Ty Canol Nature Reserve

The Ty Canol National Nature Reserve to the east of Newport in Pembrokeshire 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. Pentre Ifan is famous for its cromlech, one of the best examples of its kind in Wales; the ancient woodland nearby which is Ty Canol represents the type of forest that surrounded it when that tomb was built.

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 Reserve. These and the nature of the ancient woodland contribute to an atmosphere of great antiquity and a long association with man.