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Cwm Arian Renewable Energy is excited to launch CoedUNO, a new project dedicated to unlocking the benefits of trees and woodlands for communities in North Pembrokeshire. Supported by the National Forest for Wales (NFfW), the project will engage local communities in the rich and diverse woodland networks that shape this landscape.
North Pembrokeshire is home to some of Wales' most important and ancient woodlands, each with its own unique character and ecological significance. Ty Canol is a rare remnant of Celtic rainforest, rich in lichens and wildlife, while Pengelli Forest, part of the largest oak woodland in Wales, supports diverse plant and animal species. Llanychaer and Cwm Gwaun are deeply wooded valleys where traditional land use has shaped the landscape for centuries, creating a mosaic of habitats. These interconnected woodlands play a crucial role in supporting wildlife, carbon storage, and community well-being.
A Vision for People and Woodlands
CoedUNO will create opportunities for learning, skills development, and conservation, ensuring that local woodlands are not only preserved but also provide long-term economic and community benefits. A key aspect of the project is the development of a new National Forest for Wales site in Tegryn, Pembrokeshire, where a woodland management plan will be established to support habitat connectivity and biodiversity. Along with a self-guided trail and interpretation around the site, to educate, inform and inspire the local community and visitors.
With an emphasis on engagement and education, the project will reach people of all ages and backgrounds, including school children, local groups, and both Welsh and English speakers. Activities will take place across a variety of woodland settings, from ancient Celtic rainforests and nature reserves to agroforestry sites, orchards, and coppiced woodlands.
Building Skills for the Future
The project will deliver a series of training courses and workshops to equip people with the skills needed to manage and benefit from woodland sustainably. Through partnerships with Coppicewood College, Patch of the Planet, and Cwm Arian’s very own Hwb Dysgu'r Tir training centre, participants can access training in: Orchard skills, Agroforestry design, Hedge-laying, Green woodworking, Nature Connection in Woodlands, and Temperate rainforest woodland ID skills.
Additionally, staff and volunteers will receive training in GIS mapping and ecological surveying, providing essential skills for habitat restoration and connectivity planning.
North Pembrokeshire Woodlands
Allt Coed Tŷ Canol Woodland
National Nature Reserve
Tŷ Canol Woods is a rare ancient woodland near Brynberian and south of Felindre Farchog in Pembrokeshire, nestled between the Preseli Mountains and the north Pembrokeshire coast. Protected as an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), NNR (National Nature Reserve), and SAC (Special Area of Conservation), it is a vital stronghold for wildlife. Shaped over thousands of years since the last Ice Age, Tŷ Canol is home to 800-year-old oaks, dramatic rocky outcrops, and nearly 400 species of lichen, many of them rare. Its rich biodiversity and timeless landscape make it one of Wales’ most important woodland sites.
Coedwig Pengelli Forest
Nature Reserve
Pengelli National Nature Reserve is one of the largest ancient oak woodlands in West Wales, having survived for centuries despite human influence. Nestled near Eglwyswrw in north Pembrokeshire, it forms part of the rolling farmland between the Preseli Hills and the sea.
This rich woodland is home to diverse wildlife, including badgers, polecats, and the elusive dormouse. Once owned by the Elizabethan historian George Owen of Henllys, it was designated a National Nature Reserve in 1995. Recent expansions by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales continue to protect and restore this precious habitat.
Cwm Gwaun Woodlands
Tucked away in the heart of north Pembrokeshire, the lush woodlands of Cwm Gwaun form one of the county’s most enchanting landscapes including Coed Tregynon, Coed Gellifawr, Allt Llanerch, Coed Sychpant, Allt Hendy, Allt Pen-gegin Uchaf to name but a few. Rich in biodiversity, these ancient forests—home to towering sessile oaks, beech, alder, and rowan—support a wealth of wildlife, from rare lichens to butterflies and woodland birds. The Afon Gwaun meanders through the valley, shaping a habitat that has remained largely unchanged for centuries. Recognised as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), these woodlands are not only a haven for nature but also a place where culture and history are closely intertwined.
This project is funded by the Welsh Government's National Forest of Wales Landscape Pilot 2024/2025, administered by the WCVA.
Ariennir y prosiect hwn gan Gynllun Peilot Tirwedd Coedwig Cenedlaethol Cymru 2024/2025 Llywodraeth Cymru, a weinyddir gan CGGC