Valleys Fight for Land Control After Floods

In February 2020, devastating floods in the South Wales Valleys, particularly Pentre, prompted residents to question the management of local forests. Concerns arose that industrial larch plantations, exacerbated by recent felling, contributed to the disaster. This led to a community-led initiative, the Skyline project, partnering with Natural Resources Wales to propose a co-management plan for the woodlands.

Villagers initiated a series of meetings to influence the forest resource plan, advocating for a 50-50 management split and continuous cover forestry over clear-felling. This method involves selective thinning to maintain ecosystem health and productivity for centuries, a contrast to the previous practice of clear-felling forests for biomass. The community also envisioned local timber processing and job creation.

While Natural Resources Wales committed to working in blocks over a decade rather than clear-felling entire valleys, the community sought tangible partnership. Recent developments show a timber roundhouse built from local larch, symbolizing potential for sustainable use beyond biomass incineration. Initiatives like Welcome to Our Woods are developing skills in green wood trades, aiming to establish a local timber processing plant and a nature reserve.

The communities are now working towards true economic control, though they still lack the rights of a forest croft. Nevertheless, Treherbert's agreement marks a significant blueprint for community land stewardship, offering a model for other post-industrial areas globally.