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Ceunant Llennyrch National Nature Reserve is one of several woodland reserves in the Vale of Ffestiniog in Gwynedd, Wales and runs from Trawsfynydd Lake to the River Dwyryd, near the village of Maentwrog.
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The reserve’s broad expanse of woodland coats a spectacularly steep gorge, through which the stunning Afon Prysor waterfall cascades. At one point, the river is flanked by one hundred feet (30m) high cliffs, which face each other only 10 metres (35 feet) apart. The high humidity offered by the falls creates the perfect environment for numerous damp-loving plants.
BackgroundEdit
In December 2015, the 550-acre forest was bought for a price of £1 million by The Woodland Trust. The woodland has been there since the last Ice Age, and is so deep that apparently some parts are untouched by humans. Parts of the reserve are to be opened to the public in due course.
WildlifeEdit
Not too much is known about this little-explored area of woodland, but somethings have been discovered over recent years.
FloraEdit
The forest is exceptionally damp, creating the perfect habitat for nature to flourish. There are over 200 species of liverwort, many forms of moss and lichen too. Trees include Sessile Oaks, as well as Beech, Rowan and Silver Birch. Lichens form on these birch, such as Graphina ruiziana and Parmeliella Horrescens. However, the conditions are not kind too flowering plants, to the shady and damp nature of the environment.
FaunaEdit
The animals of the woodland are also thriving, with many small mammals such as the wood mouse, otter and bank vole making their homes near the river. Otters have difficulty with food, as the acidic rivers mean that fish are not in abundance. The trees are alive with birdsong, with woodpeckers, redstarts and European pied flycatchers being the most common. In terms of predators, the mice and voles are easy prey for a buzzard, which are frequently spotted.