Horses are replacing machines to clear infected trees from a British forest.<br /><br />Natural Resources Wales turned back the clock to use traditional forestry skills with the animals.<br /><br />They are being used to thin an area of sensitive woodland in Fforest Fawr near Tongwynlais, on the outskirts of Cardiff.<br /><br />Known as 'horse logging' it is an ancient and sustainable forest management technique used for thousands of years.<br /><br />It uses horses to pull timber from felling areas without the need for large machines and with minimal damage to the ground and other plants.<br /><br />The work will last for three months to stop the spread of phytophthora ramorum, commonly known as larch disease.<br /><br />Other tree species in the affected area will not be felled.<br /><br />Chris Rees, forest operations team leader for Natural Resources Wales said: “Horse logging has been around for thousands of years and is still a viable and sustainable method of extracting timber in modern day forest operations.<br /><br />“Using horses rather than machines in environmentally sensitive areas gives us a low impact and sympathetic solution, particularly for managing important ancient woodlands and archeologic sites.<br /><br />“We used horses in other South Wales Central woodlands last year and we’re looking forward to keeping this wonderful tradition alive in Fforest Fawr.”<br /><br />The area of operations, 4.7 hectares, is not entirely larch, the rest being native broadleaved species that will not be felled. <br /><br />Precision felling and timber extraction is required to minimise damage to the surrounding broadleaved trees and other important archaeological features.<br /><br />The thinning of the larch will also allow the broadleaf canopy to increase. <br /><br />As a Planted Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) woodland, this work will help to restore and improve its ecological potential.<br /><br />Horses, horse boxes, welfare provisions and associated equipment will be kept on site for the duration of the work.<br /><br />While the Fforest Fawr car park will remain open, visitors to the woodland are asked to adhere to any safety signs or diversions, and to keep dogs on lead.
