Coed y Felin Nature Reserve

UK Wildlife Trusts

Spinnies Aberogwen Nature Reserve © Bethan Vaughan Davies Pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) male perched, Wales, UK - Mark Hamblin/2020VISION The higher parts of the reserve are not especially challenging to visit, but do include steeper paths and steps. The lower path follows the old Mold-Denbigh railway line – it’s wheelchair-accessible and takes you to two picnic tables which are great for experiencing the show of bluebells. Ancient pathways criss-cross this woodland site, leaving clues to its long-held links with the local population. Its timber has been used to support the local mining village for centuries. The site of today, however, couldn’t be further from industry: its peaceful woodland and sunny grassland are filled with colour and life, including the nationally rare Deptford pink and dozens of other glorious wildflowers. The air is alive with both bird song and rich, herby fragrances in spring and summer whilst, in autumn, the trees are king. The diversity of species makes for a magical collage of reds, browns and yellows, just waiting for a woodland walk ... Hand-cut hay meadow In order to maintain the wildflower populations, including the Deptford pink, the reserve’s limestone grassland is managed as a hay meadow and is cut using both machinery and scythes. Both the ancient, semi-natural woodland that covers the majority of the site and the lower areas of wet woodland are managed with very little intervention: the trees are selectively thinned to maintain the varied age structure that allows both the trees themselves and the plants below to thrive.

Managed by

UK Wildlife Trusts

Location

CH7 5QL