Llanuwchllyn Forest Resource Plan – Approved 12 July 2023

Location and setting

Llanuwchllyn forest covers 1,503 Hectares and is situated to the West of Bala Lake in Snowdonia National Park. The forest is made up of a number of forest blocks known as Penaran, Wenallt and Lordship, together with a number of smaller woodlands which are centred around the village of Llanuwchllyn. Most of the watercourses in the forest including the source of the River Dee flow into Bala Lake, a special area of conservation. The forest also overlaps with the Migneint, Dduallt and Arenig special area of conservation which has many blanket bogs and heathland habitats.

Llanuwchllyn location map

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 and maintain Migneint Dduallt and Arenig SAC interest features to favourable condition that are present within the forest, in accordance with the conservation objectives. These include Dry and Wet Heath and Blanket bog habitats.
Manage the forest edge appropriately for the benefit and favourable condition of dry and wet heath, blanket bog habitats and raptors. Consider different options for management such as native successional woodland buffer zones to minimise the impact of seeding conifers and provide shelter for ground nesting birds such as hen Harrier and Black grouse.
Create a diverse permanent forest structure and ecosystem that includes riparian and native woodland, with natural reserves and more successional woodland and open habitats along forest roads and rides. The woodland ecosystem will continue to provide habitats for numerous bird species, mammals and invertebrates, as well as a diverse range of flora.
Increase the quantity of deadwood in the forest, which supports a diverse biota within the forest ecosystem.
Expand the existing riparian woodland network to provide better buffering against harvesting operations and to help improve the water quality in freshwater ecosystems.
Ensure compliance with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive Regulation 2017 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.
Plan felling coupes and use Low Impact Silvicultural Systems where possible now and in future management, to help minimise the impact on water quality in the wider Dee LIFE project area, by reducing the risk of sedimentation, peak flows, and acidification as well as reducing the visual impacts on the landscape.
Diversify the species composition of the forest by promoting a more diverse restocking strategy, which will include more varieties of broadleaves and natives as well as productive conifers.
Improve the internal structure of the forest by developing age class diversity, varieties of tree size and mixtures of species where possible. This can be achieved by gradually reducing clear fell management systems to be replaced by more adaptive continuous cover forestry systems in the long-term.
Remove any larch infected with Phytophthora ramorum and plan for the eventual removal of remaining areas of significant larch under the Larch Reduction Strategy.
Maintain the long-term commercial viability of the forest, by planning a sustainable supply of timber, whilst meeting all other objectives and priorities.
Invest in forest infrastructure and tracking to provide better access to allow for delivery of the plan and more Low Impact Silvicultural Systems in future management.
Protect all monuments and historical features when carrying out forest management operations. Additional consultation may be necessary in archaeologically sensitive areas identified by Gwynedd Archaeological Trust.
Consider the visual impact of management operations and long-term proposals on views within Snowdonia National Park. Attention will focus on the contrast between mature conifers and the open landscape.
Improve the visual and sensory and landscape habitat value of the forest by increasing native woodland.
Maintain and improve opportunities for continued use of forest roads and public rights of way including other tracks and paths within the forest.
Maintain Public Rights of Way 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.
Restore all Ancient Woodland Sites through the gradual removal of conifers over time.
Explore opportunities for working together with adjoining landowners, stakeholders and on projects such as the ‘Dee LIFE project’ 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 small scale hydro projects such as along the river Dee in Penaran forest.