THE PARISH FIELD
CYNGOR CEFN GWLAD CYMRU
COUNTRYSIDE COUNCIL FOR WALES
SITE OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST: CITATION
VALE OF GLAMORGAN THE PARISH FIELD, CAE’R RHEDYN
Date of Notification: 24 February 2011
National Grid Reference: SS 979776
OS Maps: 1:50,000 Sheet number: 170 1:10,000 Sheet number: SS 97 NE Site Area: 1. 3 ha
Description:
The Parish Field, Cae’r Rhedyn SSSI is of special interest for its species-rich neutral grassland. Some of this habitat has a particularly
calcicolous nature. This is one of the rarest types of grassland in Wales, now mainly confined to a small number of sites in the Vale of
Glamorgan, Monmouthshire and north-east Wales. By contrast, in other parts of this site, the soils are more acidic, and it is a
particular characteristic of The Parish Field, Cae’r Rhedyn SSSI that calcicolous and acidic grasslands occur in an intricate mosaic.
Associated habitats include small areas of scrub and overgrown hedgerows. The site consists of a single field above the village of
Graig Penllyn, approximately 3 km north-west of Cowbridge, at an altitude of between 60 and 90m. The field has a south-westerly
aspect, sloping towards a minor road that forms part of the SSSI boundary. The soils are free draining brown earths over
Carboniferous limestone. The principal habitat at The Parish Field, Cae’r Rhedyn SSSI is the neutral grassland. This is characterised by
grasses, such as common bent Agrostis capillaris, sweet vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus,
red fescue Festuca rubra, and Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus. Typical herb species include yarrow Achillea millefolium, common
knapweed Centaurea nigra, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidusand common bird’s-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus. Where the soil is
lime-rich, these grassland plants are joined by lady’s bedstraw Galium verum, salad burnet Poterim sanguisorba, quaking grass Briza
media, yellow oat-grass Trisetum flavescens and downy oat-grass Avenula pubescens. In other areas, where the ground is steepest,
the soil has become leached, and plants preferring more acid soils occur, including devil’s-bit scabious Succisa pratensis, betony
Betonica officinalis, burnet-saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga and tormentil Potentilla erecta. Scarce or local species that have been
recorded at The Parish Field, Cae’r Rhedyn SSSI include common rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium, moonwort Botrychium
lunaria and crested hair-grass Koeleria macrantha.
Remarks:
The site supports the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority ‘lowland meadow’ habitat.
The Parish Field, Cae’r Rhedyn SSSI is owned by the charity Allotments for the Labouring Poor, of which Penllyn Community Council
is the official custodian.
calcicolous nature. This is one of the rarest types of grassland in Wales, now mainly confined to a small number of sites in the Vale of
Glamorgan, Monmouthshire and north-east Wales. By contrast, in other parts of this site, the soils are more acidic, and it is a
particular characteristic of The Parish Field, Cae’r Rhedyn SSSI that calcicolous and acidic grasslands occur in an intricate mosaic.
Associated habitats include small areas of scrub and overgrown hedgerows. The site consists of a single field above the village of
Graig Penllyn, approximately 3 km north-west of Cowbridge, at an altitude of between 60 and 90m. The field has a south-westerly
aspect, sloping towards a minor road that forms part of the SSSI boundary. The soils are free draining brown earths over
Carboniferous limestone. The principal habitat at The Parish Field, Cae’r Rhedyn SSSI is the neutral grassland. This is characterised by
grasses, such as common bent Agrostis capillaris, sweet vernal-grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus,
red fescue Festuca rubra, and Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus. Typical herb species include yarrow Achillea millefolium, common
knapweed Centaurea nigra, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidusand common bird’s-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus. Where the soil is
lime-rich, these grassland plants are joined by lady’s bedstraw Galium verum, salad burnet Poterim sanguisorba, quaking grass Briza
media, yellow oat-grass Trisetum flavescens and downy oat-grass Avenula pubescens. In other areas, where the ground is steepest,
the soil has become leached, and plants preferring more acid soils occur, including devil’s-bit scabious Succisa pratensis, betony
Betonica officinalis, burnet-saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga and tormentil Potentilla erecta. Scarce or local species that have been
recorded at The Parish Field, Cae’r Rhedyn SSSI include common rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium, moonwort Botrychium
lunaria and crested hair-grass Koeleria macrantha.
Remarks:
The site supports the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority ‘lowland meadow’ habitat.
The Parish Field, Cae’r Rhedyn SSSI is owned by the charity Allotments for the Labouring Poor, of which Penllyn Community Council
is the official custodian.
