About Ruperra Conservation Trust

Coed Craig Ruperra is owned by Ruperra Conservation Trust, a registered charity based near Caerphilly, in South Wales. Our aim is to conserve and restore the biodiversity and built heritage of Coed Craig Ruperra, which was bought by the Trust in 2000. Ruperra Conservation Trust is made up of ten trustees and about 200 members, all of whom pay an annual subscription to help support the ongoing woodland work.

The Trust was formed in 1996, and after purchasing the woodland, we were successful in bids for Heritage Lottery Funding and other grants that allowed us to begin the major task of conserving and restoring both the native woodland and the Scheduled Ancient Monument, an Iron Age hill fort, which surmounts the ridge.

The woodland lies in a Special Landscape Area, and for a long time formed part of the estate of Ruperra Castle, which lies to the south.  It has had a long history of occupation and use by man, and as such it has interest both for wildlife enthusiasts and those interested in history.

Contact Us

Tel:       07984 665958

Email: ruperra@gmail.com

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Poles, stakes and sticks!

You can buy our lovely native hazel beanpoles, pea sticks, plant stakes etc. by phoning or emailing - our contact details are shown above.

Our thanks are due to the Landfill Disposals Tax Communities Scheme, the People's Postcode Lottery and the Heritage Lottery Fund for their grant support.

Welcome to Coed Craig Ruperra!

A beautiful recovering broadleaved woodland of 153 acres, Coed Craig Ruperra is close to the villages of Draethen and Rudry in a triangle between Caerphilly, Newport and Cardiff.  Until the mid-1990s, it was covered in conifers and was a dark and unwelcoming place.  Now, after clear-felling, and with massive amounts of work since 2000 from volunteers and many other supporters, it is fast becoming one of the most interesting places in the area to enjoy a walk, take in the panoramic views, and appreciate the recovering wildlife.

Ruperra castle in the foreground with Coed Craig Ruperra on the hillside behind.

How to Find Us

Open Streetmap to show location

Trail Maps and Brochures are available at the main entrance. Alternatively click the map below to save or print off your own personal copies.

The Woodland

Coed Craig Ruperra is what is known as a Planted Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS).  These sites are classified as woods which were originally included on registers as far back as the 1600s, and which have been felled and replanted, usually with conifer, most often as a cash crop.   PAWS woodlands usually start out as Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland (ASNW), but their native trees have been replaced, usually by non-native conifers. This tends to push out the native wildlife, reducing the biodiversity of the woodland by destroying the habitats it held.  Ruperra’s native broadleaved trees were felled in the 1920s and several stages of conifer planting took place during the next 70 years or so, until the site was sold to the Trust and broadleaf restoration began.  There’s more information about this on the following pages.

Snowdrops cover parts of the woodland floor in early February.

During the 400 or so years of ownership by the Lords Tredegar of Ruperra Castle, much of the woodland was used as an extension of the estate gardens, with exotic plantings particularly on the southern side.  Some of these are still visible in the shape of large specimen conifers, but most particularly in the cherry laurel and rhododendron which have unfortunately proved only too successful and spread widely through the site.  Eradicating these two problem plants, which create dense shade and exclude native plants wherever they spread, has been a major challenge for the Trust and is still ongoing.

The Trust’s volunteer group meets at least twice a month to undertake various maintenance tasks, from clearing scrub to creating paths.  A friendly and welcoming team, they vary in age and ability and there’s a task to suit everyone!

The woodland is open all year round, with a small car parking area on the Draethen-Michaelston road (see location map).  Walkers and horse-riders will find many interesting paths available, with a choice of steep climbs or a gentler approach leading to the summit, from where you can enjoy the views from the Motte which surmounts the hill fort.  Well-behaved dogs are welcome, although we do not permit professional dog walkers to use the site.  Please keep dogs out of our wildlife ponds to avoid disturbance!  We are happy to take guided walks around the site if you wish to arrange a group visit, and we particularly encourage people to get involved in our work by joining our volunteer group (see Volunteering) or by supporting us as members (see 'More info / membership' for details).