NWWT 2 Y Ddol Uchaf Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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A circular walk on an undulating path around an extremely
pretty Nature Reserve, taking in
this and two other caches en route.
spoiler
If you're struggling with GPS signal (tree cover), look at clues. There is
a small carpark next to the Nature
Reserve, up a narrow lane
(see reference point), where you
will come to a T juntion. Turn left and the carpark is immediately
on left.
Y Ddol
Uchaf
This nature reserve was created to
protect the diverse habitats that have developed in this old marl
quarry. The tufa here
was formed over the last 14,000 years and is one of the most
complex and important deposits in the UK.
Tufa is formed when
Calcium
Carbonate precipitates out of Calcium rich water and forms
around aquatic plants and mosses. Tufa is porous so on the
raised mounds you see Pyramidal
and
Fragrant Orchids,
Cowslip , Commen
Twayblade , and other plants more typical of dry
Calcareous grassland.
In the lower, slightly wetter areas you may find
Southern Marsh Orchids and Grass of
Parnessus .
Where the water table is near the surface, or where the underlying
rock is less permeable, streams and pools form.
Evedence of both
Otters and Water
Vole been found on site, although you are unlikly to see these
cretive mammels. If you stand quietly by the pools, you may see
animals that you would otherwise miss.
Many pond animals are well camorflaged, often betray their presence
by movement.
Caddisfly larvoe camorflaged in their 'mobile homes' built from
surrounding pond vegetation, stones or twigs.
The reserve is especially good for
amphibians. It supports colonies of Commen frog,
Commen
toad, Smooth Newts,
Palmates
Newts and most importantly Great
Crested Newts.
On the higher parts of the reserve where
water is less dominant woodland and scrub have developed. The
Blackthorn scub is a good place to see birds such as Blackcap
linnet and a Bullfinch.
In spring, the woodland floor is carpeted with flowers like
Ceandine and wood
Anemone which flower before the leaves on the trees above
develop and shade them out.
They are an important early nectar source for butterflies, bummblebee
and
beetles . The woodland is also very important for Dormice which are present
within the reserve. There is
Minx control in this area.
North Wales Wildlife Trust
Nature Reserve - Y Ddol Uchaf.
Permission has been given by the Head Warden to place caches here,
but do please keep to the footpaths.
For further information
Unfortunatly, because of the terrain, most of the reserve is not
suitable for wheelchairs or prams.
There are free reserve leaflets by the
notice board in the carpark (sometimes) Have a look for this cache
on the notice board before your walk
around this lovely nature reserve or
afterwards 
dont forget to pick up
NWWT 2 Y Ddol Uchaf and
Curse of the FTF - Flintshire #1 (Ddol Uchaf)
as you wander around another nearby cache - .
Ysceifog - that's easy for you to
say! the 1st stage is only a stone's throw from this
car park, with only half the walk 
Congratulation's to Phil (PhilPamAndRob) who was the 1st to find this
Geocache on 3/3/07
.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Nccebk 1 zrger nobir tebhaq yriry, 2 zrgerf sebz gur cngu.
Vs lbh ner jnyxvat nebhaq pybpxjvfr, pnpur ba lbhe yrsg.
Vs lbh ner jnyxvat nebhaq nagvpybpxjvfr pnpur ba lbhe evtug
Va n sbex bs n gerr (ubyr).