CALU Gwlad 1005

Utilising Welsh Farm Woodlands

Trees grow well in Wales. There is plenty of rain, and in lowland areas the climate is mild and suitable for a wide range of tree species. Upland sites are more exposed, but even here woodlands can be established successfully. Woodlands on farms in Wales have traditionally been used to provide shelter for agricultural crops and livestock – but with the right choice of species and the right kind of management, farm woodlands can provide a whole range of other benefits and products.

In Wales, farm woodlands are usually fairly small, so the amount of wood that can be produced in them is limited. In many cases harvesting will only be worthwhile if the wood is suitable for high-value products such as joinery (doors and window frames), or if it can be sold locally for fencing, firewood or biomass (for energy production). Alternatively, the wood can be converted on the farm, using a mobile sawbench or a firewood processor, to products that can be sold or used by the owner. Farm woodlands can also produce a whole range of “non-timber forest products” (NTFPs), including fruits, foliage, fungi, moss, herbs, bulbs and honey. Markets for NTFPs are often specialised, so advice should be sought before embarking on large-scale production!

Farm woodlands can be let for game shooting and, in areas close to towns and cities, for paintballing (though this can cause a good deal of damage). It is sometimes possible to make a modest charge for the use of walking and pony trekking trails that pass through farm woodlands. If woodlands improve the landscape of a farm, demand for bed and breakfast and farm cottage accommodation will increase.

All this, and environmental benefits too: trees and woodlands on farms provide habitats for wildlife and lock up carbon (helping to slow the rate of climate change), and can be used to reverse soil compaction, improve drainage and reduce flood risks!

CALU is producing a range of technical leaflets about Farm Woodlands and running training days and demonstration events to enhance awareness of the diverse benefits that woodlands can provide. For further information, visit the CALU website www.calu.bangor.ac.uk, telephone 01248 680 450 or e-mail calu@bangor.ac.uk.