Aberduna

The sheer variety of trees, plants, birds and butterflies fills this reserve with year-round colour – and enjoy fantastic views of the Clwydian Range!

Location

Gwernymynydd
Maeshafn
Denbighshire

CH7 5LD

OS Map Reference

SJ205617
OS Explorer Map 265

Gwybod cyn i chi fynd

Maint

20 hectares

Pris mynediad

Manylion parcio

Parking is sometimes available at the Wildlife Trust office on the R at the first sharp bend; if not, please park in the village of Maeshafn and use the map provided to find one of the entrances to the reserve.

Anifeiliaid pori

Sheep, all year round. Ponies, August to December. Do not approach the ponies or sheep that graze the site.

Llwybrau cerdded

On public footpaths, steep in places

Mynediad

Footpaths pass through the reserve but can be steep, and the terrain is not suitable for prams or wheelchairs.

Cŵn

Ar dennyn

When to visit

Amseroedd agor

Open at all times

Amser gorau i ymweld

All year round

Am dan y warchodfa

Aberduna is a striking 20-hectare reserve offering stunning views across the Alyn valley to Moel Famau and the Clwydian Range. The entire site is underlain by limestone, which strongly influences the habitats found on the reserve: woodland with glades, scrub, bracken, calcareous grassland, areas of exposed limestone and small ponds. During spring and summer the site is full of wildflowers – bluebell, early purple orchid, fragrant orchid, cowslip, common rock-rose and moonwort within the grassland areas, and upland enchanter’s nightshade, herb-paris, wood sorrel, wood anemone and goldilocks buttercup within the woodland. Dog-violets grow in the dappled shade of the coppiced woodland and bracken, providing food for the caterpillars of small pearl-bordered fritillary butterflies.

Grazing grassland, thinning trees
The diverse plant community present on the dry limestone grassland is maintained primarily by ponies and sheep, which generally graze from September to March. Bracken and scrub is prevented from becoming too dominant to benefit the wildflowers. Glade creation and tree thinning occurs within the mixed broadleaved woodland to create a mix of tree ages and heights as well as encourage native ground flora to flourish. Logs and branches are left on the woodland floor to provide deadwood habitat for fungi and invertebrates as well as hibernation sites for amphibians.

Did you know?
The limestone that underlies Aberduna was formed by the remains of marine animals and plants that lived 350 million years ago when this land lay south of the equator under warm tropical seas.

Directions
Aberduna is 3 miles South West of Mold. From Mold, follow the A494 and take the Left turning to Maeshafn after passing through Gwernymynydd.