Learning About Woodland Management At Burry Port

Students from Coleg Sir Gâr are gaining a practical education in forestry management at the Millennium Coastal Park. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A group of students from the college’s Gelli Aur campus are carrying out work at the Burry Port Woodlands, which are managed by the MCP and learning how to use a chainsaw. Students on the course include farmers who are keen to preserve trees on their land, as well as those wishing to pursue a career in forestry. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As part of the college’s countryside management course module, students are able to learn how to protect and fell trees that have been damaged by the weather. They’re also given an opportunity to thin trees to provide more growing space for the remaining trees as well as improving the tree’s growth rate and health. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The work forms part of the Glastir woodland management programme and is a joint project between Carmarthenshire County Council, Coed Cymru and now Coleg Sir Gâr. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

MCP Ranger Simeon Jones said: “The MCP has been managing woodlands for a number of years to ensure that they remain in a good ecological state. The woodlands were initially planted when the MCP was set up in 2000 and are now in need of thinning to ensure that some of the trees can reach maturity as well as ensuring a good shrub layer for small birds etc. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Further planting of native trees will also go ahead to boost the diversity in the woodland especially oak and smaller trees to ensure a good understory layer.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Carmarthenshire County Council executive board member for leisure Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “This joint project is an excellent way for students to learn woodland management and to gain practical experience.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​