To many of us the forest is a place in which we walk, ride, cycle or exercise the dog. To some it makes a stunning contribution to the landscape and helps us to establish a sense of place, which contributes to what we feel defines our local community. To others it provides a living, derived from sustainable timber harvesting, showing birds and providing formal recreation facilities. For others it provides a place to meet friends for lunch or a short rest bite from a hectic lifestyle.

However you use the forest one thing is surely true: it makes a positive contribution to the lives of all those living in the locality of Llandegla.

But how many of us know what happens day to day in the forest? Furthermore what is the long term aim of forest management and how will this effect the way we use the forest in the future? To some it will come as a shock that the forest is managed at all! Those people should get out there and see what they're missing out on!!

Like that of a gardener, the forester’s diary is governed by the seasons. In my article I hope to inform you about what is happening at Coed Llandegla, impart a little knowledge about a forester's role and enthuse you all to get out there and enjoy the remarkable asset you have on your doorstep.

After a very long period of dry, warm, sunny conditions the weather has finally reverted to the
seasonal norm of wet and windy with an occasional glimpse of the sun, just to remind us about what we're missing.

In a forestry context the prolonged, fine, dry weather provided me with almost perfect conditions (in no particular order) to wear shorts and get harvesting. To date we have felled 200 tonnes of timber above Pendinas. Currently operations are suspended (as planned) to minimise any potential disturbance to the black grouse that are currently lekking close to the forest edge. I'll write about the grouse in greater detail in future issues. In the meantime why not visit the RSPB website or the Visitor Centre on Thursday to Saturday mornings and speak to Des to find out if there are still places available to see the grouse lekking from the purpose built hide in the forest. Harvesting and short wearing will re-commence in June, once the sensitive black grouse lekking period finishes. In the winter I'll replant the area with a mix of broadleaves and conifers. As a result, the visual amenity and biodiversity value of the woodland will increase whilst our major objective (to produce well managed, sustainably produced Welsh timber) will be assured.

The warm, dry weather resulted in early flushing of all the broadleaved trees amongst the larch bank. As the larch itself came into leaf, the air became thick with the perfume of resin, flowering blackthorn and wild garlic.

The Visitor Centre goes from strength to strength. The coffee and homemade cake seems to get better with every visit as does the welcome from Ian and Jim and all their staff. In fact the Centre is so busy at the weekends that have had to expand the car park. If you want to avoid the rush, visit in the week, the Centre is now open late on a Wednesday and Thursday.

I'm currently drafting some new proposals for improvements to the existing car park, forest trails and garden. I know that many of you want to see better facilities for families and as a result this is a clear objective for the future development of Coed Llandegla.

Watch out for news in relation to the up and coming Oneplanet Open Day which is planned for July 7th.