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JNCC habitat mapping is a rapid though fairly detailed mapping of vegetation habitats on the ground.

Survey Notes #

.. Figure:: ../images/OS_mynyddllangednai_smll.jpg :width: 300 :height: 453

Fig: Sketch map, survey area, Mynndd Llangednai

Access #

Restricted to paths. Varied vantage points were selected to map the area. Distances were gauged by pacing.

Soil #

Brown earth, podzoidal, thin. Rocks break upon surface in places. Cambrian age sedimentary mudstone, and siltstone.

Boundaries #

Upper slope boundary adjacent to conifer plantation, including some deciduous trees. Some stone walls. Semi-improved grassland at lower northern boundary. Well marked pathways at edge, indicating frequent or habitual use. Nearby small settlements and farm houses. Springs at the edge of boundaries.

Features #

Sheep and ponies. One grazing pony visible. Narrow animal track running through the N. W. corner and occupying 3-4% of area. Apparently a sheep track.

Other small trees and shrubs, close to quadrat; Hawthorn, Sycamore and Sloe. These indicate succession of invasive scrub, and possibly associated species.

Vegetation Sampling, Mynydd Llangedai #

Method #

10 metre square and larger homogeneous vegetation habitats were recorded. Ecotones not surveyed.

This NVC survey was conducted according to the methodology described in Rodwell, 1998. Our group was split into 5 teams and each team surveyed one quadrat each on three types of vegetation cover. We endeavoured to survery only homogeneous vegetation and avoid edge areas (ecotones), where vegetation is beginning to change into a different phytosociological community. Where it was felt that the quadrat may not fully represent the vegetation type additional notes were recorded, according to features present, or adjoining vegetative cover.

Quadrat 1 #

2x 2m Gorse and Heather Heathland

=================== =================== ======= ========= Common Name Scientific Name % Cover Dominant =================== =================== ======= ========= Common Heather Calluna vulgaris 65 8 Western Gorse Ulex gallii 40 7 Purple Moor-grass Molinia coerulea 25 5 Moss spagnum sp. 6 4 Cross-leaved Heath Erica tetralix 1 1 Sheeps Fescu Festuca ovina 1 1 Bell Heather Erica cinerea 1 1 Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus 1 1 =================== =================== ======= =========

Quadrat 2 #

2x2m Narrow strip of Bog sloping eastwards

===================== ========================= ======= ========= Common Name Scientific Name Cover% Dominant ===================== ========================= ======= ========= Sheeps fescu Festuca ovina 50 7 Purple Moor-grass Molinea coerulea 40 7 Cross-leaved Heath Erica tetralix 20 5 Bog Asphodel Narthecium ossifragum 15 5 Moss Sphagnum sp. 15 5 Carnation Sedge Carex panicea 10 4 Tormentil Potentilla erecta 1 1 Devil’s-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis 1 1 Bulbous Rush Juncus bulbosus 1 1 Heath Milkwort Polygala serphyllifolia 1 1 ===================== ========================= ======= =========

Quadrat 3 #

4x4m Heath with scattered trees and shrubs sloping south east

=================== ==================== ======= ========= Common Name Scientific Name % Cover Dominant =================== ==================== ======= ========= Downy Birch Betula pubescens 20 5 Bracken Pteridium aquilinum 15 5 Moss Shagnum sp. 15 5 Yorkshire Fog Holcus lanatus 15 5 Bramble Rubus fruticosus 10 4 Creeping Bent Agrostis stolonifera 5 4 Wood Sorrel Oxalis acetosella 5 4 Tormentil Potentilla erecta 3 3 Heath Bedstraw Galium saxitile 3 3 Common Sorrel Rumex acetosa 1 1 Wood Sage Teucrium scorodonia 1 1 Ivy Hedera helix 1 1 Foxglove Digitalis purpurea 1 1 Slime Mould unclassified 1 1 =================== ==================== ======= =========

Management Notes, Mynydd Llangedai #

The Mynydd Llangedai Common is small, possibly a fragmented remnant. Scrub invasion indicates reduced use as a grazed heath in the past fifty years. Bracken indicates former woodland. The adjacent conifer woodland appears to have been replanted, containing some deciduous species.

