Mynydd Fforest
Encyclopedia
Mynydd Fforest is a hill
about two miles northwest of Llyswen
in the county
of Powys
in Wales
. It rises to 400 m (1200ft) from the lower slopes of the Epynt
.
es, and Sitka Spruce
to take root.
Apart from large areas of moorland
, small areas of Mynydd Fforest have been re-taken by native trees, such as Mountain Ash
, Sessile Oak, Holly
, Hazel
, Hawthorn, Blackthorn
, and Ash
.
There are numerous springs
and marsh
es which are home to newt
s, frog
s, and toad
s. Many species of bird nest in the bracken also, the Skylark
especially. Buzzard
s and Red Kite
s have been spotted circling the hill on many occasions.
Due to the springs and tributaries
crossing the paths at different points, there are a few ford
s along the way.
Unfortunately, due to the construction of the controversial Gas Pipeline from Milford Haven
to Gloucester
, the path to Brechfa Pool has been cut off and must be crossed by going through gates. Before the construction of the pipeline, one could walk over a very wide area, keeping erosion quite low, but as there is now fence surrounding the pipeline, gates have been set up to allow access to other areas beyond Mynydd Fforest, although there are few gates, so, while in the past people and vehicles were spread over a wide area, they have been funneled into few gates, increasing erosion and habitat loss. Illegal Mountain biking has also caused disturbance to Skylarks nesting in the bracken.
There is still sheep
grazing
on Mynydd Fforest and there are often Ponies to be seen roaming around as well, although these are not wild. The bracken is cut down during August-November to be used as bedding for livestock during the winter.
Hill
A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills often have a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of flat terrain without a massive summit A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills...
about two miles northwest of Llyswen
Llyswen
Llyswen is a small village in Powys, Wales on the west bank of the River Wye. It was formerly within the county of Brecknockshire and now forms part of the Community of Bronllys...
in the county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
of Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
in 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...
. It rises to 400 m (1200ft) from the lower slopes of the Epynt
Mynydd Epynt
Mynydd Epynt is an upland area of Mid Wales within the county of Powys, Wales. It is bounded to the south by the upper section of the valley of the River Usk, to the north by that of the Afon Irfon and to the east by the valley of the River Wye. Its western boundary is less distinct but lies...
.
Etymology & Forestation
As the name suggests, the hill was covered in trees at one point but like many hills across the country, deforestation took place. Conifer plantations which border Mynydd Fforest have allowed a few European LarchLarch
Larches are conifers in the genus Larix, in the family Pinaceae. Growing from 15 to 50m tall, they are native to much of the cooler temperate northern hemisphere, on lowlands in the north and high on mountains further south...
es, and Sitka Spruce
Sitka Spruce
Picea sitchensis, the Sitka Spruce, is a large coniferous evergreen tree growing to 50–70 m tall, exceptionally to 95 m tall, and with a trunk diameter of up to 5 m, exceptionally to 6–7 m diameter...
to take root.
Apart from large areas of moorland
Moorland
Moorland or moor is a type of habitat, in the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome, found in upland areas, characterised by low-growing vegetation on acidic soils and heavy fog...
, small areas of Mynydd Fforest have been re-taken by native trees, such as Mountain Ash
Rowan
The rowans or mountain-ashes are shrubs or small trees in genus Sorbus of family Rosaceae. They are native throughout the cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with the highest species diversity in the mountains of western China and the Himalaya, where numerous apomictic microspecies...
, Sessile Oak, Holly
Holly
Ilex) is a genus of 400 to 600 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only living genus in that family. The species are evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbers from tropics to temperate zones world wide....
, Hazel
Hazel
The hazels are a genus of deciduous trees and large shrubs native to the temperate northern hemisphere. The genus is usually placed in the birch family Betulaceae, though some botanists split the hazels into a separate family Corylaceae.They have simple, rounded leaves with double-serrate margins...
, Hawthorn, Blackthorn
Prunus spinosa
Prunus spinosa is a species of Prunus native to Europe, western Asia, and locally in northwest Africa. It is also locally naturalised in New Zealand and eastern North America....
, and Ash
Ash tree
Fraxinus is a genus flowering plants in the olive and lilac family, Oleaceae. It contains 45-65 species of usually medium to large trees, mostly deciduous though a few subtropical species are evergreen. The tree's common English name, ash, goes back to the Old English æsc, while the generic name...
.
There are numerous springs
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
and marsh
Marsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
es which are home to newt
Newt
A newt is an aquatic amphibian of the family Salamandridae, although not all aquatic salamanders are considered newts. Newts are classified in the subfamily Pleurodelinae of the family Salamandridae, and are found in North America, Europe and Asia...
s, frog
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
s, and toad
Toad
A toad is any of a number of species of amphibians in the order Anura characterized by dry, leathery skin , short legs, and snoat-like parotoid glands...
s. Many species of bird nest in the bracken also, the Skylark
Skylark
The Skylark is a small passerine bird species. This lark breeds across most of Europe and Asia and in the mountains of north Africa. It is mainly resident in the west of its range, but eastern populations are more migratory, moving further south in winter. Even in the milder west of its range,...
especially. Buzzard
Buzzard
A buzzard is one of several large birds, but there are a number of meanings as detailed below.-Old World:In the Old World Buzzard can mean:* One of several medium-sized, wide-ranging raptors with a robust body and broad wings....
s and Red Kite
Red Kite
The Red Kite is a medium-large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards, and harriers. The species is currently endemic to the Western Palearctic region in Europe and northwest Africa, though formerly also occurred just...
s have been spotted circling the hill on many occasions.
Due to the springs and tributaries
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
crossing the paths at different points, there are a few ford
Ford (crossing)
A ford is a shallow place with good footing where a river or stream may be crossed by wading or in a vehicle. A ford is mostly a natural phenomenon, in contrast to a low water crossing, which is an artificial bridge that allows crossing a river or stream when water is low.The names of many towns...
s along the way.
Unfortunately, due to the construction of the controversial Gas Pipeline from Milford Haven
Milford Haven
Milford Haven is a town and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is situated on the north side of the Milford Haven Waterway, a natural harbour used as a port since the Middle Ages. The town was founded in 1790 on the north side of the Waterway, from which it takes its name...
to Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
, the path to Brechfa Pool has been cut off and must be crossed by going through gates. Before the construction of the pipeline, one could walk over a very wide area, keeping erosion quite low, but as there is now fence surrounding the pipeline, gates have been set up to allow access to other areas beyond Mynydd Fforest, although there are few gates, so, while in the past people and vehicles were spread over a wide area, they have been funneled into few gates, increasing erosion and habitat loss. Illegal Mountain biking has also caused disturbance to Skylarks nesting in the bracken.
There is still sheep
Domestic sheep
Sheep are quadrupedal, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Like all ruminants, sheep are members of the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates. Although the name "sheep" applies to many species in the genus Ovis, in everyday usage it almost always refers to Ovis aries...
grazing
Grazing
Grazing generally describes a type of feeding, in which a herbivore feeds on plants , and also on other multicellular autotrophs...
on Mynydd Fforest and there are often Ponies to be seen roaming around as well, although these are not wild. The bracken is cut down during August-November to be used as bedding for livestock during the winter.