Brechfa Forest facts for kids

Brechfa Forest is a large forest located in Carmarthenshire, a county in south Wales. It's the modern name for part of the much older Glyn Cothi Forest. For a very long time, even before the 6th century, people living in the 15 villages around Glyn Cothi Forest used to manage it. They used the forest for jobs, building materials, other products, and even for animals to graze.

Over the years, Brechfa Forest has had many different roles. It was a safe place for Welsh Princes when they were fighting invaders. It was also a special forest where kings would hunt. For about 200 years, it was like the "oil country" of Wales, producing a lot of oil for lamps. During World War I, the forest was a major source of wood for building trenches and materials for explosives.

History of Brechfa Forest

The Forestry Commission was created during World War I to help produce more wood. At that time, Glyn Cothi Forest was still being actively managed by local people. It provided a lot of wood for the war, as well as oil and explosives.

During the 1930s, a time when many people didn't have jobs, the UK government bought land that used to be part of Glyn Cothi Forest but had been turned into farms. Young unemployed men helped plant many conifer trees and build forest roads. These men came from special training centers set up by the Ministry of Labour. Many of them were from areas where coal mining was a big industry and jobs were hard to find.

Later, the huts in Brechfa that housed these workers were used to shelter children from the Spanish Civil War. These children were refugees from the Basque region, seeking safety.

Modern Forest Management

Managing and maintaining the forest provided many jobs for local people until the 1980s. After that, the Forestry Commission started using more machines and hiring outside companies for work.

Because of these changes, Carmarthenshire County Council began projects to make Brechfa Forest and the nearby Llanllwni Mountain popular places for visitors and outdoor activities.

Activities in Brechfa Forest

Today, Brechfa Forest is a great place for everyone to enjoy. People can go for walks, ride horses, or cycle. Tourism is now the second biggest source of jobs for the villages around the forest.

Brechfa Forest has become one of the best places in Wales for mountain biking. It has several trails specially designed for mountain bikers and even a mountain biking center.

The area is also part of a special project in Wales. This project helps local communities take the lead in developing the area. The goal is to create a strong and lasting local economy.

Natural Resources Wales

On April 1, 2013, several Welsh government groups merged into one new organization called Natural Resources Wales (Welsh: Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru). This new body took over the responsibility for managing Brechfa Forest.