7 September 2006
Ancient woodland restoration continues at Penycoed
Thinning of conifers marks the start of better days for oak, ash and hazel at Llangollen beauty spot
As television viewers around the UK vote for their favourite restoration projects on BBC TWO’s TV series, work is going ahead this month to restore one of Llangollen’s natural wonders, not an old building, but an ancient wood, Penycoed.
The Woodland Trust (Coed Cadw), the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity, is carrying out thinning work at the beauty spot, a 28 hectare (69 acre) part ancient wood (1) on the eastern fringe of Llangollen, as part of its long term aim of restoring the wood to its former broadleaved glory.
During September and October this year the Trust will be felling some of the conifer trees on the north eastern slopes overlooking the Tyn Dwr side of Llangollen. Along the woodland edge this work will increase light levels reaching the woodland floor so encouraging native woodland ground flora, such as wood anemone, dogs mercury and bluebells, to expand further into the wood. Also there are many older broadleaved trees which are struggling to compete for light beneath the heavy shade of the taller conifers. Where these occur they will be opened up to give them enough light to ensure they survive. All of the felled material will remain on site and allowed to rot down over time.
Clare Morgan, who manages the wood for the Woodland Trust, says: “Wales’ ancient woodlands are a vital part of our national heritage, and it’s important we restore them to their broadleaved glory. This felling work is an important step towards doing this at Penycoed. Unfortunately, however, it is inevitable that there will be some disruption to users of the wood while it’s going on, with sections of path having to be closed at times. It will also be advisable to keep dogs on a lead whilst work is in progress. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
Later on in the year, the Trust will also be doing work to improve some of the paths on the south-west side of the site, as this path is difficult to walk on in places, particularly when it is wet.
Coed Cadw acquired Pen y Coed in 1995 following a successful local fundraising appeal to which hundreds of local people contributed, and which was also supported by the Countryside Council for Wales, Glyndwr District Council and Clwyd County Council.
As Penycoed is a part ancient woodland site which was planted with conifers in the early 1960s, Coed Cadw’s key aim is to restore the site by gradually removing the conifers. Like almost all Woodland Trust woods, it is open for everyone to enjoy, at any time, for free. It now has its own website at: www.wt-woods.org.uk/penycoed This includes a whole range of information about the site and its management, including an interactive map.
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For media enquiries contact:
Rory Francis (Publicity and Public Affairs Officer for Wales) on 07760 171174
Afallon, Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd LL41 3RH
Email roryfrancis@woodland-trust.org.uk
or Clare Morgan on 01824 705880
or The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, e-mail media@woodland-trust.org.uk
Notes for editors
1. Ancient Woodland is land that has been continuously wooded for at least 400 years (and often much, much longer). Part of Pen y Coed falls into this category. Ancient woods are our richest, most important sites for a vast range of insects, birds, animals, flowers and trees. These woods are home to more threatened species than any other UK habitat. Ancient woodland is one of the great glories of our natural heritage; they are places of inordinate beauty, reservoirs of evidence for environmental change, archaeology and economic history. They are a source of inspiration for local culture and folklore. Our resource of ancient woodland is finite and cannot increase, so what remains is precious and irreplaceable.
Coed Cadw (The Woodland Trust)
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 250,000 members and supporters. The Trust has four key aims: i) No further loss of ancient woodland; ii) Restoring and improving the biodiversity of woods; iii) Increasing new native woodland; iv) Increasing people’s awareness and enjoyment of woodland.
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). These include over 100 sites in Wales, with a total area of 1,580 hectares (3,900 acres). It offers free public access to nearly all of its sites. Further news can be accessed via www.woodland-trust.org.uk. The Trust adopted a new Welsh language name in 2000: “Coed Cadw”. This is an old Welsh term, used in medieval laws to describe protected or preserved woodland.
