LLYNCLYS COMMON

Llynclys Hill has everything - woods, meadows, scrub, screes, old quarries, sunny glades, a pond and big skies. Its extraordinary variety of habitats make it a fantastic place for birds, plants, butterflies, moths and so, of course, for botanists, birdwatchers and all keen naturalists. It's also wonderful for children, ideal for hide-and-seek, kite flying and picnics.

The vegetation here has changed radically over the last century. The entire hill was once clear pasture, grazed by sheep, ponies, cattle and pigs belonging to registered commoners. But as the grazing beasts were withdrawn, so the scrub and woodland moved in until barely a patch of its ancient, springy turf survived. It is thanks to the close involvement of the reserve wardens and dogged efforts by Trust volunteers that glades stayed open.

Today things are looking much brighter on the hill. Fencing has once again made it possible to graze animals here and the result is a wide swathe of herb-rich, closely nibbled grassland and big views.

A few dedicated people also carry out "patch wardening", whereby they look after one small glade,

keeping it clear of bracken and scrub so the green woodpeckers can come and peck out the ants from the anthills, the foxes can sunbathe, and butterflies bask on their favourite flowers.

Limestone brings light to the eyes of botanists and nowhere more so than Llynclys Common. More than 300 plant species have been recorded here including fairy flax, eyebright, 12 kinds of orchid, seven types of St John's wort and six violet species.

The purchase of Crickheath Hill in 2004 added a further 12 hectares to this nature reserve. Here you will find woodland with craggy limestone outcrops, trailing, twisted stems of honeysuckle dangling from the branches of ash and oak. There are also small areas of meadow, with orchids and other wild flowers.

A leaflet with a map and information about this reserve can be downloaded here.