PLANS are being formed to come to the rescue of a nationally-important forest near Llanfair Caereinion amid concerns that historic oak trees in the area could die without being naturally replaced.

Llanfair Caereinion Town Council is inviting residents to a meeting over the future of Deri Woods.

On Saturday, October 22, the council is holding a meeting to lay out a management plan for the woods and for Goat Field, with a walkabout to explain it to those with an interest.

The meeting will take place at 10am in the Deri Woods car park.

Deri Woods and Goat Field are the only council owned sites in the area which are listed as a habitat of principal importance for Wales under the Environment Act of 2016, being home to several species of significance.

Llanfair Council has created a management plan for the area and hopes to explain it to residents and provide a demonstration of the plan’s importance on site.

A report of the area was prepared by the Coed Cadw Woodland Trust, which formed the basis for the council’s management plan.

The report identified several issues with the area, such as a lack of oak regeneration, which leaves no succession of new trees to replace older oaks as they decline and die.

It also highlighted an overtopping issue that involves lager conifers suppressing growth of mature oak trees, and that the ground is largely bare, with ancient woodland plants only occurring as remnants.

The report concluded that the area had great potential for a significant increase in biodiversity.

Llanfair Council has followed the report's recommended actions as part of its forest management plan, including by lowering the number of non-native trees, and acting on the crowding and suppression of oak trees to support oaks and to cast more light on the forest floor to allow more plants to grow there.

A town council spokesperson said: “Taken to its ultimate conclusion, without a concerted effort to thin the non-native trees, Deri Woods would go through a phase of severe decline and then premature death of the current oak trees.

“On the other hand, following the recommendations of the restoration plan will ensure Deri Woods continues as a high-quality wildlife and public amenity for many decades to come.

“It would gradually change to become a richer, semi-natural ancient woodland, dominated by oak trees, while still retaining several large and impressive non-native beech and conifers, which add diversity and interest to the site.”