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Armeria maritima, Rumex acetosa, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris filix-mas

W25 — Bracken scrub

Pteridium aquilinum-Rubus fruticosus underscrub

Matches 3 species from the description above: Digitalis purpurea, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa

Hedera helix, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Sambucus nigra, Ulex europaeus, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Luzula multiflora, Mnium hornum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Conopodium majus, Heracleum sphondylium, Arum maculatum, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Silene dioica, Stellaria holostea, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Glechoma hederacea, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Chamerion angustifolium, Circaea lutetiana, Digitalis purpurea, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Potentilla erecta, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Galium mollugo sens.lat., Galium saxatile, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas

W20 — Montane scrub

Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub

Salix arbuscula, Salix cinerea, Salix lapponum, Salix myrsinites, Salix phylicifolia, Salix reticulata, Empetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Salix lanata, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex atrata, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Philonotis fontana, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum bonjeanii, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens adianthoides, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Palustriella commutatum, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Scorpidium revolvens, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum teres, Barbilophozia barbata, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila porelloides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania undulata, Cladonia squamosa, Peltigera canina, Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Hieraclium spp., Saussurea alpina, Solidago virgaurea, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Rhodiola rosea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Dactylorhiza viridis, Euphrasia officinalis, Rhinanthus minor, Oxalis acetosella, Oxyria digyna, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla glabra, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Dryopteris dilatata, Phegopteris connectilis