Tŷ Canol

Pentre Ifan, near Brynberian in north Pembrokeshire, is famous for its cromlech, one of the best examples of its kind in Wales. The ancient woodland nearby which is Tycanol NNR represents the type of forest that surrounded Pentre Ifan when that tomb was built.
The NNR includes both woodland and boulder-strewn heathland with rock outcrops. One of its outstanding features is the richness of the lichen flora growing on the trees and rocks.
The management of the reserve aims to maintain the ancient woodland and the lichen populations. This management includes the use of sheep, cattle and ponies to graze both heathland and woodland. Grazing controls the growth of ground vegetation which might otherwise shade the boulders and lower trunks of trees where some of the important lichens are found.
Apart from the Pentre Ifan cromlech, there are numerous archaeological sites in the area, including an iron age fort within the NNR. These and the nature of the ancient woodland contribute to an atmosphere of great antiquity and a long association with man.

Grid Ref: SN089368 Area: 70.11 hectares

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Visiting

There is pedestrian access via a network of public and permissive footpaths and a bridleway from the Pentre Ifan entrance to the Tycanol Farm entrance track.

The paths vary from gently undulating wide grass tracks in the heath areas to unsurfaced and steep bouldery routes in the woodland. The latter can be slippery in wet conditions.

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How to get there

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Transport
There is no public transport directly to the reserve.

For buses to Newport, contact Traveline Cymru on 0871 2002233 or visit www.traveline-cymru.org.uk

The main access point is via the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park car park at the beginning of the track to Pentre Ifan farm:

Travelling from Newport on the A487, turn right at the Nevern crossroads, taking the minor road to Sychpant Cross.
Turn left here and after 1 km, turn right into the small car park.
Walk down the track, through Pentre Evan Wood (managed by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park) until you arrive at the entrance to Tycanol.

Facilities

None on site.

The nearest toilets are at Newport 3 miles away.

Who looks after it?

CCW manages the reserve in partnership with the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

You can contact the Western Team via the CCW enquiries helpline, 0845 1306229, e-mail enquires@ccw.gov.uk or write to us under the ‘Contact the team’ section on this website.

Contact the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority by telephoning 0845 345 7275 or e-mail info@pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk

Wildlife

The northern and lowest part of the reserve, known as Hagr y Coed, is wet woodland, with numerous small spring-fed streams. Oak dominates the canopy which also contains ash and downy birch. There is an understorey of scattered hazel, rowan and holly.

Hagr y Coed also contains a number of long abandoned fields. The drier fields contain acidic grassland with invading bracken and gorse but the wetter areas are developing secondary woodland of mainly sallow, birch and alder.

Between Hagr y Coed and the open heathland of Carnedd Meibion Owen in the south, lies the steeply sloping Tycanol Wood. This is a typical Welsh upland oak wood, where sessile oak is the dominant tree with scattered birch, mountain ash and hazel. All of the woodland has a long history of agricultural grazing – grazed woodland of this type is known as ‘wood pasture’.

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The wealth of rock exposures in the form of tors, low cliffs, crags and boulders, provide a wide variety of habitats for plants and animals.

A walk through the woodland and the heathland will reveal that many of the surfaces of the rock faces, tree trunks and branches are covered in lichens. Nearly 400 different species have been identified, including many rarities, making Tycanol one of the most important sites for lichens in Britain.

Growing in the shaded and damper hollows of the tors and cliffs are a number of nationally rare fern species. These include wilsons and tunbridge filmy ferns and hay-scented buckler fern. These locations also support a wide range of mosses.

Other features of interest include:

A population of dormice.
Polecats.
A wide variety of insects.
Some of the typical birds of west Wales including raven, buzzard, pied flycatcher and redstart.