Ddol Uchaf
{{Short description|Protected area in Clwyd, Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox park
| name = Ddol Uchaf
| native_name = Y Ddol Uchaf
| native_name_lang = cy
| photo = Y Ddol Uchaf Stream.jpg
| photo_width = 250
| map = Wales
| coordinates = {{coord|53.232|-3.288|type:landmark_region:GB_dim:2000|display=inline,title}}
| type = Nature Reserve
| map_image =
| area = {{convert|4|ha|acre}}
| created = {{Start date|1965}}
| operator = North Wales Wildlife Trust
| website = {{website|https://www.northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/ddol-uchaf}}
}}
Ddol Uchaf (also known as Y Ddol Uchaf) is a Site of Special Scientific Interest located near Ysceifiog, Flintshire, Wales.{{Cite web|url=https://www.northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/y-ddol-uchaf|title=Ddol Uchaf {{!}} North Wales Wildlife Trust|website=www.northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk|access-date=2020-04-27}} It has been selected as an SSSI due to the unique wildlife and organisms around the area.
Wildlife
Ddol Uchaf was designated as an SSSI because of its wildlife, grassland and soils. In particular, it is notable for hosting three species of newt (great crested newt, palmate newt and smooth newt) and being one of very few sites with a population of hazel dormice.{{Cite web|url=https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/y-ddol-uchaf-nature-reserve/|title=Y Ddol Uchaf Nature Reserve|last=Trust|first=Woodland|website=Woodland Trust|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-04-27}} Many plants including common spotted orchid are found on the site. Several insect species have been recorded, including 12 species of dragonfly.{{Cite web|url=https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/sites/y-ddol-uchaf-flintshire/|title=Y Ddôl Uchaf (Flintshire)|website=British Dragonfly Society|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-04-27}} There have been 93 recorded species of birds in the area, including carrion crow, lesser whitethroat, and sedge warbler.{{Cite web|url=https://www.landscapebritain.co.uk/british-nature-reserves/flintshire-sir-y-fflint/y-ddol-uchaf/|title=Y Ddol Uchaf|website=www.landscapebritain.co.uk|access-date=2020-04-27}} The site is also known for its tufa limestone, which supports many of the animals living in the site and has formed many ponds.{{Cite web|url=http://data.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/Y%20Ddol%20seperate%20A4_low%20res.pdf|title=Y Ddôl Uchaf|last=|first=|date=|website=The Wildlife Trusts|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821060756/http://data.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/Y%20Ddol%20seperate%20A4_low%20res.pdf |archive-date=2016-08-21 |access-date=}}
The site is one of only two sites in the UK where the fungus gnat {{ill|Boletina nasuta|nl||sv}} has been recorded .{{cite web|url=https://species.nbnatlas.org/species/NBNSYS0000011780|title=Boletina nasuta (Haliday, 1839)|access-date=17 May 2020|publisher= National Biodiversity Network}}{{Cite journal|last=Falk|first=Stephen J.|date=1991|title=Part 2: Nematocera and Aschiza not dealt with by Falk (1991)|url=http://data.jncc.gov.uk/data/b73a7eea-fa6f-4a75-a643-d4eed476429c/SpeciesStatus-2-Nematocera-Aschiza-WEB-2005.pdf|journal=A Review of the Scarce and Threatened Flies of Great Britain|volume=2|pages=71|via=JNCC}}
History
Ddol Uchaf means "Upper Meadow". The site was mentioned in 1647 as Ddol y Person. In 1657 it was referred to as Ddol Uchaf.{{cite book|title=Collections Historical & Archaeological Relating to Montgomeryshire|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=opcxAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA276|year=1872|publisher=Powys Land Club|page=276|oclc=499273333}}
The site was quarried for tufa and marl during the Second World War. After the war, the site was abandoned until 1965 when it was purchased by the North Wales Naturalist Trust as a nature reserve.