About the project

The Woodland Investment Grant (TWIG)

This project is funded by The Woodland Investment Grant (TWIG), a grant scheme intended to create, restore and enhance woodlands in Wales as part of the Welsh Government’s National Forest programme. Its jointly funded by the Welsh Government and the National Heritage Lottery Fund.

The aim

Our vision is accessible healthy woodlands at the heart of community life.

A key aim is to provide access to nature and the project will open-up previously inaccessible woodlands on the Ysbyty estate for the local community to enjoy.

The woodlands

The project focuses on three woodlands:

• Coed Blaen y Coed;

• Coed Hafod Las;

• and Coed Gwernouau.

Improving access for the local community

Connection to the outdoors is vital in helping people live healthier lives and providing new ways to connect with nature. Currently access into the woodlands is poor, but this project will help bring these woodlands under favourable long-term management and we would be able to deliver our objectives for the health of these woodlands and the communities in which they exist.

What's going to happen?

By working with the community, spaces for recreation, contemplation and learning will be created as well as a new local heritage walk - linking both sides of Ysbyty Ifan village.

The project will also create more opportunities to include people in our conservation work, to build and strengthen connections to the woodlands and to increase understanding of our precious natural heritage and how to restore it.

Improving biodiversity for nature and people

Improving access to these woodlands also provides us with an opportunity to improve biodiversity as well - which will enhance the experience for people to connect with nature.

The restoration of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS ) to broadleaf has associated environmental benefits for habitats, biodiversity, soil and water quality – creating a more resilient and healthy landscape.

Key species such as red kites, pine martens, rare woodland birds such as pied flycatcher, redstart and wood warbler, rainforest lichens and bryophytes will thrive and more people will use the woodlands for recreation.

The local community will play a key part in planting new trees on the sites.

What's happened so far

In June 2024 National Trust Cymru were succesful in their application for TWIG funding to improve access to three woodlands on the Ysbyty Ifan Esate. A TWIG project ranger was soon appointed and work began during the summer to prepare tracks and to begin removing conifer trees in Coed Gwernoau and Coed Hafod Las in preparation for broadleaf tree planting with the local community. The tracks will be extended and re-surfaced once felling is complete to enable improved access for the public.

See the timeline below for more details...