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WHY DO WE NEED TO SAVE NEWBOROUGH FOREST?
This is a coastal forest in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The intimate link to tranquil beaches & the sea,
and views of Snowdonia mountains & the Lleyn peninsula, combined with a rich diversity of flora & fauna, make it a unique & popular destination for visitors throughout the year.
It is a haven in poor and fair weather. It has the second largest raven roost in Europe and is a refuge for the protected native red squirrel.
It is enjoyed by over half a million people every year including:
- Holiday makers
- Residents
- Walkers, bicyclists & horse riders
- School children for outdoor learning
- Researchers from Universities
- Bird watchers and naturalists
It has provided a very desirable location for films: the Demi Moore romantic thriller 'Half Light' and most recently 'Clash of the Titans'.
It brings enormous socio-economic benefits to the area and contributes to the overall tourism industry of the Island, which is estimated to be worth £100 million.
Threat of Climate change makes it important to:
- Save our Forests, more so on Anglesey, which has especially low woodland cover
- Take holidays locally, avoiding long distance or foreign travel
The Welsh Assembly Government, which owns Newborough Forest, stresses in its plans to transform to a low carbon future, the retaining of carbon in forests and soils.
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see also Red Squirrels Trust Wales
( The first reintroduction of Red Squirrels took
place in Newborough forest during 2004-2007.)
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WHY IS NEWBOROUGH FOREST UNDER THREAT?
'Natural Resources Wales', which the former Countryside Council for Wales are now part of, believes that the forest is undermining the conservation status of the adjoining dunes that are protected under the EU Habitat Directive. The CCW were recommending clear felling of 60 acres of the forest in the autumn of 2009 but through protests by the general public and a lot of hard work by the Newborough Forest
Protection Group, this felling has since been put on hold. This was to be followed by a further removal
of some 600 acres, i.e. 40% of the forest, over the next few years. This would leave the remnant forest at least half a kilometer from the beach and mean eventual felling of over 100,000 trees.
This belief is not shared by all.
The forest ecosystem has established itself over the last 60 years and is now an important amenity asset for all.
CCW's assessment of the status of the dunes is being challenged by other scientists.
Greater transparency from CCW is being demanded by the community.
EU Habitats Directive requires that social, economic and cultural benefits to the local and wider community are taken into account when planning conservation measures.
For more information see - More...
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