WOODLAND at Pontrhydfendigaid could be hit by major changes if larch trees in the wood are affected by a disease that has led to hundreds of trees having to be felled.

With uncertainty over whether Natural Resources Wales will need to take action to fell larch trees in the woodland, a special public drop-in session has been organised by community group Coed y Bont and NRW to explain how any action taken could affect access to the woods and what changes it could lead to.

That event will be held on Thursday, 19 April, between 2pm and 7pm at the Pantyfedwen Hall in Pontrhydfendigaid.

Jim Cowie, of Coed y Bont, said the group wanted to ensure that people who use the woodland were aware of the impact if local larch trees were hit by Phytophthora ramorum, otherwise known as larch tree disease.

The disease kills the trees and the only way to stop the spread of it is to fell affected trees, something that may become necessary at Coed y Bont.

Mr Cowie said: “The disease that is affecting larch trees across the country is now very close to Coed y Bont and the larch trees there are at a very high risk of infection.

“If they become infected NRW could decide to remove them at any time.

“If that happens it will have a big disruption to the woodland.

“Certainly, access will be closed off to the upper woodland during the operations to extract the trees and there will be a dramatic effect on the appearance of the woodland.

“If you use this woodland this will definitely affect you.

“Experts from NRW will be on hand to answer questions and to explain when these changes could happen and why, how diseased trees will be dealt with and what the effects could be on people’s use of the woodland and on the long-term woodland environment.”