Sioe Frenhinol yn chwilio am y coetiroedd gorau yn Ne Cymru
Woodland owners across South Wales are being invited to compete in the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society’s annual woodlands competition. The competition is held in a different area of Wales each year and in 2011 it is the turn of Glamorgan, Monmouth, Carmarthen and Pembrokeshire to compete for the leading awards including the Royal Forestry Society’s gold medal for the best of all the entries.
Woodland covers 14 per cent of the land area of Wales and the Royal Welsh competition has helped to reinvigorate interest in this cherished feature of the landscape by encouraging better woodland management and incentivising farmers and landowners to plant, conserve and care for their woods not just for commercial timber production but also for environmental and amenity purposes.
The competition embraces all types of woodland and many varieties of trees each contributing its shape, colour and texture to the scenic beauty of the countryside and the woodland habitat. Small stands of between one and five hectares up to extensive forests of 1000 hectares may be entered for judging and classes are scheduled for woodlands of various ages. The standards of silvicultural management will be taken into account with special attention paid to improved management over the past 10 years.
One class is included for an area of woodland of five hectares or more where the system of management has been directed towards multi-benefit forestry including demonstrable environmental and social benefits such as the provision of public access, screening, landscaping and sporting recreation.
The judges will also seek out the best managed farm woodland entered in the competition taking into account the provision of shelter, farm timber requirements or commercial potential value and suitability to the surrounding landscape, biodiversity projects and activities including access, recreation and community involvement.
Another class invites local people and community groups who have created new or managed existing rural woodlands for the benefit and interest of the community, to participate in the competition.
This year a new section is open to all woodland owners, except Forestry Commission Wales, who have attempted to add value to their enterprise and are involved in sustainable forest management, for example saw milling at least 50% of their own produce, woodland-based off road vehicle training, mountain biking, woodland-based holiday projects and other recreational activities.
In 2012 the competition will move to North Wales and in 2013 all the winners from the previous three years will compete in a special All-Wales national contest.
Entries for the Royal Welsh woodland competition close on March 11.
Woodlands Competition Schedule - Closing Date 11 March 2011
Download the Entry form here
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