There are loads of useful contacts in Wales, I hope this is a good place to list them!
Managing woodlands in Wales
In Wales, woodland advisors work with woodland owners and the Forestry Commission. There are a number of advisors- (management planners, who are often chartered foresters,) around the country who are happy to do woodland visits and to talk with woodland owners about their management plans and their woodland. These plans could be very varied, including managing woodland for timber, thinning plantation woodlands, restoring ancient woodland sites and managing woods for biodiversity. There is no charge for this advice. The woodland advisors also help with filling in grant applications and other paperwork.
Coed Cymru
Simon writes: Coed Cymru promotes the management and expansion of native woodlands in Wales, so our aims are also in common with yours. Officers are based at Local Authorities and carry out work within the authorities to support their targets. We also provide a free advisory service to woodland owners on management and grant aid. We are all 'Management Planners' under the Better Woodlands for Wales scheme operated by Forestry Commission Wales. I work in Powys. If any of your members in Powys would like assistance with advice or pursuing grant aid for work, you are most welcome to get in touch.
Simon Ayres
Coed Cymru Powys
Ian Writes: I might add that our main role at Coed Cymru is to protect, and bring back into production where appropriate, through sensitive holistic management, the native woodlands of Wales, in addition to expanding native woodland cover to assist the linking of habitats throughout Wales. We are based with every local authority in Wales, and provide a free advisory, planning, and facilitation service to all woodland owners, whether they be private or public. We also advise and assist in the marketing of woodland produce, timber or non – timber, and it’s added value potential, and will organise the implementation of silvicultural operations as necessary. In short, we will make it as easy as possible for a woodland owner to give long term commitment to the sustainable management of their woodland. Coed Cymru have been instrumental in restoring native woodlands in Wales since 1985. On that note I will invite any woodland owners in my working area of Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan to contact me for any advice or assistance required, either now or in the future. Contact tel. no. [07976] 112345.
[email protected]
I have been in touch with biodiversity partnerships too, and many have already offered their support.
Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
If you have any owners that would like some advice I am happy to help.
Claire Pooley
Ecologist
[email protected]
Gwynedd
Bryn writes: I work as the Biodiversity Officer for Gwynedd Council, and if any of your small woodland owners would like any advice on management etc in this area then they're welcome to contact me or one of my colleagues.
[email protected]
Pembrokeshire
Bethan says: If you know of woodland owners in Pembrokeshire who'd like to join our woodland forum that'd be great. It's a fairly informal group, we meet twice a year at a woodland, have a walk round the site discussing management issues & then a round table meeting after where we discuss management issues linked with that site & any other recent developments e.g. Wales Woodland Strategy was discussed at the last meeting.
The group is co-ordinated by myself and Celia Thomas from Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.
[email protected]
Biodiversity officer
Vale of Glamorgan
Richard May, who is an ecologist for the biodiversity group in the Vale of Glamorgan is happy to have any woodland owners contact him, who would like to know more about the local biodiversity action plan, or would like to receive their newsletter.
You can contact him directly:
[email protected]
Carmarthenshire
Isobel writes: The Carmarthenshire Biodiversity partnership would be very keen to make links with the Small Woodland Owners Group and would be happy to send out our newsletter to any member in Carmarthenshire and receive information to distribute from SWOG.
Isabel Macho
Biodiversity officer
[email protected]
Bridgend
Aditee writes: My job is to protect and promote biodiversity within the Bridgend County Borough including running the Bridgend Biodiversity Partnership, revising the Local Authority Action Plan, running projects, organising events for celebration of the International Biodiversity day (May 22) and also Wales Biodiversity Week (June) etc. etc... For this, as you can imagine, I will need all the help I can get from the residents of Bridgend County Borough.
I am happy to be contacted by woodland owners and I will try my best to provide the assistance and/or information required.
Also, I think, it would be great if the woodland owners got involved with our work; the Bridgend Biodiversity Partnership provides an opportunity for such an activity.
[email protected]