CYNGOR CEFN GWLAD CYMRU

COUNTRYSIDE COUNCIL FOR WALES

SITE OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST CITATION

VALE OF GLAMORGAN CNAP TWT

Date of Notification: 1997

National Grid reference: SS 911753

O.S. Maps: 1:50,000 Sheet number: 170

1:10,000 Sheet number: SS97 NW

Site Area: 1.4 ha

Description:

Cnap Twt is a small disused quarry in the valley of the River Alun approximately 3 miles to the south of Bridgend. The site is of national importance for fossil plant remains.

Cnap Twt is the best locality for the floras preserved in Rhaetian fissure-fillings within the Carboniferous Limestone of south-west Britain. The flora is dominated by cheirolepidacean conifers, one of the primitive families which are believed to be the precursors of all living conifers. It is one of the earliest occurances of this family anywhere in the world, and is of particular interest because of the unusually fine, uncompressed preservation of the specimens. Fragments of bennettites and other conifers have also reported from here, but have yet to be studied in detail. A site of outstanding palaeobotanical significance.