Virtual Prestatyn: Prestatyn Hillside

Prestatyn Hillside

Western Edge of Prestatyn Hillside

The area generally referred to as Prestatyn Hillside (grid ref. SJ 069 814), located near the Denbighshire coast, consists of wooded slopes and limestone outcrops that rise steeply above the town of Prestatyn and the village of Meliden. The hillside is a dominant and dramatic landscape feature formed of carboniferous limestone, and marks the northern end of the Clwydian Hills. The limestone extends westwards along the coast as a line of prominent hills. Prestatyn Hillside is one of several limestone hills that occur along this stretch of coast including nearby Graig Fawr and Moel Hiraddug at Dyserth, and Rhyd-y-foel and Bryn Euryn further westwards. Because of the outstanding nature and quality of the landscape Prestatyn Hillside has been included within the Clwydian Range Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The exceptional visual quality of the woodland cover has also led to its protection under a Tree Preservation Order (TPO).

Manor Hill Quarry

Prestatyn Hillside in geological terms is a limestone escarpment running largely north-south, with a steep west-facing scarp face. In the past, the hillside would have looked very different. Open pasture grazed by livestock would have been a common sight, rights of grazing being held by the Bishop of St. Asaph. Today, although a large part of the upper slope is still common land, the absence of grazing animals (apart from rabbits) has allowed the encroachment of scrub woodland up the slopes. Although the hillside is predominantly covered in woodland, bare limestone and surrounding grassland still survives in the few remaining open areas of the uppermost slopes (where vegetation is unable to grow). The grassland supports such plants as salad burnet, common rock-rose, carline thistle, wild thyme, quaking grass and early-purple orchid. Unexpectedly, to be found amongst these limestone grassland plants are small areas of bell heather and ling, which are more typically found on upland moorlands, overlying acid soils. Gorse also grows in abundance across the upper hillside. Small bush-nesting bird species such as stonechat and various warblers need suitable cover to build their nests and find the dense gorse scrub ideal.

The now disused quarries are conspicuous features in the landscape. Quarrying of limestone ceased in one such quarry - Manor Hill Quarry - in the 1950s. Since then, nature has colonised the ledges and quarry floor. Fulmars, a sea-bird species have been nesting on the ledges, sometimes with ravens. Although most of the plant life is native, the garden shrub Cotoneaster has established itself extensively around the margins of the quarry, where it has suppressed the native flora. At Meliden Quarry, which ceased operating in the 1920s, the almost vertical faces remain sparsely vegetated. However, red valerian, a plant introduced to Great Britain in the Middle Ages, finds the conditions around the quarry ideal and has colonised the ledges and outcrops.

Bishopswood

The lower slopes of Prestatyn Hillside support a well-established broadleaved woodland, known locally as Bishopswood or Coed yr Esgob. The dominant tree species is sessile oak, but cherry, ash, sycamore and hazel are also common. Shallow soils and exposed coastal conditions have resulted in many of the trees being small and stunted. Limestone-loving trees and shrubs found in the woodland include small-leaved lime, whitebeam, yew, spindle, dogwood and the rare wild service tree. Amongst the wild flowers growing on the woodland floor are bluebell, wood anemone and sweet woodruff. Many trees in this area have ivy growing on them, a harmless plant which uses trees for support but, contrary to popular belief, does not kill them. The flowers of autumn and berries of late winter provide an important food supply for insects and birds.

Graig Fawr (colloquially known as 'Meliden Mountain') provides another interesting habitat. The exposed location near the coast and the bleak limestone outcrops have resulted in the presence of a number of species normally associated with sea cliffs. The site is owned by the National Trust.

Due to the nature of the substrate and the lack of agricultural intensification on these steep slopes, semi-natural plant communities are able to thrive. Such is the national significance of the nature conservation interest that most of the hillside has been notified by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Stone Chute

In addition to landscape and wildlife considerations, the area also has a wealth of historic and archaeological interest. Of significance is the range of industrial archaeological relics which have survived. Several old limekilns and a well-preserved stone chute on Bishopswood Road are a legacy of the past quarrying activity. Mine levels and spoil heaps, many now obscured by vegetation, also provide evidence of a history of mining activity in the locality. Popularly known as the Fish Mine, after the shape of the spoil heap, the main mineral mined at this level was calcite. Elsewhere nearby, lead and zinc were mined extensively.

Recently, Denbighshire Countryside Service volunteers unearthed the remains of an old cottage called Pant-y-Fachwen. This is located alongside the Offa's Dyke National Trail, which passes across the hillside. Records indicate the cottage was the home of a mining family during the 19th century.

A large part of the Prestatyn Hillside site is Common Land, although there are no registered rights holders. The site provides access via established footpaths to this popular area of countryside and to some outstanding viewpoints, particularly from the Offa's Dyke National Trail. Due to its position near the town, the quality of countryside and the availability of easy access, the area is extremely popular with walkers, both local and visitors alike. Lower slopes towards the eastern edge of Prestatyn Hillside are partly developed with residential areas, which enjoy panoramic views over Prestatyn and towards Snowdonia. Many architecturally-intriguing properties are located in this area of the hillside, including one of Prestatyn's best known landmarks - "Uplands", or "the house with the green dome". It was built in 1912 by Thomas Thorpe, a scientific astronomer, architect and engineer, who originally built the revolving dome observatory to pursue his hobby of astronomy.

Prestatyn Hillside has been regularly managed and wardened for some years, initially by Clwyd Countryside Service and subsequently by Denbighshire Countryside Service in accordance to an earlier management plan produced in 1992 for the former Rhuddlan Borough Council. Recent work carried out by the Countryside Service has included clearing hawthorn, blackthorn and gorse, which although forming valuable food and nesting sites for birds, have been spreading so as to threaten a reduction in the overall wildlife value of the hillside. The areas cleared have resulted in an enlargement of the limestone grassland habitat.

Local Nature Reserve Plan

The Countryside Services department of Denbighshire County Council plan to make Prestatyn Hillside into a nature reserve, so as to safeguard the natural environment and enhance its bio-diversity. The Hillside is largely within the ownership of Denbighshire County Council and the Crown Estate. The Council owns the major part of the woodland areas while the Crown Estate is the landowner for a significant area of the upper slopes. The proposed Local Nature Reserve (LNR) boundary takes in the land owned by the Council and Crown Estate and is defined by the western and lower edge of the hill to Bishopswood Road, but excludes small pockets of land in private ownership, including individual householders' gardens and property. Additional areas in private or unknown ownership, including an area presently owned by the University of Wales and Meliden Quarry, should be included within the LNR because of their scientific or archaeological interest. The site extends eastwards to incorporate all the scarp face up to the edge of privately-owned farmland and up to the county boundary. The northern boundary is defined by the Prestatyn to Gwaenysgor road, while Ffordd Tanrallt and Nant yr Ogof form the southern extremity of the proposed LNR.

Visit the Natural Environment Page for more information on the countryside surrounding Prestatyn.

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Last Updated: Tuesday, 20-Aug-2002 20:38:43 CEST