Coed y Bwl

Nuthatch

Jon Hawkins

The reserve has been closed due to the presence of Ash Dieback in the trees, but some parts of the reserve have been temporarily reopened so that visitors can enjoy the Wild daffodil display! If you go to visit, please make sure to stick to the paths and parts of the reserve that are open.

Coed y Bwl is an ancient Ash woodland situated on the northwest side of the Alun Valley and overlies the Carboniferous limestone. The site is a notified SSSI.

Location

Cardiff and Bridgend, Castle Upon Alun

OS Map Reference

Main entrance: SS909749, Site centre: SS909751.
A static map of Coed y Bwl

Know before you go

Size
2 hectares
P

Parking information

Parking is afforded in the lay-by opposite the bridge.

Access

1 km east of St. Bride’s Major, 3 km south of Bridgend. Minor roads leading north into the Alun Valley from the B426 between St. Bride’s Major and Wick, allow access to the reserve.

Inaccessible to wheelchairs, but the spring ground flora can easily be seen from the road.

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Temporarily reopened to the public.

Best time to visit

Full season

About the reserve

The wood was dominated by Elm at the southern end, grading into Ash and Sycamore towards the north, with an understorey of Field Maple. Since the decline of the Elm due to Dutch Elm disease the southern end of the reserve has been clear felled, and replanted with Ash, Common Lime and Wild Cherry.

The reserve is best known as a Wild Daffodil wood, with these flowers dominating the field layer on the southern part of the wood in early spring together with Wood Anemone, whilst on the northern slopes Bluebell predominate.

The wood supports a range of woodland birds including Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Marsh Tit and Great Tit, augmented in the summer months by Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff. Birds of prey include Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. Tawny Owls are also resident.

Mammals include Badger, Fox, Stoat, Hedgehog, Long-tailed Field Mouse, Bank Vole, Grey Squirrel and Mole.

Download the site map