Allt y wern facts for kids

Allt y Wern is a special place in Wales. It is known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it is protected because of its important plants, animals, or geology. Allt y Wern is a woodland with many different kinds of trees that have grown mostly on their own. It covers about 6 hectares (15 acres) of land.

What is Allt y Wern?

Allt y Wern is located near the village of Llangathen in Carmarthenshire. It is also close to the River Tywi. This special woodland became an SSSI in 1973.

The site covers 6 hectares (15 acres) of woodland. You'll find old oak trees here, some of which are over 200 years old! There are also ash and hazel trees. The ground and lower plant areas are full of many different types of plants. Allt y Wern also has small streams and 'wet flush' areas. These are places where water flows in, bringing nutrients to the soil.

Why is Allt y Wern Important?

Allt y Wern is important mainly because it is a semi-natural woodland with many different types of trees. But it's also special because it has many different habitats. These habitats are important for animals like red kites. They also help special plants like the thin-spiked wood-sedge, and many kinds of mosses and lichens.

In the past, the woodland was managed using a method called 'coppice-with-standards'. This method involves cutting down older trees that haven't been cut before. This opens up space for new trees to grow. This practice stopped around 1950. It was an unusual way to manage woodlands in this part of Wales.

How is Allt y Wern Managed?

Many activities can affect Allt y Wern. Because it's an SSSI, people often need to talk to Natural Resources Wales before doing certain things. They might even need permission. There are 16 types of activities listed that need checking. These include things like farming and moving plants or animals. The rules don't stop all activities, but some might only be allowed in certain areas or at specific times of the year.

Natural Resources Wales wants to bring back the 'coppice-with-standards' method. This will help more different types of plants grow under the main trees and on the ground. Leaving more dead wood in the forest will also help insects, fungi, and birds. Having many different habitats will encourage red kites to nest and raise their young here every spring.

Sometimes, too many domestic animals or deer graze in the wood. This stops new trees from growing naturally. So, improving fences can help. There are also some non-native trees like sycamore and beech. Even in small numbers, they can create too much shade and drop lots of leaves. Grey squirrels are also present and can damage young trees.