Target notes #

Bold alphanumeric codes in brackets denote Phase 1 NVC designations, according to dominant species and abundance as % coverage. These codes are used on the schematic map attached Appendix 1). The notes includes species of interest, plus dominant species.

Mire, flush acid (E2.1) #

Thinner soil, flushes with small water courses.
Indicators: Potamogetan polygonifolius (Bog pondweed), acid pools. * Nasturtium officinale (Watercress), prefers running water. Absence of Bog asphodel (Narthecium ossifragrum).
Some Ulex galii, (Summer gorse) in clumps.
Hypericum elodes (Bog St. John’s wort), Juncus effusus (Soft rush) Lotus alginosus (Larger Birds foot trefoil).
Other species of note: Ranunculus flamula (Lesser spearwort), R. lingua (Greater spearwort), Prunella vulgaris (Selfheal), Cirsuim palustra (Marsh thistle).

Grassland, acid, unimproved with scattered bracken (B1.1/C1.2) #

This area shows evidence of recent grazing, possibly by sheep, and clearing of bracken by hand. Fairly uniform.

Heath, dry Acid dwarf shrub/Scrub, scattered (D1.1/A2.2) #

Dominated by gorse. Some common heather.

Heath, dry Acid dwarf (D1.1) #

A small number of Betula pubescens (Downy birch) stand here. Stream passes at edge.

Dense scrub (A2.2) #

Salix spp. includes Goat willow (Salix caprea),

Dry Acid dwarf shrub heath (D1.1) #

Wet heath/acid grassland mosaic (D.6/A2.2) #

Half acid grassland with some dwarf gorse (less than 25%), Juncus bulbosus; half wet heath with Molinea caerulea.

Mire, flush acid (E2.1) #

Sphagnum spp. small water course, some scattered gorse and, visible boulders.

Grassland, acid unimproved/Scrub, scattered (B1.1/A2.2, AG) #

Continuous bracken (C1.1) #

Scattered gorse.

Dense scrub (A2.2) #

Goat willow, edged with Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa).

Heath, dry Acid dwarf shrub/Scrub, scattered (D1.1/A22) #

Ulex galli (40%), Calluna vulgaris. Pteridium aquilinum (10%) (Bracken).
Scattered downy birch (Betula pubescens) Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) Sycamore (Acer psuedoplatanus) and Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa).
Other species of interests: Sphagnum sp (in places), Holcus lanatus. Rubus fruticosus, Agrostis stolonifera, Oxalis acetosella, Galium saxitile, Rumex acetosa, Teucrium scorodonia, Hedera helix, Digitalis purpurea.

Heath, dry Acid dwarf shrub (D11) #

Calluna vulgaria (65%), Ulex gallii (40%), Molinia coerulea, Erica tetralix, Festuca ovina, Erica cinerea, Vaccinium myrtillus, Sphagnum moss.

Mire, Flush acid (E2.1) #

Festuca ovina (50%), Molinea coerulea (40%), calluna vulgaris (40%), erica tetralix (10%) indicates acidity, erica cinerea 5%. Narthecium ossifragum (20%),
Sphagnum sp. Carex panicea (10%), Potentilla erecta. Other species of interest: Succisa pratensis, Juncus bulbosus, Polygala serphyllifolia

Continuous bracken (C1.1) #

Dry Acid dwarf shrub heath (D1.1) #

60% ericoids, including erica cinerrea (60%) and scattered gorse (ulex galii).

Grassland, acid unimproved/Scrub, scattered (B1.1/A22) #

Blackthorn, Sycamore, Hawthorn.

Bracken, continuous/Scrub, scattered (C1.1/A2.2) #

Some scattered gorse, scrub species of Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Sycamore and one Oak seedling at 3 metres.
Signs of grazing at the edge of the conifer plantation.