Randonnées Hafren Forest

The 2842ha (7022 acres) of Hafren Forest are located in the South-West corner of the historic county of Montgomeryshire (now part of Powys), among the rolling hills of the mid-Wales Cambrian Mountain range. The ancient county is named after Roger de Montgomerie, the 1st Earl of Shrewsbury and one of William the conqueror's main counsellors. The topography of the forest covers gently rounded hill tops and steep valley sides, dissected by many kilometres of streams and rivers. Surrounding the forest are thousands of acres of grassland, traditionally used for grazing sheep. A large proportion of the forest borders the Plynlimon Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Development of the forest aims to provide an attractive place for people to enjoy, including walkers, cyclists and motorsport enthusiasts, and it is especially encouraging to see that the forest’s rich wildlife, historical features and water quality are being managed sensitively, consistent with the need to supply a range of sustainable timber products. The ancient Celts saw this region as magical, and this certainly holds true in ecological terms, with waterside forests being rich and valuable habitats – a home to organisms of woodland and water. Riparian woodlands, as they are known, are those on the banks of natural bodies of water and particularly rivers.

Rivers are the lifeblood of the forest ecosystems, and their health is crucial to the health of the forest as a whole. The physical presence of trees on the river’s edge, such as the deep-rooted alder (Alnus glutinosa), helps to prevent the banks from eroding away. Riparian zones are important sources and storage sites for nutrients and energy, since trees naturally alter the chemical balance of the water by taking up minerals from the soil and releasing them into the water, so improving the biological health of the river. The riparian corridors enhance connectivity, creating links within and between forest patches, and in doing so provide routes along which animals can disperse, as well as certain plant seeds, which may be carried by mammals, birds, or even water.

Hafren is also an important location for research into climate change, and water and air quality. The Centre of Ecology and Hydrology has carried out work in this area for over 40 years. At a commercial level Hafren produces 26,300 tonnes of timber annually. This is approved felling and independently assessed by FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) as sustainably produced certificated timber.

More info at Cicerone here.