In this area we can see a holly copse (habitat 9380 – Ilex aquifolium woodland). This habitat is dominated by holly trees (Ilex aquifolium), a species that is protected in Portugal because of the threat posed by the use of its branches for Christmas decorations. Despite being very rare in Portugal, in the area where we are now there are significant holly woods with large sized individual trees. Within the Park the largest holly woods are found in the upper parts of the Ramiscal and Cabril valleys (the latter, close to where we are now), principally on the steep north facing slopes.
The thicket surrounding the holly copse is dominated by tree broom, (Genista florida), a species that looks like common broom and is typically found near holly copses. This thicket is still recovering from the fires in 2006 which affected Ramiscal and Mezio. We can see that the greater part of the holly trees survived the fire and that the least affected part of the thicket was that closest to the hollies and with a greater concentration of white heather (Erica arborea).