Pam Milner, woodland manager

Coed Rhosmaen Crug is a private woodland in the heart of Ceredigion, managed on a regular basis by volunteers using traditional forestry methods. Selected, local contractors are sometimes called upon, and materials are sourced locally if not within the woodland itself. Although a young woodland, it is already diverse with a good variety of native trees and a home to many other species.

The vision is to make Rhosmaen Crug Wood (RmCw) more sustainable by increasing community involvement, enabling multiple uses and encouraging biodiversity, bearing in mind climate change mitigation and safety measures. This will help to secure the site for future generations, benefiting the wildlife and creating an attractive environment with management by volunteers.

The site is not open to the public but we periodically welcome visitors and volunteer helpers to Coed Rhosmaen Crug. On occasions we hold surveys and other events. Visitor numbers are limited at any one time.

Please get in touch if you would like to visit, join the volunteer taskforce or help in other ways.

The Project: RmCw Enhancement for the Community and Sustainability

The project runs from September 2024 until July 2026, and is being supported by The Woodland Investment Grant (TWIG) scheme, which is being delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with the Welsh Government's National Forest for Wales Programme.

 

This project includes: improving site access, installing facilities and inviting local people to get involved. Volunteer training sessions have already been held to engage the local community and promote local, natural heritage. We now have a toolstore, 2 bridges and a shelter, which will have a green roof. A compostable toilet is planned and the project finishes with 3 learning and well-being events.

An aim for this wood is to join the National Forest for Wales scheme. The National Forest for Wales is a long-term programme to form a network of woodland throughout Wales.
 

Volunteers and activities

Volunteers are helping to maintain and develop a sustainable, diverse woodland for the community and wildlife. Volunteers maintain and improve the paths throughout the year, coppice and thin where required in the autumn and winter, clear brash, create dead hedges and habitat piles, and other tasks. The making of coppiced products and surveys are planned for the future.

Contact us or visit Facebook to find out how you can get involved with woodland conservation at Coed Rhosmaen Crug.     

Catherine Moyle, volunteer and forest school leader

Maeve Moran, volunteer, maker & editor

History of management

The site was replanted in 1998-2000 by the landowner and her late husband on clear-felled forestry of Sitka spruce. They planted predominantly native species, including sessile oak, ash, downy birch, various willows and alder. Also, areas of beech and sweet chestnut, which have done well, and a few conifer species including yew and juniper. The woodland was managed from the start for biodiversity to benefit the local wildlife, but also for their enjoyment and use of firewood.

One of the first operations after planting was to clear brambles and to open up paths. Later, more native trees were planted in gaps to increase the stocking. Sitka spruce regeneration soon started as well as willows, and rowan in later years. The vigorous Sitka spruce is outcompeting some of the planted trees which are being shaded, but many still survive. The faster growing spruce was left initially to provide shelter for the more sensitive broadleaves but is now suppressing the desired species. Some crown raising/high pruning in the spruce has also been done to allow light to benefit the broadleaves.

A small clearing was made in 2018, which has formed a glade where heather and bilberries now thrive attracting numerous invertebrates.