Hafren Forest Resource Plan - Approved 2 July 2021
Location and setting
The Hafren Forest resource plan area totals 3513 hectares incorporating the main Hafren Forest block (2875 ha) and five satellite forestry blocks. Three to the north (Dolgau, Llwynygog Hill and Llwynygog) and two to the east and south (Tan Hinon and Maes Y Brynar respectively).
Hafren Forest sits on the edge of the Cambrian Mountains, seven miles west of the market town of Llanidloes. It can be accessed from Llanidloes town centre via the narrow road to Old Hall or via the northern end of Llyn Clywedog on minor roads.
The forest is popular with visitors because of the numerous hiking trails and features which include a footpath to Blaenhafren Falls, a walking route to the famous Severn Breaks its Neck waterfall and the seven mile ‘Source of the Severn’ trail route through the forest to the Severn’s source in Pumlunom, the highest mountain in Mid Wales.
The Pumlunom is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its peat bog habitat and upland breeding bird populations.
Summary of the main changes that will occur in the forest
- NRW will maintain or improve timber production to ensure ongoing support for Welsh economy as global timber demands increase and reserves diminish over the next 25 years.
- Hafren forest has an extensive riparian network which will continue to be maintained as well as selecting new riparian sections to support to water quality, pH balance and increase of biodiversity.
- Much of the forest is in acid sensitive catchments meaning that forestry operations near watercourses will be highlighted as particularly sensitive and appropriate mitigating protocols should be administered.
- Natural flood management opportunities to support wet woodland habitat creation, biodiversity and potential local flood management benefits will be explored.
- Plant and develop an increasingly diverse tree species mixture where soil and altitude are suitable.
- The Pumlumon SSSI requires a combination of open habitat buffering, broadleaf planting (where appropriate) and a development of a graded edge to prevent non-native conifer establishing and to give a softer transition to the landscape.
- Scheduled monuments, heritage features and cultural heritage points should be protected in order to preserve the historical value of these locations within the forest.
- Recreation and access are important for this site and facilities should be maintained or improved where available (e.g. tracks and trails). Increasing footfall to the site will promote the forest status, particularly as it is now recognised as an exemplar site for the National Forest of Wales.
- Continue to protect high profile osprey nesting sites for benefit of visitors, education and research
Opportunities with Hafren Forest (shown in priority order)
- Timber production to ensure despatch volumes are maintained or improved and to ensure ongoing support for Welsh economy as global timber demands increase and reserves diminish over the next 25 years.
- Capitalise on the extensive recent riparian management work by maintaining existing and selecting new riparian sections for support to water quality, pH balance and increase of biodiversity.
- The acid sensitive catchment of the site (which includes the River Severn) and the proximity to downstream tributaries of the Upper River Wye SAC mean that forestry operations near to watercourses should be highlighted as particularly sensitive and appropriate mitigating protocols should be administered.
- Pursue opportunities for natural flood management techniques in suitable riparian zones to support wet woodland habitat, pH buffering and biodiversity as well as local flood management benefits.
- Take advantage of topography and underlying soil geology to strategically plant and develop an increasingly diverse tree species structure where suitable. Opportunities to restock with alternative to Larch (due to Phytophthora infected stand removals) should be actively pursued.
- The sensitivity of the Pumlumon SSSI requires a combination of open habitat buffering, broadleaf planting (where appropriate) and a development of a graded edge where productive forestry blocks in the west are adjacent to the Pumlumon designation. This will support the mitigation of conifer seed dispersal and give a softer transition to landscape changes.
- Scheduled monuments, heritage features and cultural heritage points should be protected and kept free of productive forestry operations in order to preserve the historical value of these locations within the forest.
- Recreation and access are important for this site and facilities should be maintained or improved where available (e.g. tracks and trails). Increasing footfall to the site will promote the forest status, particularly as it is now recognised as an exemplar site for the National Forest of Wales.
- Continue to protect high profile osprey nesting sites for benefit of visitors, education and research.
- Increase local community outreach and engagement in forestry through local community involvement opportunities (particularly at Staylittle where the Llwynygog and Dolgau blocks are nearby).
- Despite the small area of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS), efforts shall be made to restore these sites with native broadleaf restocking and enhance broadleaf species cover and connectivity inside and outside of the forest.
- Deer management infrastructure should be created in a sustainable and site sensitive manner so that open habitat can be designated to deer glades appropriate for mammal control.
Maps
Location map
Long term primary objectives
Forest management systems
Indicative forest types
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