Forestry Commission Wales is embarking on a major programme of work to remove conifers and harvest timber at Afan Forest Park, near Port Talbot, closing off parts of the forest to the public.
The 11,000 hectare Afan Forest Park is in the Afan Valley: one of the narrowest, shortest, and most beautiful valleys in Wales and a popular destination for visitors. The forest park is managed by Forestry Commission Wales on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government.
Due to the scale of the forestry operations, all waymarked walking and cycle trails will be closed in Penhydd Forest while the work is carried out. It may also be necessary to temporarily close some Public Rights of Way.
The first phase of the forestry work will take place over the next 12 months and will see the removal of 25% of the trees in the Penhydd Forest part of the forest park.
This work will open up the forest and benefit remaining trees by giving them more space and light in which to grow and, ultimately, will produce better quality timber.
The extra space will help native broadleaf trees and the sunlight on the forest floor will increase biodiversity, encouraging plants and wild flowers to flourish and providing habitats for wildlife.
Information about which trails and Public Rights of Way are closed will be displayed at access points around Penhydd Forest and at the Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre.
The rest of Afan Forest Park will remain open; including the Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre, and the other four mountain bike trails and five walking trails. Tymaen Amphitheatre will be closed during the work, but events that have already been booked will take place.
Claudia Robbins, Forestry Commission Wales’s Planning Forester, said: “Afan Forest Park is a beautiful woodland and, by undertaking forestry operations such as this, we can ensure it continues to provide a range of environmental benefits both now and in the future.
“We will continue to discuss our plans with stakeholders throughout the work and we will keep the public informed via information boards in the forest and at Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre, and online.
“When the work is completed, we plan to create new cycle routes, improved walking trails and other recreation facilities to enhance the forest experience for all users.”
The trees removed from Penhydd Forest are expected to yield around 12,000 cubic tonnes of timber, the majority of which will be used in Wales helping to support jobs in the local timber industry.
The timber will be processed into a range of products, including fencing, gates, cladding, decking, sheds and construction materials. Some will be sold to the biomass industry which uses wood instead of fossil fuels to create energy.
The Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre is run by Neath Port Talbot County Council.
The Centre’s Managing Ranger Dick Wagstaff said, “We must remember that, although Afan Forest Park is a very popular destination for walking and cycling, it is also a productive forest and forestry work needs to take place from time to time.
“This essential maintenance will improve both the ecology of the forest and the experience for visitors.
“It will also give us an opportunity, working with Forestry Commission Wales, to reassess and improve the walking and mountain bike trails in that part of the forest.”
The work in Penhydd Forest forms part of the forest management plan for Afan Forest Park.
