COUNTRYSIDE COUNCIL FOR
WALES
National Grid reference: SH586815
Total Area: 17.1
ha
Description:
Bwrdd Arthur, a small
flat‑topped Carboniferous Limestone hill reaching an altitude of 160m, is
designated for its botanical interest. It is one of the larger and more diverse
limestone sites in West Gwynedd. A number of plant communities are represented
including limestone grassland, calcareous heath characterised by the presence
of heather Calluna vulgaris, bell heather Erica cinerea and
western gorse Ulex gallii and scrub with stands of common gorse Ulex
europaeus, elder Sambucus nigra, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, blackthorn Prunus spinosa
and bramble Rubus. The limestone grassland includes characteristic
species such as common rockrose Helianthemum chamaecistus, pale St.
John's‑wort Hypericum montanum, long‑stalked crane's‑bill
Geranium columbinum and and meadow oat‑grass Avenula pratensis. The limestone
exposures support the nationally rare species, hoary rockrose Helianthemum
canum and ivy broomrape Orobanche
hederae, whilst a number of uncommon bryophyte species occur on its
south‑facing slopes including Bryum canariense, B.elegans and Isothecium
striatulum.