Yr Graig – forest operations

Overview

To view the page in Welsh please click here 

What work is taking place?

Tree felling operations in Yr Graig woodland will begin in September, to remove areas of larch trees as a part of our larch reduction policy to combat the spread of larch disease. Areas of mature trees will also be felled and thinned in line with the Forest Resource Plan.

Thinning operations will also take place in the northern area of the woodland, to help increase light penetration through the tree canopy and promote understorey growth.

Approximately 17 hectares of trees will need to be removed and the work will take approximately 9 months.

Why do we thin trees?

Once an area of trees has matured to a certain size, they begin to compete with one another for nutrients, water, and light.

Thinning the trees out helps to reduce this competition and allows us to remove unhealthy trees and those that are not growing well.

This is one of the most beneficial activities that can be done for a growing forest and is a vital part of the forest cycle.

Find out more about how we look after our forests:  Lifecycle of our Forests and Woodlands 

Find out more about our approach to tackling larch disease and Ash Dieback 

Replanting

We take pride in making sure our forests are felled responsibly and sustainably, to meet all the requirements of UK Forestry Standards and the FSC and PEFC Certification Standard.

Our forestry team will restock the site in line with approved plans with a variety of species ensuing a resilient woodland, resistant to the threats of pests and diseases and climate change.

Forest access during operations

It is likely that we will have to close off public access to some areas of forestry whilst operations are taking place, to allow the work to be undertaken quickly and safely.

Whilst we do not like to close off access to our forests, which are enjoyed by many, live harvesting sites are incredibly dangerous, and this is necessary to protect the safety of our staff, our contractors, and visitors to the woodland.

Please adhere to all closures and diversion notices when they are in place. We will do everything we can to minimise disruption to the local community.

Find out more about visiting our forests safely here

Map showing affected area