Lower Taff & The Vale Forest Resource Plan - Approved 30 March 2023

Location and setting

The Lower Taff and the Vale Forest Resource Plan is made up of 12 woodlands in Rhondda Cynon Taff, the Vale of Glamorgan, and Cardiff, covering approximately 877 hectares. The setting for of the majority of the woodlands is mostly improved agricultural grassland, native broadleaved woodland, and urban centres. The majority of woodlands are Plantations on ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) or Ancient Semi Natural Woodlands (ASNW), although Hensol and Llantrissant only have small areas of this type of woodland. The woods are also well used by the local community for informal recreation.

Summary of objectives

The following management objectives have been agreed in order to maintain and enhance the resilience of ecosystems, and the benefits they provide:

• Improve Ecosystems Services within the FRP woodlands as directed by:  
  • Natural Resources Wales: Purpose & Role of the Welsh Government Woodland Estate  – Key Priority 7. 
  • South Central Wales Area Statement – Improving our health 
  • State of Natural Resources Report (SoNaRR) for Wales 2020 -  SMNR aim 3.  

This objective will be achieved by writing a Forest Resource Plan that complies with the UK Forestry Standard and UK Woodland Assurance Standard. 

The subsequent forest operations and programmes of work are to be delivered safely and without adverse environmental impact.  Consultation and engagement with neighbours & communities will improve relationships and knowledge on how and why the estate is managed, reduce conflict, encourage closer working relationships, and identify opportunities to improve health and wellbeing of communities and visitors. The mid-term review of the approved Forest Resource Plan must evaluate whether delivery was safe, clean and efficient and whether the Opportunities Map enabled additional work in the forest.   

• Evolve the forest structure to buffer against possible safety, pollution and tree health issues such as hazardous trees, and riparian buffer zones.  The Indicative Woodland Type map will promote species diversity when restocking and the implemented Forest Management Systems map will drive programmes for removing liabilities such as Larch infected with Phytophthora Ramorum, hazardous trees adjacent to recreation facilities and improving light conditions in riparian buffer zones.  5-year monitoring of habitat & species composition from the subcompartment database.  
  
  
• Maintain and enhance the landscape value of the forest, and ensure that recreation facilities, cultural heritage features are not adversely impacted.  5-year monitoring of clear-fell and restocking implementation in the subcompartment database against the Forest.
  
  
• Reduce the risk of wildfires by planning and delivering appropriate fire control measures during and after operations, such as creating and managing fire breaks around restock areas and open areas and working with South Wales Fire Service to plan and implement measures on the estate. The instances of fire in these woodlands will be reviewed at the mid-point of plan implementation.  
  
  
• Maintain and build ecosystem resilience as directed by:
  • South Central Wales Area Statement - Building Resilient Ecosystems, particularly the grasslands and woodlands ecosystem profiles and Resilient Ecological Networks
  • (Environment (Wales) Act 2016) Section 7 priority habitats and protected species, such as ancient semi-natural woodlands, Dormice and Schedule 1 birds. opportunities to improve and expand natural habitats and habitat for protected species will be mapped for future resource planning. 
  • State of Natural Resources Report (SoNaRR) for Wales 2020 -  SMNR aims 1 & 2.  

This objective will be achieved by the implemented Forest Management Systems and Indicative Woodland Type maps driving programmes for thinning and open space maintenance in sites where the most positive impact for biodiversity can be achieved.  5-year monitoring of habitat & species composition from the subcompartment database, completed thinning and clear-felling records with comparisons to production forecast data.  Records of habitat improvement works on Ancient Semi Natural Woodland and Plantations on Ancient Woodland sites with subsequent monitoring on site.   

• Forestry management should not contribute to the existing level of flood risk both within the woodlands and anywhere offsite and where possible, measures should be implemented to reduce any potential risk of flooding; both are to be achieved through good forestry practice in accordance with the latest UK Forestry Standard and relevant forestry guidance; and through consultation and engagement with the relevant Lead Local Flood Authority during planning of felling operations. Consider measures to retain water on site for as long as possible, and opportunities for Natural Flood Management where appropriate. 5-year monitoring of clear-fell and restocking implementation in the subcompartment database against the Forest .
  
  
• Forestry Management should not cause any reduction in water quality both within on-site features and watercourses draining off-site through good forestry practice in accordance with the latest UK Forestry Standard and relevant forestry guidance.
  
  
• Maintain a sustainable supply of timber.  The implemented Forest Management Systems map will drive programmes for forest infrastructure, first thinnings, biodiversity thinnings, landscape change, species and woodland structure diversity along with biodiversity connectivity.  5-year monitoring of habitat & species composition from the subcompartment database, completed thinning and clear-felling records with comparisons to production forecast data.

Maps

Location map
Long-term primary objectives map
Forest management systems map
Indicative forest types and habitats map

Comments or feedback

If you have any comments or feedback, you can contact the Forest Resource Planning team at frp@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk