Fedw Wood

 

Aims

CSEG is committed to restoring the woodland to its former glory by managing it in a sustainable and creative way. In particular it seeks to encourage greater biodiversity, including wildlife development, as well as promoting this extremely valuable asset for the benefit of the local community.

In June 2012 a Co-ordinating Committee (Members: Chris Evans, Roger Lindsay and Richard Renshaw) took over the management of the wood from Michael Houlton (Co-ordinator 2009-2012). CSEG is enormously for the pioneering work of Michael and his wife Mary-Jane and the valuable contribution they made to the Group and, indeed, to Cwmdu more generally. A dozen members of CSEG members are currently involved in the regular Work Parties in the Wood.


 

 

History

Fedw Wood was bequeathed to the community over 100 years ago and the Community Council are its trustees. It is a mixed woodland of just over 11 acres, and is only a short walk outside the village. Until recently the wood was being managed by the Brecon Beacons National Park, however due to diminishing funds the Authority was not in a position to manage its upkeep effectively. As a result Cwmdu Sustainable Environment Group, agreed to take on its practical management.

 

What are our Current Commitments ?

The Management Plan can be viewed in full here and our Leaflet about the Wood (PDF format) can be downloaded here.


                                      

What We've Achieved So Far

During one of the early meetings of the CSEG the topic was raised of the community woodland. It was agreed that we should approach the community council to set the ball rolling. At the same time Gareth Ellis, the Bio-Diversity officer for BBNP, was actively encouraging Communities to take on the management of local woods throughout the park. We got in touch with him, and since then he has been hugely helpful in all stages setting up the group. We have formulated a management plan and set out a formal agreement with the Community Council. The National Park has providing training and equipment. We have managed to get two people in the group Chainsaw trained and purchased a chainsaw and all the safety equipment. The National Park has also given us a grant to purchase the supplies required for the fencing.

In November 2009 we have carried out a litter pick in the wood with the help of Keep Wales Tidy, collecting 30 sacks of rubbish.

 

 

On the 28th March 2010 we had our first work party to start on the fencing and repairing one of the stiles. Thirteen people attended, including Mr Howard Morgan the National Park Area Warden, who showed us how to erect the stile, and three from the Llangattock Woodland Group Dianne Spencer, Simon Walter and Geoff Williams. We achieved a great deal including replacing the stile in the NW corner of the woods (see picture below), clearing the path through the wood, and we made a good start on the fencing work.


Three further work parties took place on 17th April 6th June and 31st July which saw the completion of the top fence. There is still work to do on the roadside fence and a repair where a tree fell at the south east edge into the field.

 

 

 

Coppicing Programme

A successful start was made on Sunday 10th October 2010 with 20 people attending. Gareth Ellis
(BBNP) came to give instruction and advice and several members from the Llangattock Community Woodland Group and Abergavenny CWG joined CSEG members so that a great deal was achieved in this first session.  

New Trees for Wood

The Group has been successful in its application to the Woodland Trust for trees for Fedw Wood. On Saturday 20th November 10.30 a.m. the 150 trees donated by he Trust will be planted in the Wood.

Working Responsibly

CSEG is currently covered for public liability and chainsaw insurance for its woodland activities until 20th December 2011. In particular it is grateful to Keep Wales Tidy for providing FREE insurance.

Biodiversity Audits

The Group is committed to conducting regular Biodiversity Audits of the Wood and is looking for volunteers, especially those who may have specialised knowledge, to help with these.

Biodiversity Weekend at Fedw Wood - 28th-29th May 2011

Twenty-four people attended on the Saturday and Rachel Palmer (Keep Wales Tidy) brought along a further three vistitors. It was a better turnout than the Group had expected, and we were very lucky with the weather.

We were grateful to Gareth Ellis (BBNP) for instructing us in the use of mammal traps. On this occasion we caught two wood mice, a male and a female (probably). With the bat detector we heard pipistrelle and noctule.

 

We were also grateful to Paul Tweedale (from London) and Keith Noble from the Brecknock Wildlife Trust  in helping us identify birdsong in and around the wood.  The population included Garden and Willow Warblers, Wrens, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Blue Tits, Robins, Chiff Chaff, Chaffinch, Buzzard, Black Cap, Tawny Own, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Crows, Wood Pigeon and Pheasant.

Finally our thanks go to Chris Evans who was able to attract and identify a very good selection of moths at three stations.

 

In short the event was a great success and the Group look forward to doing it again next year (see below)

Full report of the 2011 survey: here

Full report of the 2012 survey: here   Photos: here

 

 

Photographic Records


 

Two excellent Picasa slideshows of the Wood and the Management Group in action (photos taken and uploaded by Sylvia O'Brien) can be found here and here (start of Coppicing Programme).

 

Recent Activity

During the period September 2011- Janury 2012 CSEG members have continued coppicing work (as  set out in the Fedw Wood Management Plan) by opening up the canopies in the wood, erected a recreational bench, installed a charcoal burning facility, collected and bundled faggots for use at Talgarth Mill and continued to repair damaged fencing. They have also assisted in the management of Ty Mawr Wood.

 

What's Next?


Fedw Wood Work Parties 2013

Date

Activity

Saturday 12th January 2013

Coppicing coup F

Wednesday 30th January 2013

Making Faggots and tidying Coup C

Monday 4th & 5th February 2013

*Hedge Laying Course Cwmdu Contact Rachel Palmer rachel.palmer@keepwalestidy.org

Sunday 10th February 2013

Coppicing Coup F

Saturday 16th February 2013

*Fruit Tree Pruning Course

Wednesday 20th February 2013

Tidying coup F

Saturday 2nd March 2013

*Tree Planting Paramour Orchard

Saturday 9th March 2013

Coppicing Coup F

Wednesday 13th March 2013

Planting trees and shrubs on Coup C

Sunday 24th March 2013

Complete coppicing Coup F

Saturday 11th May 2013

Tidying Up and Planting


 

Further Information

For more information on Fedw Wood or any aspect of the Management Plan please contact Chris Evans on (01874) 730351.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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