Hirnant Forest Resource Plan

Overview

Natural Resources Wales is responsible for the sustainable management of the publicly owned woodlands and forests of Wales. They are managed for the benefit and well-being of the people who visit them and depend on them for their livelihood. This responsibility includes improving their biodiversity and long-term resilience to climate change so that future generations will also be able to enjoy the benefits they provide. Every ten years Natural Resources Wales reviews the long-term management plans for each forest area. These are compiled in a new Forest Resource Plan.

Hirnant Forest Resource Plan (FRP) includes the main forest blocks of Cwmwr and Cwm Gwnen which collectively have a total area of 257.21 ha (Cwmwr 128.88 ha and Cwm Gwnen 128.33 ha). These two forest blocks are referred to as ‘Hirnant’ so named after the small village of Hirnant or the Hirnant stream/valley which is located to the south of Cwmwr. The name Cwmwr or ‘footbridge’, has been taken from the surrounding farmsteads names which perhaps referred to a historic footbridge over the Hirnant stream.  

The two Hirnant forest blocks are situated within the County Council boundary of Powys. Cwmwr is located on a steep hillside (Carnedd Das Eithin) and the Bwlch y Main ridge to the north of the B439, Abertridwr to Penybontfawr road. Cwm Gwnen is approached by a minor public road from the village of Penygarnedd B4391, north of Llanfyllin.

The surrounding habitat of the Hirnant FRP blocks consists of enclosed grazed farmland, commercial conifer forest blocks, which dominate the higher elevations and mixed broadleaved woodlands on the lower slopes and riversides. The Berwyn NNR, (SAC, SPA and SSSI) is situated 1.2km to the west and north of the Hirnant FRP, which consists of nearly 8000 hectares of open moorland within the Berwyn Mountain range.

Public access for the two woodlands is a mixture of open access on foot with a good network of public footpaths and bridleways linking the woodland blocks to the wider landscape.

Below is a link to the summary of objectives for the plan followed by the indicative maps for the forest resource plan:

Hirnant Forest Summary of Objectives

The following document helps to explain some of the categories shown on the maps below:

Explanation of map keys  

Summary of the main changes that will occur in the forest:                         

• The removal of all larch trees from the woodlands (20ha) due to the confirmation of Phytophthora ramorum
• Enhancement of higher conservation value areas by the management and expansion of the riparian zones and successional woodland.
• An increase of areas allocated to long term retention and natural reserves.
• The restoration of ancient woodland sites (6ha) by the removal of conifer and the creation of a native broadleaf habitat.
• Softening of conifer edges to lessen their visual impact on the landscape
• A decrease of Sitka spruce and an increase of other species of conifer and broadleaves in order to increase the woodlands resilience to pests and diseases

Why your views matter

We would like to know your opinion and views on the new plans for Hirnant forest so it can help us improve its long-term management.