Alyn Valley Woods and Alyn Gorge Caves

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Alyn Valley Woods and Alyn Gorge Caves
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Devil's Gorge, near Loggerheads - DSC06397.JPG
Devil's Gorge
Wales location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within Wales
Location Clwyd
Grid reference SJ1800864866
Coordinates 53°10′28″N3°13′41″W / 53.174561°N 3.2281478°W / 53.174561; -3.2281478 Coordinates: 53°10′28″N3°13′41″W / 53.174561°N 3.2281478°W / 53.174561; -3.2281478
InterestBiological and Geology
Area191.1 ha
Notification 1 January 1957
River Alyn near Loggerheads River Alyn near Loggerheads - geograph.org.uk - 1328002.jpg
River Alyn near Loggerheads

Alyn Valley Woods and Alyn Gorge Caves is a Site of Special Scientific Interest [1] on the border of Flintshire and Denbighshire in north Wales. Most of the site is also designated as the Alyn Valley Woods Special Area of Conservation [2] and the southern part includes Loggerheads Country Park. The SSSI has an area of 190.3 hectares while the SAC covers 168.3 hectares. [1] [2]

A large part of the site is covered by broadleaved woodland with sessile oak, ash and sycamore among the dominant tree species. [1] Notable plants in the woods include stinking hellebore, green-flowered helleborine and wayfaring tree. [2] There are also areas of calcareous grassland with plants such as bloody cranesbill and lesser meadow-rue. [1] Much of the site lies on an escarpment of Carboniferous limestone and there are three cave systems: Ogof Hesp Alyn, Ogof Hen Ffynhonnau and Ogof Nadolig. [1] Lead ore, zinc ore, limestone and calcite were formerly mined in the area. [1]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Alyn Valley Woods and Alyn Gorge Caves (PDF)". Site of Special Scientific Interest Citation. Countryside Council for Wales. Retrieved 7 May 2014.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. 1 2 3 "Alyn Valley Woods". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 7 May 2014.