AN AWARD-WINNING forest visitor centre has enjoyed a rebirth since being devastated by the spread of a disease which affects larch trees.
About 12,000 native trees including sessile oak, rowan, birch, field maple, wild cherry, hawthorn and blackthorn have been replanted by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) at Bwlch Nant yr Arian, near Aberystwyth, replacing the 10 hectares of larch felled to help slow down the spread of Phytophthora ramorum.
Gareth Owen, visitor centre manager for NRW said: "The whole site has come on fantastically well since the replanting.
"The felling provided us with an unexpected opportunity to create better, more resilient forests for the future by replanting more diverse native trees.”
Despite the felling programme, the forest's most famous visitors – its red kite population - continue to thrive, with more than 150 birds showing up for the daily feeding sessions. All of the centre's mountain bike, walking and orienteering trails have also re-opened.
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