Maes y Pant Latest News

by Chair Ian Happs

The New Year will start with quite a bit of activity in Maes y Pant. We need to let you know what is happening and why, and we ask that all visitors take extra care whilst forestry work is being undertaken on the site.

We have arranged for specialist contractors to carry out more thinning of the conifer plantation during February. The exact dates have not been confirmed yet, so it’s possible that things are already happening as you read this. The work is part of our Woodland Management Plan and has been approved and licensed by Natural Resources Wales. The site will remain open, although we ask that visitors stay well away from the contractors and their machinery. For their own safety, dogs should be kept on leads in all areas of Maes y Pant and children should always be supervised.

One of MyPAGs main objectives, stated in the ‘Charity’s Objectives’ is ‘… to promote for the benefit of the public the conservation protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment by promoting biological diversity…’ Since MyPAG took ownership of the site in 2011, the group has worked with the Woodland Trust, North Wales Wildlife Trust, and specialists Miller Land Management to develop detailed plans to gradually return the site to a more natural woodland habitat. Those woodland management plans have involved periodic felling and thinning of areas of the dense

Corsican Pine plantation, and a combination of replanting and natural regeneration to restore native broad-leafed woodland to the site. Two phases have been completed.

What is happening this winter is the third, and probably the final phase, with two small areas for clear felling and a general thinning of the conifers across the site. The thinning will involve removal of, at most, one-in-four of the conifers, particularly those which show signs of damage or disease. The contractors will also look for trees which are overshadowed by others and so are unlikely to grow normally and to remain healthy. The work is being done during the winter months to reduce the impact on wildlife, especially the bird life.

As well as the benefits to the woodland and its biodiversity, the felled trees are likely to bring some income, which will help with the management of the site. MyPAG is a not-forprofit company and a registered charity run by volunteers, and all income will be reinvested in Maes y Pant.

Volunteer days

We will continue with our monthly volunteer sessions on the second Saturday of the month. If the forestry work is happening at the same time, we will find tasks which need to be done in areas remote from that work. The next session will be on Saturday 11th February, from 10:00am until 12:30pm.

For more information please visit: www.maes-y-pant.com

Registered charity no. 1169422. Company Limited by Guarantee no. 6221374

All Saints’ School

Ysgol yr Holl Saint - All Saints' School in Gresford is a Church in Wales Primary School for children aged 3 - 11. To find out more about our school, or to arrange a visit, please contact us on: 01978 852342 or email: mailbox@allsaints-pri.wrexham.sch.uk

Our school vision, 'With respect, friendship and care, we learn here and succeed anywhere', epitomises everything we do and everything we want our pupils to become. Our school is at the fore of work to develop a curriculum centred on excellence for all pupils.