Draethen - woodland

Nearest town: Cardiff

Site type: woodland

Access: Public

Church name: No Data

Diocese: No Data

County: Caerphilly

Country: Wales

Grid ref: ST2118587080

Lost yew site: No

Date visited: 23-Sep-21

Recorded by: Mark Turner

Protection & responsibility: No data

Yews recorded at this site: Notable

Notes: The southern half of Draethen woods is an area that has been extensively mined for lead since at least Roman times. Viking artifacts have also been found there. Mining ceased in the mid 19th century. The area is riddled with depressions and some deep shafts. In parts of the southern slopes are areas that are predominantly yew woodland, with mainly young yew trees. Five individual yews are highlighted in the tree notes, with others shown here in the site notes. The yellow shaded area shows where the majority of yews are found, with the westernmost part the densest yew wood. Many of the larger yews in the woodland have had limbs cut off at some point in the past.