Cwrt and Brynteg Forest Resource Plan - Approved 6 January 2021

Location and setting

Cwrt and Brynteg forest is located to the west of the A470 near the villages of Bronaber and Trawsfynydd, which combined have a total population of 973 (2011 census).

The Forest Resource Plan area includes the main forest blocks of Cwrt forest and Brynteg which collectively have a total area of 600 ha, with Cwrt forest being the larger forested area of 512ha and Brynteg woodland totalling 88ha.

Cwrt and Brynteg forest is situated within the County Council boundary of Gwynedd and within the southern boundary of the Snowdonia National Park. Both forest blocks are seated at relevantly low elevation, with Brynteg averaging 190m and Cwrt ranging from 256m to 332m. Cwrt and Brynteg are not particularly prominent in the landscape mainly because the surrounding landscape is mountainous, particularly the Rhinog Fawr range, which is part of the Rhinog National Nature Reserve. Coed y Brenin forest is located only 2km south of Cwrt Forest. 

The habitat surrounding Cwrt and Brynteg forest blocks consists of sheep grazed mountains, moorlands and bogs with an extensive network of watercourses which flow into Afon Eden which is a Special Area of Conservation.

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:

• Increase structural diversity through reduced clear fell coupe sizes phased over time.
  
  
• Continue to maintain a sustainable supply of timber production through design of felling and restock species choice.
  
  
• Diversify the forest species composition to increase resilience to pests and diseases whilst building a robust forest for future generations.

• Reduce any potential conifer seeding impact on the adjacent Special Areas of Conservation by the sensitive placement of prolific seeding conifer species and management of open and successional buffer areas.

• Continue to maintain and extend infrastructure for goat and sheep management in the forest, enabling population control and improving habitat connectivity.

• Restore 65.7ha of bog/heathland, thereby helping to achieve the Welsh Government commitment to its peatland restoration policy.

• Increased successional /riparian woodland areas for the improvement of habitat resilience and landscape scale habitat linkages.
  
  
• Identify and protect the nationally important heritage features and investigate the possibility for future research projects to increase the understanding of area’s wider cultural heritage.
  
  
• Maintain and improve visitors experience by providing a safe and enjoyable environment which changes more gradually over time.
  
  
• Investigate the funding opportunities for further on-site interpretative panels and online learning resources.

Maps

• Location map
• Long-term primary objectives map
• Forest management systems map
• Indicative forest types and habitats map
• 10 year management objectives map
• 10 year harvesting activities map

Comments or feedback

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