Part of Afan Forest Trails closed for forest operations

Some areas of Afan Forest Park - including The Wall mountain bike trail - will be closed to the public until early next summer while contractors carry out work to open up parts of the forest for the benefit of wildlife and plants and improve the forest's environmental value. Groups of timber harvesting contractors have started thinning trees in the Afan Valley on the north side of the river, known as Michaelston Forest, to create more open areas and increase the amount of light into the forest. This will enable more ground vegetation to grow and will produce more food for the forest animals, as well as developing different habitats to protect the plants and animals and allow them to thrive. It means Michaelston Forest, including public rights of way, four waymarked walks as well as The Wall, will have to be closed because of safety considerations. However, the forest area around Afan Visitor Centre, with its five waymarked walks and Penhydd mountain bike trail, will remain open. The forest around Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre also remains open, as do White’s Level and Skyline mountain bike trails. The work - which is due to take six months - is being carried out with the help of European aid through the Welsh European Funding office (WEFO) to provide the public with environmental, social and economic benefits from Welsh forests. The Afan Valley has been selected as the most important forest in South Wales to receive this funding. The funding recognises Afan Forest Park as an area of outstanding landscape value and as a major recreation centre which is increasing the level of tourism from all over the world. This is an important development for the residents of the Afan Valley and for Neath Port Talbot. Forestry Commission Wales woodland manager Tim Harland said, "Because the Afan Valley is a difficult and dangerously steep place for harvesting contractors, the health and safety of the operation requires that the public are not allowed on or near the work site. "Mud and tree debris will make the trails impassable for the public, and there will be heavy timber lorries and harvesting machinery travelling between sites. We acknowledge this will be an inconvenience, but we have tried to minimise the disruption and ask the public to use other areas while this work is undertaken." www.forestry.gov.uk