The pic 'My Green Carpet' was taken in Ty Canol National Nature Reserve, near Newport, Pembrokeshire.
Ty Canol is part of the largest block of ancient woodland in West Wales; it is in an area famous for its archaeological sites.
Adjacent to Ty Canol is the famous Pentre Ifan Cromlech, a Neolithic Chambered Dolmen that is thought to date from 3,500 BC. It is intriguing to think that the ancient woodland of Ty Canol is of the type that surrounded the Cromlech when it was built.
Ty Canol NNR is one of the most important sites in the UK for lichens, and the trees, exposed rocks and low-level crags found in the reserve are covered with them. More than 400 species have been identified there so far, including many that are very rare - for example Usnea florida, which grows on Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea) and Punctelia reddenda which grows on mossy tree trunks and on rocks.
The woodlands in this area are also good places to see birds, and many typical woodland species are seen in Ty Canol including Chiffchaffs (Phylloscopus collybita), Redstarts (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), and Wood Warblers (Phylloscopus sibilatrix). Sparrowhawks (Accipiter nisus) hunt there and Buzzards (Buteo buteo) can be heard crying overhead.
A variety of mammals - Badgers, Foxes, Polecats and the Dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) - live in Ty Canol woods as do frogs and newts in the wetter areas. The Dormouse is becoming rare, but the woodland with its supply of Hazelnuts for this little mammal to eat, and Honeysuckle, which it uses the bark to build its nest, suits the Doormouse very well.
