By Annabel Nicholls
At the Royal Welsh Show, one of the biggest agricultural shows in Europe, The Carbon Community and Tilhill Forestry won three prestigious forestry awards for the Glandwr Forest. These awards recognise outstanding achievements in woodland management, community access, and innovative environmental practices.
The awards were presented on Tuesday, 23rd July, during the Forestry Day of the Royal Welsh Show, celebrating the achievements of forestry professionals and organisations dedicated to sustainable forest management and conservation.
The event itself was a vibrant celebration of forestry, featuring stalls, JCB tractor choreographed routines, tree climbing races, kayaking, and woodchopping competitions. Competitors from across Europe highlighted the prestigious nature of the event.
Details: The gold medal in this category underscores Glandwr Woodland's excellence in establishing new broadleaf woodlands. The native broadleaves are thriving after three seasons, impressing the forestry judges in particular with their growth. Some of these trees are now approaching 5 metres in height. The diverse range of native species and the innovative scientific experiments conducted on-site highlight The Carbon Community's forward-thinking approach to woodland creation.
Details: Glandwr Woodland's exceptional growth rate of broadleaf trees, meticulous management, and dedication to enhancing biodiversity have earned this prestigious Best Managed Woodland silver medal. The Glandwr Forest is managed on behalf of The Carbon Committee by Tilhill Forestry’s Sonia Winder.
I interviewed Sonia just prior to the awards ceremony, and she explained how the site is managed in a conventional way, but with special attention to the scientific research being conducted on the site. One example of this is the mowing of grass in between the trees to give access for volunteers to measure trees as part of the study. Sonia explained how the importance of managing a woodland, such as Glandwr, is staying on top of developing situations, such as ash dieback. While the management is fairly conventional, Sonia highlighted that Glandwr stands out in several unusual ways such as the planted native black poplars and mature hedgerow trees. These century-old hedgerow trees provide seed and extra natural regeneration in the planted areas.
Details: This bronze medal acknowledges the huge support given by community volunteers to the scientific research conducted at the Glandwr Woodland, and the work done to provide community access and recreation. By enhancing existing habitats and public footpaths, it offers walks through beautiful countryside with fine views while promoting environmental education and conservation.
The Carbon Community's co-founder, Charles Nicholls commented on receiving these awards: "We are honoured to have Glandwr Woodland recognized for its contributions to forestry and environmental conservation. These awards reflect the hard work and dedication of our wider community in creating sustainable, biodiverse woodlands that benefit both the environment and the community while accelerating breakthrough science."
