Myherin / Tarenig Forest Resource Plan
Overview
Gweld y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg
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.
Location and setting
Myherin and Tarenig are two adjoining forestry plantations in the Cambrian Mountains of mid-Wales. Tarenig (2,085 ha) is prominent in the landscape of the upper Wye, to the south side of the A44 Aberystwyth to Llangurig road. Myherin (1,653 ha) is a few miles to the south-west, and has a more remote character. The two forests are connected by the upland plateau of Cefn Croes, and 1,049 ha of open hill land is included within the area of this Forest Resource Plan. A windfarm of 39 turbines was completed at Cefn Croes in 2005. The total area covered by this plan is 4,787 hectares.
The open hillsides around Myherin / Tarenig and Cefn Croes are very important for nature conservation, noted for both vegetation and breeding birds. They include the Elenydd SAC and SSSI, and the Elenydd-Mallaen SPA[1]. Tarenig forest adjoins the River Wye (a SSSI at this point: the source of the river is a few miles north of the forest), Myherin is close to the Rheidol Woods and Gorge SAC, and its watercourses feed into both the Rheidol and Ystwyth. A number of other designated sites are close to the forests, these are considered in greater detail in the full FRP objectives document.
Both Myherin and Tarenig are mainly coniferous plantations, established between the 1930s and 1970s for softwood timber production. Both forests also include relatively small areas of ancient woodland site; apart from those areas, before afforestation most of the area would have been used for grazing, and there is also a history of mining in the area (remains of lead mines are present in both forests).
Nowadays most of the forests are operationally accessible with a good network of forest roads, though some stands are difficult to manage due to severe slopes. The forests remain important for timber production, but recent management has put greater emphasis on restructuring the forests and improving environmental quality.
The forests are relatively isolated due to their upland location, but as well as open hill land and other forestry plantation, the forests connect with areas of enclosed farmland, hedgerows and broadleaved woodlands. They are not far from other land in the Welsh Government Woodland Estate, including Hafod (500m south), Hafren (2km north) and Nant yr Arian (7km west).
Around half of the central upland area in the FRP is designated for open access on foot under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act, along with 730 ha of forested land at the eastern side of Tarenig. Access to the forest road network on foot, horse and bicycle is allowed throughout the forests on a permissive basis, and waymarked forest walks are available in Myherin from the car park at The Arch. There are Public Rights of Way in both forests (and between them), including the Borth to Devils Bridge to Pontrhyfendigaid Trail (Mal Evans Way), the Cambrian Way and Wye Valley Walk long-distance trails.
Most of this Forest Resource Plan area is within Ceredigion, but the eastern side of Tarenig falls within Powys.
The forests are within the river catchments of Rheidol (its Castell and Mynach headwaters), Ystwyth (its Nant Cell and Ystwyth headwater regions) and Wye (the Afon Tarenig, from its source to its confluence with the Wye; and continuing downstream from that confluence to the Afon Bidno confluence). Four of these catchments are rated as ‘Moderate’ under the Water Framework Directive assessment; the Nant Cell and Afon Tarenig are rated as ‘Poor’.
Overview map
Objectives
Objective 1: Forest resilience
Diverse forests are more robust and resilient to the pressures associated with climate change, including increasing risks from pests and diseases. Continue to broaden the range of age-classes and tree species within the woodlands, using Low Impact Silvicultural Systems in suitable areas, and reduce the size of future clearfells. Carefully select species for restocking which are suitable for the site conditions. Natural regeneration can be used where appropriate. Regular, timely thinning should be carried out to improve tree stability and maximise opportunities for improving resilience and achieving the other objectives set out here. Continue the planned removal of larch, because of vulnerability to Phytophthrora ramorum disease.
Objective 2: Sustainable timber production
Produce large volumes of timber in a sustainable way, maximising timber quality through good species and provenance choice, and well-planned thinning operations. Work to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of silvicultural operations, and take opportunities to improve forest condition to reduce impacts and risks to the natural environment. The forest productive potential should be maintained, and enhanced where possible, noting that this term includes provision of other ecosystem services and is not restricted to timber production.
Objective 3: Habitat quality and nature networks
Myherin and Tarenig forests are very important for connectivity, providing a link between valuable habitats (designated sites) at valley floors and upland hilltop. This Forest Resource Plan has been developed by recognising and mapping existing habitat areas, and taking opportunities to expand and connect them. Opportunities should be taken to improve the condition and extent of open habitats, as well as native / successional woodland. The plan includes extensive peatland restoration, in accordance with NRW policy, by the National Peatland Action Programme.
Objective 4: Protecting water
Forest management shall protect watercourses and where possible improve water quality and river function, including taking measures to slow the flow (reducing flood risk downstream) and improve riparian habitats within the forest. A pilot exercise identifying Integrated Catchment Management interventions (in Tarenig) was undertaken during the preparation of this plan, which includes a programme of river protection work. All forestry work shall be planned in accordance with industry best practice for the management of acid-sensitive catchments.
Objective 5: Landscape and the historic environment
Gradually modify the woodlands to improve landscape amenity: in combination with the use of Low Impact Silvicultural Systems and forest diversification, this entails reducing hard / artificial breaks in the landscape, encouraging mixed woodland at boundaries and using natural features (such as watercourses and changes in slope) to provide more natural-looking breaks in coniferous forest cover. Historic landscape features (such as the Roman marching camp in Tarenig, and old mine workings) should be looked after and woodland cover in their vicinity managed to allow suitable views and interpretation.
Objective 6: Woodlands for people
Maintain and where possible improve the experience of visitors to the woodland, providing a safe, enjoyable and varied woodland environment. The woodlands should be beneficial to the health and well-being of local people and welcoming to visitors from further afield. The importance of long-distance paths and historic routes should be recognised. The woodlands will be incorporated into the National Forest for Wales network over the next few years.
Summary of the main changes that will occur in the forest
- Clear-up of recent windblow from Storm Darragh
- Restocking with a broader range of tree species, reducing the area under spruce monocultures.
- Restocking will be planned to improve resilience, with more rides and fire-breaks, and to reduce the size of future clearfells.
- Increasing the area managed under Low-Impact Silvicultural Systems (i.e. avoiding large clearfells)
- More native broadleaves, and broader native woodland corridors along streamsides.
- Restoration of deep peat areas, and improved connectivity of open habitat land with open-canopy successional woodland.
Forest Resource Plan maps
Concept plan:
Map 1 - Long-term objectives
Map 2 - Forest management systems
Map 3 - Indicative forest types
[1] SAC – Special Area of Conservation, SPA – Special Protection Area, SSSI – Site of Special Scientific Interest. All are sites with statutory protected status.
Why your views matter
We would welcome your opinions about our plans for Myherin and Tarenig. We will use these to improve our management of the forests.
We are holding two drop-in sessions as an opportunity for people to come along and meet NRW staff, ask questions, review and discuss the forestry plans:
1st May 2025 – Llangurig Community Centre (SY18 6SG)
2nd May 2025 – Mynarch Community Centre, Devils Bridge (SY23 4QZ)
Both sessions will be open from 2.30 until 7.30pm
Areas
- Aberystwyth Rheidol
- Ystwyth
Audiences
- Management
Interests
- Forest Management
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