Annual Study Tour 2025 – South Wales

Monday 12 May – Llanover and Llanarth Estates, near Abergavenny

In the morning we will visit Llanover (see www.llanover.com), a farming, forestry and residential business which lies in the heart of the Usk Valley and partially in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (formerly Brecon Beacons). Its tree interest consists of 350 hectares (ha) with 115 formal compartments, 25% of which are in the National Park; a listed parkland, a notable arboretum and much amenity planting outside compartments. Woodland cover is 26% of the whole, approximately equally split between hardwood and conifer species, and provides important features in this landscape. Topics to be discussed will include land use change and incentives, planting and management of parkland trees, management of avenues and future species selection including Nothofagus and Sequoia. We will be hosted by Elizabeth and Ross Murray. Ross oversees management of the woodland and is a Forestry Commissioner.

In the afternoon we will visit the Llanarth Estate (www.llanarthestate.co.uk) managed by The Society’s Former President, Ben Herbert. It is located between Abergavenny and Monmouth adjoining the Usk Valley. The estate comprises 2,328 ha of which 360 ha is woodland. The visit will be centred on Tal-y-Coed, a 77 ha block purchased by the estate in 1983 from the Forestry Commission (FC). Topics to be discussed will include economics of forestry, timber markets, species diversity, public access and pests.

Please note: there is no coach service, you will need to make your own way to site and back. Thank you.

Tuesday 13 May – Afan Valley, near Port Talbot

Associated with the coal mining industry for over 200 years, the last major deep mine in the Afan Valley (South Pit, Glyncorrwg) was closed by the then National Coal Board in 1970, although several smaller drift mines remained for many years. Large volumes of timber were required in these mines to support the shafts and tunnels, and larch trees were planted by FC from 1940’s – 1960’s for this purpose, and found a ready market.

In 2010 the fungal pathogen Phytophthora ramoram was detected on larch in Wales for the first time, and the tree which had played such a significant part of the history and landscape of the valley, was about to disappear from the area, known to locals as Little Switzerland.

Our visit will attempt to tell the story of how the Forest District teams, aided by information from Forest Research, tackled the removal of over 1,100 ha of larch from these forests. In particular the challenges faced in the early days due to the changes in the science and disease modelling, and how the strategies for disease management had to respond to the changes.

Please note: driving to site is not possible due to our non circular route and access via forest tracks, coach from the hotel only on this day.

Wednesday 14 May – Brynau Farm, near Neath

Brynau Farm, owned by the Woodland Trust, is the largest new native woodland creation project in Wales. It comprises of around 200 ha of land perfectly placed on rolling hills next to Gnoll Country Park. It contains a pocket of ancient woodland surrounded by open fields and sits on the edge of Neath, with views across to Swansea Bay and Mumbles lighthouse.

In the morning, we will look at the area around the farm and the mix of new woodland, ancient woodland, grassland and wood pasture which provides a mosaic of habitats which supports a variety of flora and fauna species.  The Society’s AGM will be held at lunchtime.

In the afternoon, we will focus on the newly-acquired area Cefn Morfudd, a 140 ha upland plateau to the east of the farm. Subjects will include woodland creation, restoring peatland and creating natural features to address the risks of flooding in the town of Neath.

Our Annual Dinner will be held in the evening at our base for the week – The Bryn Meadows Hotel near Caerphilly. The event will include the Leslie Astle drinks reception, three course meal with wine. Our speaker will be Prof. Lynne Boddy MBE PhD DSc FRSB FLSW Professor of Fungal Ecology at Cardiff University. Her subject is: “Getting to the heart of the matter: decay of veteran trees”.

Thursday 15 May – Wentwood Forest, near Newport (morning only)

Wentwood Forest has a long history spanning over 1,000 years. It was once the hunting preserve for Chepstow Castle and is mentioned as early as the 12^th century. Having changed hands a number of times, by the 17^th century it is recorded as producing charcoal for industry and there is evidence of charcoal hearths in the forest. As part of the long forest management there are records of conifers, including larch and pine, being planted around 1760. A very significant proportion of the broadleaved woodland was felled during the first and second world wars, and the area was replanted with conifers to provide a timber resource for the nation.

Wentwood is the largest area of Ancient Woodland in Wales at about 1,000 ha, and is managed as two distinct parts by both Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the Woodland Trust, but with common objectives to restore Ancient Woodland.

We will visit sites to see approaches to management, both clearfell and lower impact silvicultural systems, which NRW are undertaking, and will discuss the challenges associated with managing at this scale.

Please note: there is no coach service for this day and no lunch provided. Thank you.

Bookings open on 6 January 2025

Booking forms and links will be posted here ready for 6 January.