Plantlife
Gwaenysgor Trees and Wildflowers
We are extremely lucky to have two of Britain’s rarest native trees growing in the parish – the wild service tree (sorbus terminalis) and the rare juniper (juniperus communis), both feature on the steep slopes below the Offa’s Dyke footpath on the western edge of the village.
Wild Flowers
Up until 30-40 years ago before the council spraying scheme started Gwaenysgor had a wide variety of wild flowers. We can still see a lot of them today but not in the abundance they once were.
Listed below are the names of some of them:
- Wallflower Red
- White Valerian
- Purple Toadflax
- Yellow Toadflax
- Wild Arum
- Goats Beard
- Self Heal Sorrel
- Centory Knapweed
- Scabious
- Cranesbill
- Cow Rattle
In the church-yard we can see:
- Columbine (Granny’s Bonnet)
- Ox Eye Daisy
On the road side of the church wall there are:
- Evening Primroses
- Yellow Coridalis
- Bindweed (Angels Trumpets)
In or by the pond is:
- Herb Robert
- James’s Violet
- White Violet
- Sweet Rocket
- Water Lilies
- Water Crowsfoot
Opposite the pond in the woods at the top of the village:
- Wood Sorrell
- Wild Roses
- Orchids
- Many of the Vetches
On the cow track going up towards St Elmo’s field (The Acre):
- Wild Gooseberry
- Rest Harrow
In the Park on Rectory Lane there used to be:
- Madder
- Wild Thyme
- Milkwort
- Cowslips
- Birdsfoot
- Trefoil
- Fumitory
But once the sheep were removed and footpaths were changed Sloe Bushes took over and many plants suffered.
On Well Lane can be seen:
- Ladies Smocks
- Cotton Grass
- Red Campion
- Bladder Campion
- Various Mallows
Common wildflowers are:
- Primroses
- Bluebells
- Wild/Cultivated Wild Garlic
- Buttercups
- Daisies
- Dandelions
- Speedwell
- Ragwort
- Poppies
- Nettles Wild Garlic
- Cuckoo flowers which feed the Orange tip Butterflies
