The walk at Glyn-Coch provides you with a gentle stroll on regularly mown paths. In about 45 minutes you will get views of the beautiful countryside, our farm animals, and the wildlife that have been lovingly preserved here since 1965. The woodland itself was planted in 1998 with the assistance of children in the local community. The trees are mixed native hardwoods with a nurse crop of Japanese Larch which be felled when the hardwoods are fully established in about 2014
In 2005 we entered the Walk in The Forestry Commission's 'Woods for Wales' competition and were voted 4th best out of the 70 or so entries. Since 2003 we have been monitoring moth populations for the Rothamsted Insect Survey - the longest running national survey of moths in the UK - and appear regularly in their 'top 20 sites for species diversity, with over 230 species identified so far. The diversity of moths indicate the rich flora on which they feed, and they in turn provide food for the many species of birds and other animals that you can find here.
On leaving the tea garden, a narrow path takes you round the barns to the broad grassy paths next to the first pond. On the right, beyond the pond is the first of our Poplar plantations. At the end of this area, turn left up the hill before turning left again at the top. Across the valley you can see the sqaure tower of Llangynnin Church. Below the church, Grove Farm, once famous for its dairy herd, is now better known for Grovelands Leisure Centre. Continuing onward, bare back towards Glyn-Coch and eventually straight across the 'sunk lane' (once the main road to Llangynnin Church from Pwll-Trap until it was closed in 1840 by the, then new, railway) and through the "gap" in the hedge. The path zigzags here, giving views of other farms and of the wildlife. Crossing the sleeper bridge you pass another pond before reaching the drive.
You can return to Glyn-Coch by turning left along the drive, but in the summer, we strongly recommend that you cross the drive onto the wetland area, which is a sea of wildflowers, with many rare plants and animals.
Look out especially for the white flowers and strange whorled leaves of the otherwise Cow-Parsley-like Whorled Caraway, which, though abundant here, is rare in the rest of the UK. Follow any path back towards Glyn-Coch and after crossing two sleeper bridges you go through another poplar plantation before returning through older trees to the tea garden.
Click on the links above to explore our woodland walk.
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