£4million now invested in Welsh woodlands, with more funding available

£4million now invested in Welsh woodlands, with more funding available

Woodland in a valley
Woodland near Machynlleth, cared for by Coetir Anian. Photo: Dan Jones Images.
From restoring Anglesey woodlands to creating a 50-hectare mosaic of forestry in Powys, 10 more projects have received funding from The Woodland Investment Grant (TWIG).

This funding programme offers grants between £40,000 and £250,000 to help organisations create or improve woodlands for local communities in Wales to use and enjoy.

We want to encourage more people to use and get involved in their local woodlands and green space.

Julie James, Minister for Climate Change

We're delivering the TWIG programme in partnership with the Welsh Government, as part of the National Forest for Wales initiative.

Three people installing a sign in a forest
Installing signs at Graig Wyllt nature reserve and woodland.

Ten more woodland projects receiving funding

Since the programme opened in 2022, over 20 projects have received £4m in funding from TWIG. The latest projects to receive funding are:

  • Llyn Parc Mawr Community Woodland Group Ltd is receiving £201,300 to restore and enhance a woodland on Anglesey which is part of Newborough Forest.
  • North Wales Wildlife Trust is receiving £86,100 to work with the Llanfair Fyw community group to improve the condition of the woodland at Graig Wyllt.
  • Care and Repair North East Wales is receiving £249,126 to develop and manage Dee Park in Shotton and expand facilities for local people.
  • Elwy Working Woods Ltd is receiving £249,248 to transform five small woodlands to provide wood to regenerate a micro timber industry.
  • Halkyn Castle Wood Events and Education Ltd is receiving £96,000 to provide safe spaces in Castle Woods in Halkyn and encourage visitors. 
A person on red quad moving logs onto a trailer on a woodland path
Moving logs at Elwy Working Woods.
  • The Woodland Trust is receiving £250,000 to transform 236 hectares of land just outside Neath into a heritage-rich landscape.
  • The Sirhowy Hill Woodlands CIC is receiving £249,995 to transform the 85 hectare Sirhowy Hill Woodlands for the area’s communities.
  • Coetir Anian is receiving £90,462 to create a 50-hectare mosaic structure with dense thicket and high canopy forest in woodlands outside Machynlleth.
  • Hafren Dyfrdwy Cyfyngedig/Severn Trent Water is receiving £206,300 to improve biodiversity and accessibility to woodlands at Lake Vyrnwy in Powys.
  • The National Trust is receiving £249,011 to support woodlands at the Dolaucothi estate which are part of the Celtic Rainforest.

Growing the National Forest Network 

Minister for Climate Change, Julie James said: “I am delighted to see such a high level of interest in The Woodland Investment Grant, which will help us to grow our National Forest network across Wales.

“We want to encourage more people to use and get involved in their local woodlands and green space. This funding for a further 10 projects will help us all to reconnect with nature both for our own wellbeing and to help protect our natural environment and the wildlife it supports.”

Last chance to apply for TWIG funding

There is one remaining round of TWIG funding, and the deadline to submit expressions of interest is 7 December 2023.

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