Tree Clearance Boost For Wildlife

Roadside trees are being removed from two Carmarthenshire woodlands to make them more homely places for the rare plants and wildlife that live there.

Clearing some of the trees that run along the tracks within Pembrey and Penybedd woodlands will also pave the way for Forestry Commission Wales to carry out thinning operations – and help towards tackling climate change.
For the waste material from the roadside clearance will be gathered up by a machine called a brash baler and turned into compact bales for use at the nearby Western Wood Energy Plant.

Pembrey and Penybedd, which together cover 1,200 hectares, make up some of Britain's sand dune forests and are home to many rare botanical species, 31 species of butterfly, migrant songbirds as well as birds of prey such as sparrowhawk and goshawk.

Pembrey forest also forms part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Forestry Commission Wales Community Ranger Jonathan Price said, “We are carrying out this important work in order to improve the site for conservation reasons and to allow better access for future work programmes.
“It’s all part of the management of Welsh Government woodlands to enable them to provide environmental benefits both now and in the future."