Coed Pwllgwyn - Afonwen, Caerwys

Site Description

The wood lies on the moderately steep, south facing sandstone scarp above the Chwiler Valley, with free-draining soils. Overlooking the Clwydian Range Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Coed Pwllgwyn is part of a generally well-wooded landscape with the surrounding land use being predominately pasture. Apart from a row of mature oaks and sycamore along the southern boundary, the wood consists of ash, oak and sycamore regrowth from felling in the 1960's and 70's. Understorey includes hazel, holly, elder and hawthorn, and ash regeneration is good. The varied ground flora includes bluebell, dog's mercury, wood melick and nettle-leaved bellflower.

Key features at the site are:

- Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland - structurally diverse with two NVC woodland communities present (upland mixed ashwood and upland oakwood) and a diverse ground flora reflecting changes in underlying geology.

- Public Access- the site is well used, being easily accessible via the public footpath network from the village of Caerwys to the north. Both the public footpath and the circular path created by the Trust are well used.