Woodlands

map generated from Phase 1 vegetation survey of Wales (Countryside Council for Wales)

This map shows woodlands in the West Wales area.

Woodlands can broadly be divided into two types, coniferous and broad leaved.

Conifers are largely ever greens and are characterised by narrow, needle-like leaves, they are adapted to extreme weather conditions and the only native areas of conifer woodland found in the UK are the Scottish Highlands. Coniferous woodlands found around other parts of the UK have been planted. Native conifer forests are dominated by the Scots pine and are home to a variety of unique bird and mammal species. Conifer plantations lack the species diversity of native woodlands mainly due to the dense canopy of the closely planted trees.

Broad leaf trees are mostly deciduous (shed their leaves in winter) and have broad, flat leaves of various shapes and sizes. Broad leaved woodland are the dominant natural forest type in Britain and two native species of oak, the pedunculate and sessile, dominate these woodlands in England and Wales. Other common broad leaf species include ash, birch, beech, hazel and hawthorn. Broad leaf woodlands are an important habitat to a large, varied invertebrate and bird population as well as sustaining a number of plant and mammal species.

There are ancient woodlands in West Wales and WWBIC are involved in a veteran tree project

Carmarthenshire County Council website contains information on woodlands found in Carmarthenshire and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park website contains information on woodlands in the national park.