It may lack the majesty of the lovely ancient woodlands that cling to the slopes of Wales’ highest peaks or tumble into its deep river valleys.
But a small chunk of land in a park in the south Wales seaside town of Barry planted densely with trees has been selected to become part of the country’s national forest, a scheme to create a network of woodland running the length and breadth of the country.
The National Forest for Wales was launched in 2020 but until now the focus has been on improving grand existing government-owned forests such as those on the banks of the Wye in the south and in heart of the Eryri (Snowdonia) in the north-west.
On Thursday the Welsh first minister, Mark Drakeford, announced the scheme would be expanded to get other landowners and projects involved, with Pencoedtre Coetir Bach (Pencoedtre tiny forest) in Barry the first non-Welsh government site to be given National Forest for Wales status.
Volunteers helped plant Barry’s tiny forest, only covering the area of a tennis court, two years ago. There was an unfortunate start when arsonists set fire to straw that had been placed around the trees to help them grow.
But since then the tiny forest, which includes willow, hazel, hawthorn and cherry, has flourished. “It’s really dense now,” said one of the volunteers, Paul Sedgmond. He said he loved the idea of this bit of Barry being part of a national forest. “It will all take years and I probably won’t be around to see it completed but it’s a brilliant idea.”
Areas of wooded land owned by farmers, local authorities, charities, schools and even timber producers are eligible to become part of the national forest. They might be sprawling upland estates or small inner city parks.
Grants are available to improve the places chosen for national forest status and they will also get signs explaining that they are part of this grand scheme. The government is also hoping another 100 tiny forests will be planted by April 2025.
Drakeford said: “The idea of a national forest captures people’s imaginations in Wales. It’s a project for decades not a couple of years but the ambition is when it is complete you’ll be able to walk from the south-east of Wales to the north-west without leaving the national forest just as you can walk all around Wales on the national coastal path. It also has huge environmental benefits as well.”
The concept is to link existing woodland with new wooded areas, parkland and hedges, creating green corridors for flora and fauna – and people.
The Labour-led government says the scheme will help it meet carbon reduction targets, combat flooding and also boost tourism and people’s sense of wellbeing as they crisscross the country under, or next to, trees.
