Tree felling today for a broadleaf woodland tomorrow

The latest phase of timber felling at a forest plantation in Snowdonia is underway by Natural Resources Wales (NRW), with timber haulage set to start next week.

The area felled, which borders Coedydd Aber National Nature Reserve near Abergwyngregyn, will be restored to native broadleaf woodland to benefit wildlife and everyone’s enjoyment of this special landscape.
NRW contractors M G Harvesting will fell around 3,000 tonnes of trees, which will then be transported by haulage firm K. M. Owen transport.

To keep disturbance to a minimum, the timber will be transported between 9am and 3pm on weekdays only.

Huw Green, NRW senior reserves manager for Coedydd Aber, said: “Protecting wildlife is fundamental to our aims as an organisation. As harvesting operations continue over the coming years, we are planning to extend the broadleaf woodland at Coedydd Aber by a square kilometre, boosting biodiversity and improving the landscape.

“We are very grateful to the local community of Abergwyngregyn for their co-operation and we’ll make sure the work causes as little disturbance as possible to the local community and visitors.”

Harvesting this plantation is challenging due to the steep slopes at the site and the haulage company had to customise two four-wheeled drive lorries to transport the timber due to the weight restriction on the medieval bridge and the width of the road through the village.

Tree felling in 2002 removed around 4,000 tonnes of timber, with another 500 tonnes removed last year.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Natural Resources Wales is a Welsh Government Sponsored Body. Its purpose is to ensure that the natural resources of Wales are sustainably maintained, enhanced and used, now and in the future

For more information, see our website: www.naturalresources.wales

Success for Come Outside!

Nearly 3,500 people from deprived communities across Wales have benefitted from a three-year scheme to improve their health and ability to find work.

The Come Outside! Programme, managed by Natural Resources Wales (NRW), brought partners together to deliver more than 1,000 outdoor activity sessions in Communities First areas across Wales. The activities ranged from bushcraft to gardening and from star gazing to geocaching.
Juliet Michael, Come Outside! programme manager for NRW, said: “Come Outside! provided opportunities for people in more deprived areas of Wales to live a healthier lifestyle, develop new skills and enjoy the fantastic natural environment in Wales.
"It not only improved their job prospects, but made a real impact on their health and wellbeing. By increasing their self-confidence, participants have been inspired to use the local outdoors.
“More than 80 per cent said that the programme had influenced them to become more active.
“Nearly half the groups are now independently involved in outdoor activities and up to 700 people say they have now adopted a more active lifestyle involving their friends and families.”
Rhian Jardine, head of sustainable communities for NRW, said: “What was great about the Come Outside! programme is that it was a real team effort.
“We worked very closely with community workers, health and social care experts, linking with local outdoor providers to provide real improvements for the people involved.
“We have learned a lot during the last three years which can be incorporated into any future physical activity programmes and shared with partners working in health and social care. “
Programme updates, a film and the Evaluation Report is available on NRW's website at https://naturalresources.wales/about-us/our-projects/come-outside.