Working with communities

 

Getting involved in your local woodlands.

Forestry Commission Wales welcomes and encourages all forms of community involvement and participation in Welsh Assembly owned woodlands. Many people enjoy local woodlands as a place to exercise or relax - all FC Wales managed woodlands have free open access on foot or on bicycle. In addition many also have open access for horse riding as well.

Often people want to be even more involved in their local woodlands but aren't sure how to go about it. For this reason we have produced a practical guide (pdf, 1534kb), for both community groups and our staff, explaining our commitment to local communities and how they can organise their own projects in the woodlands we manage.

Please contact your local Forestry Commission Wales office for more information.

Current consultations

• Newborough Liaison Partnership - aims to improve the design, management and use of the Newborough Forest and Warren Area.
  
  
• Affordable Housing - In early 2006 the then Environment, Planning and Countryside Minister, Carwyn Jones, asked Forestry Commission Wales to investigate the potential for the construction of affordable housing on FCW managed land.
  
  
• Forest Watch - Forest Watch (a forest version of Neighbourhood Watch) is a scheme set up in South Wales to encourage members of the public to report incidents of crime and suspicious activity on FC land.
  

Forest Design Plans

All public forests in Wales have a Forest Design Plan which is reviewed every five years. Forestry Commission Wales staff carry out local area consultations on each of these plans to provide opportunities for communities to have their say in the management of woods close to where they live.