The Celtic Rainforests Wales Project is a European Union LIFE funded project focusing on four areas in Wales of the UK’s special coastal temperate rainforests.
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- The four areas in West Wales receiving targeted funding are;
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- There are three main areas of land management that are being focused on;
In addition to the management work the scheme supports dedicated education officers to deliver educational visits and raise awareness of the project. Other events such as yoga and mindfulness sessions are being held to broaden the awareness of the project and the special habitats as well as hopefully boosting eco-tourism in due course.
The lead project officer for the Eryri Celtic Rainforest Wales project is Gethin Davies who is based within the Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri team. A leaflet is available aimed at landowners and outlines some of the key objectives of the Celtic Rainforests Wales project, whilst providing some examples and advice on how best to sustainably manage these magnificent woodlands against some of the threats they face.
Baileys and Partners are working with the Celtic Rainforests project officers on a designated woodland which is situated within the Meirionnydd Oakwoods and Bat Sites and designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
Baileys and Partners are also working with Adam Thorogood of The Woodland Trust who was engaged to provide specialist advice and has since produced a fully funded woodland inventory and woodland management plan. This plan will also help inform the consultation process with statutory bodies and the relevant Glastir advisor as well as shaping an application for a felling licence and discussions with local contractors.
This process helps identify the natural capital asset present and the ecosystem service that it supplies. It also becomes the foundation for the client to make informed decisions about what land use management changes could be considered to increase the supply of ecosystem services.
There are examples of farmers being paid by beneficiaries for a supply of ecosystem services. Baileys and Partners are working within a consortium of land management and business consultancy firms to develop a leading approach to natural capital.
Jodie Pritchard commented that;
“The client is delighted that the Celtic Rainforest project is providing the opportunity to re-establish active woodland management and we look forward to working with the other project advisors to also identify what additional value this work may unlock”.
Baileys and Partners would welcome conversations with farmers, landowners, leisure site owners/users and other rural businesses regarding the ‘natural capital’ resources that we have in Wales and how these assets can be conserved, promoted, and enjoyed. Please get in touch with Ed or Jodie to discuss this further. Ed and Jodie can be contacted on: 01341 241700.
