The plan that decides what gets felled and replanted across Afan Forest for the next ten years was published today, and riders, walkers and residents have a month to pick it apart.
The forest looks the way it does because of a disease. Before the last plan was written, Natural Resources Wales felled more than 650 hectares of larch along the valley in four years to slow Phytophthora ramorum, well over 15% of the trees, with another 230 hectares marked to follow.
That plan, approved in April 2015 for ten years, covered 3,940 hectares along 12 miles of the valley. The draft that replaces it is open for comment until 30 November.
The decisions in it are the ones that change the view and the ride: which blocks get clearfelled and when, what goes back in their place, and where timber gives way to bog, broadleaf and open hill.
What riders and walkers should look for
NRW calls the trail network out of Cynonville and Glyncorrwg nationally significant and says keeping it is part of the plan. The detail riders will want, which felling blocks sit on which trails and in which years, is in the maps, which went online this morning.
Last time round, locals asked for fewer clearfells, more broadleaves, permanent viewpoints and better forest entrances, according to the 2015 plan. It answered with a replanting mix of roughly one third broadleaf to two thirds conifer, no more larch or ash, and smaller felling areas in the upland Sitka spruce, partly for nightjars.
About 280 hectares, 7% of the forest, is ancient woodland planted over with conifers. The 2015 target was to get at least half of it back to native broadleaf, and the new draft lists ancient woodland again, alongside peat, invasive species and the rivers.
The plateau above Glyncorrwg is where the peatland work has already begun. Lost Peatlands Connections won almost £2m from the Lottery this month to restore 870 hectares of bog, heath and woodland across the uplands, with NRW as a partner.
The upper Glyncorrwg valley was left out of the last plan because it sits inside the Pen y Cymoedd wind farm area. NRW has not said whether the new draft brings it back in.
The plan takes in the Afan, Pelenna, Corrwg and Drysiog catchments. In 2015 NRW classed the Afan and Pelenna as failing water bodies, mostly down to old coal workings, and capped felling in any catchment over 100 hectares at 20% in three years to protect them.
The drop-in, the deadline and the email address
Andrew Hood, NRW’s senior forest planning officer, said: “Afan Forest is an important environmental and recreational asset for south Wales and this consultation provides opportunity for local communities, visitors and businesses to help shape its future.”
He added: “Their knowledge and feedback will help ensure the final plan reflects the needs of those who use, enjoy and value the forest, while helping us create a more resilient forest landscape for future generations.”
The documents and the online response form are on NRW’s consultation site. The drop-in is on Wednesday 11 November, 1pm to 7pm, in the Boardroom at the Afan Forest Park visitor centre in Cynonville, with the planning team there throughout.
Questions can go to frp@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk. Comments close on 30 November.
Whatever comes out of it is approved for ten years, with the direction beyond that set in outline for 50 years and more, under the system NRW uses for every forest it manages for the Welsh Government.
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