North Ceredigion Coast Forest Resource Plan

Location and setting

The North Ceredigion Coast forest resource plan totals 387 hectares and is situated along the A487 to the north of Aberystwyth. It is made up of a number of smaller forest blocks, the majority of which are Ancient Woodland Sites.

All the forest blocks can be accessed either directly or indirectly from the A487. Allt Ddel and Allt Derw are situated near village of Penrhyncoch; Allt-y-Crib near Talybont; and Lodge Park Woods and Coed Tyn-y-Garth near the villages of Tre’r-ddol and Furnace.

All the forest blocks lie within smaller river catchments; the Einion, the Cletwr, the Leri and the Clarach, which all flow into Cardigan Bay.

The whole of the forest resource plan area is in Ceredigion Local Planning Authority.

Summary of Objectives

The following management objectives have been agreed in order to maintain and enhance the resilience of ecosystems, and the benefits they provide:

  • Restore all Ancient Woodland Sites through the gradual removal of conifers over time, using Low Impact Silvicultural Systems and thinning management where possible. This includes all the forest blocks within the plan except the upper parts of Coed Tyn-y-Garth. Clear fell any remaining stands of invasive conifer species.

  • Maintain a sustainable supply of timber, which includes both broadleaves and conifers.

  • Invest in forest infrastructure to provide better access to allow for more diverse management prescriptions within the Ancient Woodland Sites.

  • Increase the native species composition and resilience of the forest, by focusing on more diverse restocking solutions, including natural regeneration, and the use of local varieties of tree stock. Some existing non-invasive conifer species and specimens will remain to help diversify the species composition of the forest.

  • Plan for the removal any of any remaining areas of significant larch under the Larch Reduction Strategy.

  • Manage any invasive species such Rhododendron and conifer regeneration in Ancient Woodland areas and designated sites such as Coed Cwm Cletwr and Coed Cwm Einion.

  • Create a more diverse and permanent forest structure by diversifying and expanding the native and riparian woodland habitats and protecting veteran trees within the forest including all Ancient Woodland Sites, by increasing natural reserves, long-term retentions, and developing a mosaic of small-scale open habitats connected to forest roads and rides.

  • Increase the quantity of deadwood in Ancient Woodland Sites.

  • Improve woodland habitat connectivity especially along the local woodland networks in the Dyfi Valley.

  • Maintain and expand woodland and riparian habitats for protected species such as dormice, otters and pine martens.

  • Improve the structural diversity of the two designated woodland sites, Coed Cwm Cletwr and Coed Cwm Einion, whilst maintaining environmental conditions for the communities of rare flora, through careful forest management.

  • Ensure compliance with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive when undertaking operational activities by following best practice as outlined in the ‘UK Forest Standard - Forest and Water Guidelines’ to protect water quality and freshwater ecosystems within the forest.

  • Ensure compliance with the Habitats Directive in the Dyfi Estuary SPA by restricting forest operations west of the A487 at Lodge Park. No forest operations to occur between 20th October and the 14th April to prevent disturbance of the Greenland White-fronted Geese.

  • Use Low Impact Silvicultural Systems where possible, to help minimise the impact on water quality as well as reducing the visual impacts on the landscape.

  • Keep Caer Allt-Goch Hillfort Scheduled Monument and mine sites in Coed Allt-y- Crib clear of tree and scrub vegetation and consult with CADW on their management.

  • Protect all monuments and historical features in the Upland Ceredigion Historic Landscape Area when carrying out forest management operations.

  • Improve the visual and sensory and landscape habitat value of the forests by increasing the broadleaf content of forests.

  • Consider the visual impact of management operations and long-term proposals in the upper parts of Coed Tyn-y-Garth on views from Snowdonia National Park and the Dyfi Valley.

  • Explore opportunities for improving the landscape and woodland management around the grade II listed Lodge Park Deer Park and consult with CADW on its management.

  • Maintain and improve recreation opportunities for walkers, cyclists and horse riders along well used forest roads and public rights of way.

  • Maintain Public Rights of Way on any routes affected by planned harvesting operations including, felling, thinning and restocking. Any existing Public Right of Way that is currently planted over for historical reasons will be reinstated as per the definitive map.

  • Explore opportunities for working together with adjoining landowners, stakeholders and projects like the ‘Celtic Rainforest LIFE Project’ in Coed Cwm Einion to develop priorities and plans which will improve the connectivity and long-term resilience of ecosystems in the wider landscape.

  • Continue to explore the potential for wind energy projects in the TAN 8 Strategic Search Area D, just east the forest blocks.

Maps

Comments or feedback

If you have any comments or feedback, you can contact the Forest Resource Planning team at frp@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

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