Coed Preseli

Contributing to the diversity of our National Forest are four connected woodlands at Preseli. Each woodland has its own characteristics including well-developed irregular structures, advanced natural regeneration of native ground flora, production of timber sold to local sawmills in Pembrokeshire, daily use by walkers, cyclists and horse riders, and connection to protected wetland sites at Gweunydd Cleddau.

Collaborating with the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, a car park has been created to allow visitors a safe place to start their woodland experience, whether that be walking through the woodlands or taking part in community events such as bioblitz and wildlife recording events.

These woodlands undertake research activities through hosting and collaborating with groups such as Wildlife Trust and Royal Forestry Society. Continuous cover forestry (CCF) is a long-term sustainable management approach that can provide resilience in forests, an opportunity for timber production, and diverse structures that can protect biodiversity. The woodland owners at Preseli monitor biodiversity and actively demonstrate and share the benefits of CCF. 

These woodlands are dynamic and multi-purpose through their irregular structure, diverse tree species and uneven-aged woodland. Over the past 29 years through CCF processes the woodlands have increased in biodiversity and strengthened their ecosystem resilience, whilst maintaining the commercial benefits of the timber.