Llandovery Forest Resource Plan - Approved 25 June 2026

Location and setting

Llandovery Forest Resource Plan encompasses around 765 Ha across one main block at Pen Arthur and several smaller blocks, within Carmarthenshire. Two new areas of woodland sit within the Llandovery FRP. Coed Abermarlais, a COVID memorial woodland and an area of new planting adjacent to Pen Arthur as compensatory planting.

• Pen Arthur
• Talley
• Felindre
• Monument
• Llwynywormwood
• Cilgwyn
• Coed Abermarlais

Summary of objectives

General forestry practice

Sustainable Timber production

• Continue to maintain a sustainable supply of timber production and maximise productive areas through restocking choices and forest management strategies.
• Deer control (Wildlife Management)– development of monitoring program to understand potential impacts on restock by herbivores.
• There are components of larch remaining in several of the Llandovery Woodlands and these will be programmed for removal through clear-fell where appropriate or thinning
• Incorporate the new woodland areas at Coed Abermarlais and Pen Arthur into the Forest Resource Plan
• All woodlands will be incorporated into the National Forest

Forests & Climate Change

Species and Structural Diversity

• Continue to improve the resilience of the woodlands by diversifying restock species and structural diversity, where suitable soil conditions are present in order to protect against pests and disease and to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Forests & Water

Water Protection

• Protection of SAC features - Extend and develop a riparian woodland network to benefit water quality and quantity to ensure minimal impact from forest operations on the Tywi SAC.
• Consider where management of Invasive Non-native species (INNS) is required near to watercourses, prioritising Ancient Semi-natural Woodland, Plantation on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) and designated sites e.g. Tywi SAC, Coed Abermarlais
• Operational Water Management Plans within Talley Woodland must consider protection of the Talley Lakes SSSI
• Forest Operations and Land Management will aim to manage the broadleaved woodland along the tributaries of the River Sawdde, within Pen Arthur Woods, for the benefit of the riverine ecology to support improvements in WFD status

Forests & People

Health & Wellbeing

• Promote access and forest use for locals and visitors for the benefit of mental and physical wellbeing and health in line with the relevant Rights of Way Improvement plans.
• Maintain the current provision for walking, equestrian, mountain biking and rambling interests.

Anti-social behaviour

• Continue to work in partnership with local authority and landowners where appropriate to tackle fly-tipping

Forests & Biodiversity

PAWS Restoration

• Continue with our planned restoration of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) to semi-natural woodland state by using broadleaved species regeneration and planting and LISS (Low Impact Silvicultural Systems), supporting the diversification of age class and structure of the forest.
• Continue to maintain our veteran and mature broadleaved trees, including ash, which host rare bryophytes and bats – particularly around the Sawdde Gorge near Pont-ar-llechau.
• Invasive non-native species control is required to protect the ancient woodland and support effective PAWS restoration

Habitat Connectivity

• Development of Conservation Area Networks (CANs) and promoting a wider silvan REN (Resilient Ecological Network) to help to meet our ambition to increase ecosystem resilience.
• Llwynywormwood – existing stands of conifer require removal after which our ambition is to improve nature networks and carry out woodland operations with conservation as the primary objective here.
• Continue to support habitat linkage and connectivity in suitable areas alongside riparian zones, forest roads and PROW (Public Rights of Way), using appropriate management methods and native species. 

Species

• Dormice and Otter are present within a number of the Llandovery FRP woodlands. Maintain and where possible seek opportunities to improve habitat for these species considering our CANs mapping

Forests & Historic Environment

Heritage Features

• Continue to protect heritage assets during operations, avoiding damage and identifying new features
• Liaise with CADW on any works interacting with Llwynywormwood registered park and garden

Forests & Soil

Soil management

• Continue to follow good practice to prevent negative impacts to soil during all forest operations

Forests & Landscape

Aesthetics & Landscape

• Retain forest character within surrounding landscape and consider visual perception for the benefit of visitors and residents. Work with Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.

Maps

• Location map
• Long term vision Map - Felindre & Coed Abermarlais
• Long term vision Map - Pen Arthur
• Long term vision Map - Cilgwyn
• Long term vision Map - Talley
• Long term vision Map - Monument & Llwynywormwood
• Forest management types - Pen Arthur
• Forest management types - Talley
• Forest management types - Felindre & Coed Abermarlais
• Forest management types - Cilgwyn
• Forest management types - Monument And Llwynwormwood
• Indicative forest types & restocking - Pen Arthur
• Indicative forest types & restocking - Felindre & Coed Abermarlais
• Indicative forest types & restocking - Talley
• Indicative forest types & restocking - Cilgwyn
• Indicative forest types & restocking -  Monument & Llwynywormwood

Comments or feedback

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