Barry woodlands are sites of special scientific interest
The Vale of Glamorgan Council has welcomed the notification of
a series of woodlands in the Barry area as sites of special
scientific interest.
The designation by the Countryside Council for Wales covers just
over 120 hectares in two areas - Pencoedtre Wood and
Coe-yr-Argae to the east and Middleton Wood, Coed Mawr, Coed Bach,
Coed-y-Capel and Lidmore Wood to the west.
The CCW assessment of woodlands across the Barry area was
prompted by the council's own research as part of its consideration
of a planning application for part of the Pencoedtre Wood area.
This will be considered by the authority's Planning Committee at a
later date.
Deputy Leader Cllr Neil Moore said: "This designation affords
legal protection to the woodlands and will result in their positive
management."
CCW regional manager (south and east) Dr Maggie Hill said: "We
are keen to work in co-operation with the council to ensure
continuing appropriate management and thereby safeguard the special
interest for future generations."
The decision means that the CCW must be notified of any intended
operations or changes of use of the designated woodlands comprising
14 separate blocks.
Looking at the whole area, the CCW refer to the ash dominated
series of woodlands and their rich ground flora as the "best
example of this habitat in Wales."
Some 150 different plants have been recorded, making the
woodlands one of the most species rich of any type found in Wales.
Rare woodland plants include greater butterfly orchid, thin spiked
wood sedge, wood millet, early purple orchid, twayblade, herb
paris, goldilocks buttercup and sanicle.
Flushes, streams and small humid ravines add to the ecological
diversity of the woodlands, say CCW.