AN 857-hectare community woodland and a young, broadleaf forest were among the winners in the Woodlands Competition at the 2022 Royal Welsh Show.

Gethin Forest was top of the chops after claiming four awards at the event, including the 'special prize for the best community or public access woodland' and 'best managed woodland over 200 hectares'. 

The forest, in the South Wales valleys, also took home 'best community or public access woodland' and a silver medal in the 'broadleaf planting or restocking under 10 years old' category. 

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Managed for multiple benefits, with a mixture of conifer and semi-natural ancient species, Gethin features a newly established area of mainly Norway Spruce that the judges thought showed impressive growth and stocking due to good management practices.

Wentwood Forest (Broadleaf planting or restocking under 10 years old, gold medal) and Fforest Fawr (Broadleaf woodland over 40 years old, silver medal) were among the other Natural Resources Wales-managed sites to win big at the show.   

Chris Rees, NRW’s forest operations team leader, said: “Seeing our forest operations teams winning so many awards in such a competitive sector is testament to their hard work, professionalism and dedication in managing our forests.

“There is a renewed focus on forestry across South Wales which can sometimes be negative.

“We recognise the importance of woodlands and trees for their environmental benefits and in combatting the climate and nature emergencies, but also for their many social and economic benefits." 

Full list of NRW winners

Best managed woodland over 200 hectares

  • Gold medal for Gethin Forest near Merthyr Tydfil (Geraint Price)

Broadleaf planting or restocking under 10 years old

  • Gold medal for Wentwood Forest, Monmouthshire (Daryl Humber and Gavan Townley)
  • Silver medal for Gethin Forest (Geraint Price)

Broadleaf woodland over 40 years old

  • Silver medal for Fforest Fawr near Cardiff (Geraint Price)

Conifer planting or restocking under 10 years old

  • Silver medal for Gethin Forest (Geraint Price)

Area managed under Low Impact Silviculture systems that helps to increase species and structural diversity

  • Bronze medal for Pen Parc Forest near Abercynon (Geraint Price)

Best community or public access woodland

  • Gold medal for Gethin Forest and Bike Park Wales (Geraint Price)

​Winner of the special prize (The Meirion Davies Memorial Perpetual Challenge Cup for best community woodland)

  • Gethin Forest / Bike Park Wales (Geraint Price)