Coed-y-Werin is an area of semi-natural woodland with ponds. It is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) because of the two important habitats – wetlands and woodlands, and its variety of habitats provide homes for many types of wildlife.
There are small mammals including the Yellow Necked Mouse, as well as the endangered Hazel Dormice (we must stress these are illegal to handle without a license); reptiles such as the adder, grass snake, slow worm; bats can be seen in the late evening, and amphibians such as frogs, toads and newts are plentiful.
Wetlands
Centuries of coal and clay mining have created many wet and waterlogged areas within the site. The many old workings and their undisturbed networks of streams and ponds provide excellent habitat and breeding grounds for aquatic wildlife.
The Trust carefully manages these wet areas ensuring that there is minimal human interference and that conditions are suitable for wildlife to thrive.
Woodlands
With its mixed woodland, open sunny glades and shaded boggy areas the site provides a wide range of habitats. The stands of trees are mainly broadleaved with oak, hazel and beech being the dominant species.
Most of the conifers planted in the 1950’s have been removed but a limited number of spruce and larch have been allowed to remain to add to the diversity of the site. Most of the more recent planting has been in the form of hedging using a variety of fruiting and flowering trees for food for insects, birds and mammals, and as a safe corridor for wildlife to move and rest.
Beneath the trees you’ll find a variety of wildflowers, ferns and mosses along with spectacular fungi.The open woodland and abundant hazel, wild raspberry and honeysuckle makes this site perfect for dormice. The dormouse is an important European species and is actively encouraged and monitored by the Trust.
The Trust’s members periodically coppice areas of hazel woodlands to improve the dormouse habitat. Coppicing of hazel and other trees is a sustainable and traditional woodland management technique that offers many ecological benefits.
The area is a birdwatcher’s paradise with over 60 named species, including buzzards, woodpeckers, herons, crossbills, kingfishers, owls and hawfinches.
Look for the tiny treecreeper that climbs upwards around the tree trunk looking for insects and the flash of colour as the kingfisher flies across the pond, listen for the raven and buzzard as they circle overhead making their distinctive calls.
