Case Study 26 Coed Dol-Fawr, Cwm Rheidol, Cardiganshire Location and ownership of woodlands These woodlands lie in Cwm Rheidol, some 2km north-east of Aberffrwd, Cardiganshire. They extend to ~60ha (150 acres). NGR is SN 705795. The woodlands are privately-owned by Statkraft, a Norwegian utility company who also own and operate the adjacent Rheidol valley hydro-electric power scheme. The woodlands are managed by Sustainable Forest Management (Phil Morgan), a locally- based forestry consultancy with specialist expertise in continuous-cover forestry. The entire site is included on the Ancient Woodland Inventory, mapped as being roughly evenly divided between replanted and semi-natural status. In practice, these attributes are inter-mingled. These woodlands are not SSSI designated as at 2011. Significance/ reasons for selection as case-study example This site has been selected as a case-study within this project for two main reasons:- 1. It is an excellent example of a well-thought through model for the economic use of timber and woodfuel harvested from a PAWS (or PAWS comparable) woodland during the process of gradual enhancement. Of particular significance are the strong local timber processing aspect and the consistent application of the gradual conversion approach using continuous-cover silvicultural techniques. 2. The wood is typical of many PAWS sites in upland Britain where a new generation of private owners are inheriting rather neglected post-war crops of mixed species. There is therefore an informal “demonstration site” role, with the site used by the Forestry Commission when training PAWS specialists. Given that these woodlands have been under new ownership and management for some years, there is the opportunity for others to draw inspiration and to learn lessons. Owner objectives for management (including PAWS restoration work) The current owners wish to secure a sustainable financial, silvicultural and ecological future for their woodlands through appropriate management. The woodlands are positioned in a steep-sided valley with very considerable tourist significance (heritage steam railway, riverside walking route, Victorian waterfall attraction etc.), hence preservation of visual amenity and avoidance of landscape disturbance are paramount. The owners’ involvement in hydro-electric power generation using the Cwm Rheidol Reservoir dam below these woods also imposes a protection forestry imperative - the wood contains some steep, potentially erodible slopes and mining spoil which must remain immobile to avoid siltation. The owners wish to achieve a gradual restoration of the PAWS woodlands to predominantly native species composition using CCF methods to avoid disturbance, and also wish the woodland to produce timber and woodfuel supplies for local use, contributing to financial and ecological sustainability.
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Case Study 26
Coed Dol-Fawr, Cwm Rheidol, Cardiganshire
Location and ownership of woodlands
These woodlands lie in Cwm Rheidol, some 2km north-east of Aberffrwd,
Cardiganshire. They extend to ~60ha (150 acres). NGR is SN 705795.
The woodlands are privately-owned by Statkraft, a Norwegian utility company who
also own and operate the adjacent Rheidol valley hydro-electric power scheme. The
woodlands are managed by Sustainable Forest Management (Phil Morgan), a locally-
based forestry consultancy with specialist expertise in continuous-cover forestry.
The entire site is included on the Ancient Woodland Inventory, mapped as being
roughly evenly divided between replanted and semi-natural status. In practice, these
attributes are inter-mingled. These woodlands are not SSSI designated as at 2011.
Significance/ reasons for selection as case-study example
This site has been selected as a case-study within this project for two main reasons:-
1. It is an excellent example of a well-thought through model for the economic use
of timber and woodfuel harvested from a PAWS (or PAWS comparable)
woodland during the process of gradual enhancement. Of particular significance
are the strong local timber processing aspect and the consistent application of the
gradual conversion approach using continuous-cover silvicultural techniques.
2. The wood is typical of many PAWS sites in upland Britain where a new
generation of private owners are inheriting rather neglected post-war crops of
mixed species. There is therefore an informal “demonstration site” role, with the
site used by the Forestry Commission when training PAWS specialists. Given that
these woodlands have been under new ownership and management for some
years, there is the opportunity for others to draw inspiration and to learn lessons.
Owner objectives for management (including PAWS restoration work)
The current owners wish to secure a sustainable financial, silvicultural and ecological
future for their woodlands through appropriate management. The woodlands are
positioned in a steep-sided valley with very considerable tourist significance (heritage