Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
Wales’s ancient woodlands are of national and international importance, with many of Wales’s temperate rainforests recognised through their statutory designation. They have an important place in Wales’s landscape and history, protecting the carbon-rich soils and seed banks beneath them. They take centuries to form and are an irreplaceable resource.
Ancient woodlands and trees face many different threats. Some of these are direct losses such as for development purposes but others can be indirect such as from air pollution impacting on their condition. There is no single answer for their protection: action is required across a range of policy areas. Today I am setting out our approach to strengthening protections for ancient woodland and trees in line with our Programme for Government commitment. This includes work necessary to improve the resilience of our temperate rainforests, as recently highlighted by the Alliance for Wales’ Rainforests. We are tackling these threats in a number of ways:
Planning Policy Wales has been strengthened to provide a stronger framework for local planning authorities to secure the protection of ancient trees and woodland. We are revising our Tree Preservation Order regulations as part of the work on the Planning (Wales) Bill which seeks to consolidate planning law. In combination, this work will increase protection within the planning system for trees and woodlands, including ancient woodland.
Llwybr Newydd i Natur - The Welsh Strategic Road Network Nature Recovery Action Plan strengthens our approach to the protection of ancient woodland in the planning stages of road infrastructure improvements. This ensures that potential negative impacts are identified early and avoided whenever possible.
Recent amendments made to our forestry legislation now allows Natural Resources Wales to better protect veteran trees and ancient woodland during felling operations.
The implementation of the recommendations of the 4-year review of the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 (CoAP Regs) will include the introduction of measures specifically designed to contribute to achieving statutory emission reduction commitments, critical in reducing air quality impacts on ancient woodland.
The Sustainable Farming Scheme proposals include Optional Actions to lower the environmental impact of ammonia emissions released into the environment by agricultural activities. Scheme proposals also include Optional Actions to encourage the management of existing woodlands including ancient woodlands, increasing their condition and resilience. These Optional Actions will be subject to further stakeholder engagement and budget availability.
Our strategy, the Clean Air Plan for Wales, sets out actions being taken to improve air quality and reduce the impacts of air pollution. This includes the enactment this year of the Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Act 2024. Reducing air pollution will decrease its negative impact on the condition of ancient woodland sites.
Our National Forest for Wales programme has provided support to restore and maintain ancient woodland through the Woodland Investment Grant and the National Forest Status Scheme. Our Woodland Creation Scheme provides the opportunity to plant buffers and improve connectivity between ancient woodland habitats. Our Woodland Restoration Scheme provides payments to restore Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) cleared of larch due to Phytopthora ramorum disease. Our Nature Network Programme provides support where ancient woodlands are part of or support our protected sites network.
A total of £19.8 million is available in 2025-26 for measures that can provide support to improve the condition and resilience of woodlands including ancient woodland. This includes funding for woodland planting which can provide protective buffers and connectivity for ancient woodlands, and support through the National Forest for Wales Programme and Nature Network Fund as appropriate. Further detail for each measure will be announced individually.
We have commissioned Forest Research to develop a refreshed set of Woodlands for Wales Strategy Indicators. This work will provide a baseline for monitoring the impact of different measures to improve the long-term protection of ancient woodlands and trees.
Our approach does not intend to be an exhaustive list of all the possible threats and interventions, but a focus on the strategic priorities. It brings together work across government departments and their stakeholders which strengthen protection for our irreplaceable ancient woodlands.