Pen-y-coed is a mix of ancient semi-natural woodland with pockets of beautiful seasonal flowers such as bluebell and anemone and conifer plantation which is gradually being replaced. In 1995 this woodland was bought by Woodland Trust with funds raised by the local community and the trust is now working hard to restore the areas of conifer plantation to broadleaf’s. The Trust is carefully felling selected conifers so light can return to the wood. The timber from the conifers will slowly rot down helped by many small invertebrates, insects and smaller organisms.
The woodland is home to a number of birds. Nuthatches and tree creepers clamber up the trunks probing for insects, woodpeckers drum on the trunks and jays are sometimes seen. Birds of prey, especially sparrowhawks, and owls hunt in the woodland. Whilst placing these caches we saw a number of jays and heard the woodpeckers.
All over Pen-y-coed are old stone walls and overgrown small quarries which give hints as to its past history. From the 12th – 15th century Monks from Valle Crucis Abbey may have been managing the southern part of the wood, coppicing and harvesting the timber. Through to the mid -late1800s when it is thought increased quarrying in the woodland was carried out to provide building stone for Llangollen, constructing tracks through the woods to transport the stone.
Hidden in 3 of these caches are the coordinates and hint for the bonus (GC6M8NB).