A National Nature Reserve of some 70 ha, located 4 km south-east of Newport. It is an old woodland site noted for its 394 species of lichen, 42 of which are indicative of ecological continuity (1). The topography of the area - boulder-strewn slopes and steep-sided valleys - has inhibited intensive improvements though agriculture was attempted in the 18th and 19th centuries in the lower woods around Hagr y Coed.
There is no direct evidence for the early use of woodland but archaeological evidence for local land-use history lies notably in Pentre-ifan Neolithic burial chamber adjacent on the east (NPRN 101450) and Tycanol Iron Age defended enclosure, a promontory fort in the southern extent of the wood (304326). Medieval settlement is also attested at Pentre Evan (22613). George Owen, writing in 1603, commented that Tycanol and adjacent Pentre Evan Woods supported the best timber in the shire, a county by then extensively cleared. In the 20th century large standard oaks were used for fencing stakes and were a saleable item. Alder, growing in wetter places, was used in local clog making.
The wood is now a mosaic of small enclosures, with walls, sunken trackways and gate stones, recent evidence for pasture management. Early maps indicate the presence of woodland, pasture and wood-pasture with some meadows and glades. Field parcels have now been recolonised by nearby trees. Within the wood can be found old oak coppice stools up to 3m across, some possibly contemporary with the promontory fort. Coppicing continued during the First World War to service ammunition furnaces at Port Talbot. The wood is now being managed in order to maintain wood pasture and its lichens.

(1) P.Worsely & C.Thomas, Tycanol National Nature Reserve: Maintaining diversity in an ancient oak wood. Natur Cymru 40 (Autumn 2011).

David Leighton, RCAHMW, 11 October 2011