16 June 2006
Come and have your say on the future of Wentwood
Drop-in consultation meetings to take place in Llanvaches village hall on 26 June and Earlswood village hall on 3 July, both sessions 2pm – 7pm. All welcome
The Woodland Trust (Coed Cadw), the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity is inviting local people to come and have their say on the future of Wentwood Forest at two special drop-in sessions over the coming fortnight.
Local people are invited to consultation meetings in the Village Halls in Llanvaches on 26 June and Earlswood on 3 July. Anyone can drop in at either session at any time between 2pm – 7pm. Alternatively, people are welcome to drop the Trust a line to give their views on how the site should be managed. The address is Woodland Trust (Coed Cadw), Unit B, Yr Hen Orsaf, Llanidloes, Powys, SY18 6EB or e–email jonwinder@woodland-trust.org.uk The Woodland Trust will make use of all the comments received in drawing up its Management Plan for Wentwood, which it aims to publish in 2007.
The Woodland Trust completed its acquisition of 352 hectares (870 acres) of Wentwood Forest in January this year following an extremely successful fundraising campaign. Jon Winder, one of Trust’s most experienced woodland officers is now responsible for the management of the site and he is starting to draw up initial plans.
One of those likely to take part in the consultation is John Nettleship from Caerwent, who has been a regular visitor to Wentwood for over 30 years. He says: “Because of its situation, Wentwood could easily surpass the Forest of Dean in its natural beauty. There are broadleaved trees with sheets of bluebells growing underneath. Hopefully our national flower, the wild daffodil, will be able to spread back from the few sanctuaries where is has managed to hang on.”
He adds: “Access is an issue which needs discussing. Bridle routes need opening up, footpaths preferably separately from horse routes. Can we stop all-terrain motorists from wrecking every route?”
Jon Winder of the Woodland Trust says: “The Woodland Trust recognises that the real challenge now to restore our part of Wentwood Forest to its former broadleaved glory, and to manage it for the benefit of all. I’d be very interested in hearing from anyone who can help us with any aspect of looking after Wentwood, for example by organising events or volunteer work parties, leading guided walks, being the contact person for local groups or just being the Trust’s eyes and ears out on site, maybe walking a particular path regularly and reporting back on any problems. If you think you can help, please do contact me via email or letter.”2
The Woodland Trust is starting to draw up its initial plans for the site, and has already started some restoration work. In February, Siân Lloyd, the meteorologist and TV personality, visited the site to join local children in planting new, native trees at Wentwood. This was part of a full week of tree planting events. Around 300 children took part, from ten different local schools, as part of Tree For All (1), the Woodland Trust’s ambitious children’s tree planting campaign, which aims to plant a tree for every child in the UK over a five year period, and to involve one million children in doing this.
In August, the Trust hopes to start thinning some of conifers, to allow more light down to the forest floor and to protect the precious ancient woodland flora. Then, in the autumn there will be two special seminars to bring together experts and key interest groups in advising on how the site is managed. There will be a Management Seminar and an Access Seminar in September and October. These are not public events, but if anyone feels they have relevant specialist knowledge, or if the represent a group that should be present, then they are invited to contact Jon Winder (2).
To acquire the 352 hectares (870 acres) of Wentwood, the Woodland Trust had to raise at least £1.5 million to secure the purchase of the site and start its restoration. The Trust would like to say a heart-felt thank you to everyone who supported the campaign, including The Tubney Charitable Trust, the Countryside Council for Wales, the Hickinbotham Charitable Trust, the Oak Foundation, a number of other charitable trusts and indeed to all the individuals who supported the campaign. The Trust is also grateful to the South Wales Echo for helping to publicise the campaign.
For more information visit www.wentwoodforest.org.uk
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For media enquiries contact:
Rory Francis (Publicity and Public Affairs Officer for Wales) on 01766 832563 or 07760 171174
Afallon, Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd LL41 3RH
Email roryfrancis@woodland-trust.org.uk
Or Jon Winder on (01686) 412508
or The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, e-mail media@woodland-trust.org.uk
Notes to editors
1. Tree For All is the biggest, most exciting children’s tree planting campaign the UK has ever seen. The campaign aims to inspire a new generation of youngsters to reconnect with the natural world. Tree For All aims to give one million children around the UK the chance to get to grips with nature and have fun planting trees. The campaign’s vision is that every child should have the chance to plant trees. Twelve million native trees – one for every child under the age of 16 - will be planted over the next five years as part of the campaign.
2. At, the Woodland Trust (Coed Cadw), Unit B, Yr Hen Orsaf, Llanidloes, Powys, SY18 6EB or e–email jonwinder@woodland-trust.org.uk
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.coed-cadw.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.
