Clocaenog Forest
Encyclopedia
Clocaenog Forest is in West Denbighshire
/Conwy
, Wales
on Mynydd Hiraethog
.
It is 40 square miles (100 km²) in extent, mostly coniferous softwoods under the control of the Forestry Commission
. It was planted in 1905 on what was mostly moorland and many hill farms. It is a highland region, mostly above 350 metres. It experienced a severe winter in 1946/47 with over 150cm of lying snow on flat ground recorded at Clawddnewydd (a nearby village), and there was another hard winter in 1962/63. It is also the last mainland stronghold of red squirrel
s in Wales.
The forest is great for walking, with lots of clear paths. There are high points which rise above the tree level, affording views of Snowdonia
and Arenig Fawr
to the west, the Berwyn Range
to the south, the Clwydian Range
to the east, and the Denbigh moors to the north. The highest point in the forest, easily reached on foot with clear paths, is 'The Mast' at Craig Bron Bannog 501m (1,644 feet).
Wildlife includes many birds, including the crossbill
which are adapted well to the conifers. There is also an enclosed area where wild horses (Przewalski's Horse
s) can be viewed. In addition, there are several examples of ancient remains, including at least one stone circle and the 'credstone', an ancient worship site.
Streams run through the forest, including the source of the River Clwyd
; Llyn Brenig
lies on the western flank, and there is a spectacular waterfall – until now, one of Wales' best-kept secrets.
A recent development in the forest is the construction in 2005 of a wind farm
with 25 wind turbines. Many more wind turbines are planned.
Denbighshire
Denbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years...
/Conwy
Conwy
Conwy is a walled market town and community in Conwy County Borough on the north coast of Wales. The town, which faces Deganwy across the River Conwy, formerly lay in Gwynedd and prior to that in Caernarfonshire. Conwy has a population of 14,208...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
on Mynydd Hiraethog
Mynydd Hiraethog
Mynydd Hiraethog is an upland region in Conwy and Denbighshire in north-east Wales. It includes the large reservoir Llyn Brenig and the Clocaenog Forest, which has one of Wales's last populations of red squirrels. Its highest point is Mwdwl-eithin, at above sea level, making it higher than Exmoor...
.
It is 40 square miles (100 km²) in extent, mostly coniferous softwoods under the control of the Forestry Commission
Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
. It was planted in 1905 on what was mostly moorland and many hill farms. It is a highland region, mostly above 350 metres. It experienced a severe winter in 1946/47 with over 150cm of lying snow on flat ground recorded at Clawddnewydd (a nearby village), and there was another hard winter in 1962/63. It is also the last mainland stronghold of red squirrel
Red Squirrel
The red squirrel or Eurasian red squirrel is a species of tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus common throughout Eurasia...
s in Wales.
The forest is great for walking, with lots of clear paths. There are high points which rise above the tree level, affording views of Snowdonia
Snowdonia
Snowdonia is a region in north Wales and a national park of in area. It was the first to be designated of the three National Parks in Wales, in 1951.-Name and extent:...
and Arenig Fawr
Arenig Fawr
Arenig Fawr is a mountain located in Snowdonia, North Wales. The mountain, which is the largest in the area, lies close to Llyn Celyn reservoir alongside the A4212 between Trawsfynydd and Bala.-Location:...
to the west, the Berwyn Range
Berwyn range
The Berwyn range is an isolated and sparsely populated area of moorland located in the north-east of Wales, roughly bounded by Llangollen in the north-east, Corwen in the north-west, Bala in the south-west, and Oswestry in the south-east.The Berwyn range also played its part in causing King Henry...
to the south, the Clwydian Range
Clwydian Range
The Clwydian Range is a series of hills and mountains in north east Wales that runs from Llandegla in the south to Prestatyn in the north, with the highest point being the popular Moel Famau...
to the east, and the Denbigh moors to the north. The highest point in the forest, easily reached on foot with clear paths, is 'The Mast' at Craig Bron Bannog 501m (1,644 feet).
Wildlife includes many birds, including the crossbill
Crossbill
The crossbill is a bird in the finch family . The three to five species are all classified in the genus Loxia. These birds are characterised by the mandibles crossing at their tips, which gives the group its English name...
which are adapted well to the conifers. There is also an enclosed area where wild horses (Przewalski's Horse
Przewalski's Horse
Przewalski's Horse or Dzungarian Horse, is a rare and endangered subspecies of wild horse native to the steppes of central Asia, specifically China and Mongolia.At one time extinct in the wild, it has been reintroduced to its native habitat in Mongolia at the Khustain Nuruu...
s) can be viewed. In addition, there are several examples of ancient remains, including at least one stone circle and the 'credstone', an ancient worship site.
Streams run through the forest, including the source of the River Clwyd
River Clwyd
The River Clwyd is a river in North Wales which rises in the Clocaenog Forest northwest of Corwen.It flows due south until at Melin-y-Wig it veers northeastwards, tracking the A494 to Ruthin. Here it leaves the relatively narrow valley and enters a broad agricultural vale, the Vale of Clwyd...
; Llyn Brenig
Llyn Brenig
Llyn Brenig is a reservoir located in North Wales, in the heart of the Denbigh Moors, on the border between the counties of Conwy and Denbighshire...
lies on the western flank, and there is a spectacular waterfall – until now, one of Wales' best-kept secrets.
A recent development in the forest is the construction in 2005 of a wind farm
Wind farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
with 25 wind turbines. Many more wind turbines are planned.
External links
- Forestry Commission page on Przewalski's Horses in Clocaenog
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4674207.stm (bbc news article about the expansion of wind farms in Wales, including in the Clocaenog Forest)