Afan Forest Storm Darragh Recovery

Overview

We’re continuing efforts to clear fallen trees and debris to assess the full extent of the damage caused by Storm Darragh.

Current situation

The damage across the land that we manage across south west Wales is extensive, with vast areas of forestry significantly impacted by the high winds.

The safety of our visitors and staff remains our top priority. While assessments and recovery operations are underway, we ask that you avoid visiting Afan Forest.

The risk of falling trees or branches remains high, and contractors are operating heavy machinery in many areas, further increasing potential hazards. We may also close our car parks and other visitor facilities at short notice whilst we undertake our recovery work.

Bookmark this page and check back here regularly for updates. We will update this page as more trails are cleared and re-opened. We will also promote via our stakeholder email lists and social media.

Emergency response highlights

In the immediate aftermath of the storm and leading up to Christmas, we prioritised critical tree management tasks, including:

• Clearing forest roads to ensure access for residents.
• Supporting farmers in accessing their land and livestock to meet animal welfare needs.
• Enabling access to emergency and communications masts and to allow National Grid to restore power.
• Ensuring access to windfarms on NRW-managed land.

Ongoing work

We are making progress clearing forest roads to regain access to key areas. Early assessments indicate significant damage to recreational sites, trails, and car parks.

• Recreational sites: Damage is being evaluated, and work plans are being developed to manage fallen trees, estimate costs, and determine timelines.
• Forest road network: Clearance work is ongoing, with some areas expected to reopen soon for access along the forest road network.

Mountain biking and walking trails will remain closed until all damage is cleared and safety checks are completed.

Recreational trails

Mountain bike trails - open:

• Rookie Green and Rheilffordd is open.
• Blue Scar has reopened with no diversions.
• Penhydd has reopened with a diversion (desolation and big dipper remaining closed).

We hope to reopen more trails in the coming weeks, including:

• Y Wal – with diversions around severely impacted sections (Graveyard will remain closed due to severe windblow trees).

Mountain bike trails - closed:

• Skyline
• Blade
• Whites Level

Closed due to ongoing trail maintenance work on Jetlag and for health safety concerns for workers on site and the risk of rock fall from the work onto the trail below.

As soon as work on site is completed these trails will be reopened with significant diversions around severely impacted sections.

Walking Trails

• Old Parish Road Trail (Blue) is open and fully accessible.
• The Old River and Railway Trail (Orange) is open and fully accessible.

Rhyslyn site update

Felling work at Rhyslyn is nearing completion, with timber haulage to begin uplifting   next week. Planned reinstatement work to Zig Zags, Rookie Blue and the Riverside Walk will follow, paving the way for the site’s full reopening in Spring.

Looking ahead

We’ll provide regular updates as work progresses and will share reopening timelines as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work to restore our woodlands.

Stakeholder meeting

The local land management team will be in contact very soon to arrange a stakeholder meeting to provide a more detailed update.

How you can help

To report any new incidents, please report them via our incident hotline on 0300 065 3000 or via our incident reporting form.