The Research Forest for Wales sits within the National Forest for Wales (NFfW) network. This novel approach maximises opportunities for tree-based research in Wales to be optimally matched to both woodland and site, whilst also allowing for replicates to be more easily established at suitable locations across the country.

The NFfW is made up of many different forest types and sites at a variety of scales; from urban to rural, from Coetiroedd Bach (Tiny Forests) to landscape-scale blocks. It includes sites under public and private ownership, community woodlands, productive forestry, and areas of conservation, recreation and biodiversity interest.  The pan-Wales nature of the NFfW offers a unique opportunity to deliver coordinated research outputs from geographically and climatically diverse sites with different socioeconomic drivers.

Activities in the Research Forest for Wales will contribute directly to NFfW outcomes, in particular: ‘good quality, well designed and managed woodlands’; ‘woodlands accessible to people’ and ‘community involvement in woodlands’ (e.g., through Knowledge Exchange and citizen science activities); ‘dynamic, multi-purpose woodlands and trees’; and ‘woodlands that demonstrate learning, research and innovation’. 

The contribution of the Research Forest to the published NFfW outcomes will be monitored and reported both through these web pages and through the Woodlands for Wales Indicators project.

Advantages of a pan-Wales approach

The diversity of the Research Forest for Wales will allow researchers to specify requirements for experimental areas based on site-specific characteristics such as soil type, hydrology, aspect, altitude, species mix, age-class distribution, structural and management type, proximity to communities, etc. These requirements will be regularly communicated to members of the National Forest for Wales network with the aim of eliciting expressions of interest from woodland owners/managers of appropriate woodlands.

In some cases, woodland owners/managers may wish to initiate research activities on their properties and may want practical support and scientific advice to do this. The NFfW Woodland Liaison Officers will be well placed to broker contact with appropriate members of the research community.

There will undoubtedly be some opportunities for “citizen science” and/or community involvement within either of these two approaches.

The Research Forest will facilitate the establishment of experiments and demonstration areas across Wales which will increase options for Knowledge Exchange (KE) events, associated opportunities for educational activities, and the sharing of experience gained.  An inclusive, cooperative, and accessible approach to study and the dissemination of findings will be encouraged from the outset.

How will the Research Forest for Wales work?

• The NFfW will provide the framework within which the Research Forest for Wales will sit.
• We envisage that research activities will typically be initiated in one of two ways:
  • researchers contacting members of National Forest Network to explore possibilities for gathering data within their woodlands; or
  • woodland owners/managers wanting to initiate research activities on their property seeking practical support and advice from forest scientists.
• It is intended that participation in research activities will be entirely optional and that being part of the NFfW network will not place an obligation on owners or managers to host experiments or demonstrations of any kind.
• No additional processes or conditions will be required for existing members of the NFfW network.

Next steps

Please contact us if you’re interested in research collaboration in Wales.