Coed Nercwys forest operations

Overview

Click to read this page in Welsh

What work will take place?

Forest thinning operations are taking place in Coed Nercwys near Mold, and are expected to last about three months.

The work will help to continue producing local timber from the Welsh Government Woodland Estate without the need for clearfelling. Thinning the forest will:

• promote the growth, stability and long-term resilience of the remaining trees.
• encourage greater woodland diversity and improve the overall health of the forest.
• reduce the need for frequent repeat operations by carrying out thinning across a large part of the forest in a single programme of work.

The operations will also include minor road maintenance works to remove vegetation from forest road surfaces while protecting habitats along roadside verges. These improvements are required to allow timber lorries to safely access the forest and transport timber to local sawmills.

Safety

During the work, please follow all signage and safety instructions and be aware of forestry machinery and timber lorry movements within the forest.

Find out more about how to visit our forests safely.

Map showing the work area

Timber haulage times and car park access restrictions

Please be aware of timber lorry movements on forest roads during the operational period.

Timber lorries will be accessing and leaving the site on weekdays between 4:00am and 6:30am, and 9:30am and 4:30pm.

To allow safe movement of the timber lorries, access to the car parks within Coed Nercwys will be limited during these times.

Access and Trail Closures

Tree harvesting operations will require some trail closures and diversions. These will be managed using clear signage and banksmen to help ensure public safety.

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 helps to reduce this competition and allows us to remove unhealthy trees and those that are not growing well. It also encourages natural regeneration of native species and helps restore our ancient woodlands.

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 

Read our Frequently Asked Questions