PENGELLI FOREST
The largest remaining ancient woodland in West Wales
Elizabethan chronicler George Owen of Henllys, in his Description of Penbrokshire (sic), completed at the beginning of the 17th century, lists nine forests and great woods, with Pengelli (which he owned) being one. Although much reduced in size, Pengelli, together with Panteg at 160 acres, is the largest remaining ancient Oak woodland in south-west Wales. That the forest still exists is something of a miracle as, during World War I ‘Finns’ and ‘Russians’ were brought in to fell the timber, an activity which continued until the 1930s, most being removed on a narrow gauge railway, or pulled out by horse. Subsequently, the forest was acquired by the Forestry Commission, who fortunately did not proceed with clear felling, followed by planting with conifers, as they did close by – a narrow escape, indeed. In 1978, the West Wales Trust for Nature Conservation, now the Wildlife Trust for South and West Wales, leased the forest and, 10 years later, was able to complete the purchase, the site subsequently being declared as a National Nature Reserve. George Owen pondered as to the origin of Woodcock “as it not of our countryman born”, but between Michaelmas and Christmas arrived in large numbers “for plenty it is almost incredible”. Using nets hung between trees at twilight and at dawn, “it is no strange thing to take a hundred or six score in twenty-four hours”. Woodcock can still be flushed in Pengelli during the winter months, though only a fraction of the numbers in George Owen’s time. Birds of prey are likely to be encountered, if only glimpsed overhead from one of the forest rides or clearings, are Red Kite, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard. Pied Flycatchers have used the nestboxes provided while other summer visitors include Wood Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler and Redstart.