Fforest Ganol is an ancient woodland and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) owned by Cardiff County Council. It forms part of a larger Beech woodland shared with Castell Coch, Fforest Fawr and Garth Woods.
The ground flora in Fforest Ganol is a fantastic display of Wild Garlic, Bluebells and Wood Anemone. If you look closely you might see rare species like Goldilocks Buttercup, Herb Paris and eery parasitic Birds Nest Orchid. This woodland is the main site for the big beaked Hawfinch in Glamorgan, a species that is even rarer outside of South Wales and the Forest of Dean.
The woodland is typically accessed by 4 main points:
- The north end of Heol-y-fforest, opposite the entrance for Fforest Fawr car park, links the trails of Fforest Ganol and Fforest Fawr
- The south end of Heol-y-fforest opposite the path leading up to Forest Cafe can also be used to access Fforest Fawr
- The north end of Rhwbina Hill there’s a forestry road that leads to Ridgeway Golf Club and Driving Range and you can access trails on the ridgeway over towards Rudry and Draethen
- The south end of Rhwbina Hill links trails from Cwm Nofydd and Y Wenallt