All posts by Dennis Henson

Green Flag Community Award

Once again BBCW has reached the high standards needed to achieve the internationally renowned Green Flag Community Award, from #GreenFlagWales.

This is the 9th year we have achieved this award and we must say a big thank you to our group of volunteers and everyone who has helped towards this. Especially those of you who take home your own litter/dogs waste or pick up after others.

WOODLAND RE-OPENING

Following recent updates on the progress of the Larch project, we can confirm that the woodland will be open to public access from Monday 13th March, 2023.

Whilst all felling activities have been completed , work will continue in terms of the hauling and removal of felled material, so there will still be large vehicles on site for the next few weeks.

With this in mind, we would advise all walkers to be aware of the potential hazards at this time and also suggest that dog walkers consider keeping their dogs on leads during the next few weeks.

Where possible, volunteers will be available on site to advise woodland users.

Once this phase of the project has been completed , work will begin on the broadleaf planting scheme . We would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have already expressed an interest in helping with the planting.

Again, we apologies for the inconvenience, but feel sure you appreciate the future benefits that will arise from the project.

REMOVAL OF LARCH TREES – Update

Blaen Bran Community Woodland has been plagued by Phytophthora Romorum (a disease which infects Larch) for many years. This disease means that as time progresses the Larch within the woodland will become more and more of a risk to users and as such has been removed. 

Whenever a block of woodland or particular species is removed a consideration needs to be made as to whether the remaining trees will be a hazard to such a heavily used area. The spruce plantation by Mountain Air gate has never been thinned and as such just removing the Larch was not an option. All of the remaining trees would have ended up falling over due to the wind and soil conditions present. Hence the removal of the block. 

Above the reservoir is a similar issue. The large spruce has heavy decay present. As they and the Scots Pine there were heavily leaning towards the tracks, reservoir and the ancient boundary Beeches, which are of significant ecological value. We have to take a holistic view towards woodland management and ensure the safety of woodland users. 

The Scots Pine has been suitably thinned to allow for continued growth and for a movement towards a continuous cover system. With this system there should (barring disease or significant weather events) be no need to clear fell this stand in the future.

https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/research/continuous-cover-silviculture/

http://silviculture.org.uk/continuous-cover-forestry/

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/natural-regeneration/

There is an extensive replanting program being put in place to replace the clear felled sections with native broadleaves with a heavy percentage of Oak, Cherry and Beech present along with understory trees. This will involve bracken management and scraping down to the mineral soil to give the trees the best chance. 

If you would like to take an active part in the planting programme, please contact us.

If you have any questions , please contact us at enquiries@blaenbran.wales

Blaen Bran Community Woodland Committee

REMOVAL OF LARCH TREES AT BLAEN BRAN COMMUNITY WOODLANDS – NEW UPDATE

  • Further to our previous updates, we would like to thank all those woodland users who have assisted our efforts by not visiting the woodlands this week, it is greatly appreciated.
  • However, there have, regrettably, been instances where individuals have ventured into the woodlands, walking in close proximity of heavy plant / equipment whilst it is in use. 
    We wish to remind people that they should not enter the woodlands at this time. Similarly, they should not approach vehicles that do not appear to be in use, as they have sophisticated security equipment in place, which will be activated by their presence.
  • Whilst there will be no work taking place this weekend, all security measures for equipment will be in place.
  • Thank you again for your continued co-operation in this matter.
  • BBCW Committee. 

REMOVAL OF LARCH TREES AT BLAEN BRAN COMMUNITY WOODLANDS – LATEST UPDATE

Further to our previous updates, the Larch Removal Project has reached the stage where there will be an increased number of items of heavy plant within the woodlands, which, for operational reasons, will now be working simultaneously , at a number of different locations.

This has implications for the safe use of the woodlands at this point in time .

We therefore have no alternative but to close the woodland to public access from Monday 20th February , 2023 until Monday 13th March , 2023.

We apologies for the inconvenience , but feel certain that you will recognise the need to minimise the risk to woodland users.