West Wales and the Valleys Region - United Kingdom
Contact: Maria Wilding, Llais y Goedwig
Regional Stakeholder Group & News
Action Research - West Wales & the Valleys
In West Wales & the Valleys we are following community woodland groups and small businesses as they test the market and start to produce and sell NWFP from their local woods. Our initial research prioritised four areas with potential for development:
Useful fungi and lichens
Trees for bees
Native bluebells
Woodland inventory toolkit
About West Wales & the Valleys
Most of the actively-managed forest land in Wales is owned by the Welsh Government and is administered on their behalf by Natural Resources Wales.
The UK has a low proportion of afforested land compared to other parts of Europe and so local crafts and NWFP is quite limited. Collection of berries, nuts, etc is usually casual and carried out by a relatively few who are interested. Fungus collection is left to the few particularly knowledgeable.
Some small businesses are looking at other opportunities, like wildflower honey and local berry collection, particularly where there is access to suitable woodland and support through locally administered funding programmes. There is developing interest in 'fungus forages' so that people can start to familiarise themselves with fungus types, and a developing 'farmers market' network where locally-made jams/preserves can be sold. The Welsh Perry and Cider Society looking at welsh apple branding for cider products. Wassails and apple days being marketed at local and regional events. There is horse riding and outdoor activities in some areas (such as mountain biking, bushcraft, orienteering).
NWFP are not that well understood or known in this region, but there is considerable potential for development at the local community level.
Gorllewin Cymru a'r Cymoedd – Y Deyrnas Unedig
Rheolir y rhan helaeth o'r tir coedwig yng Nghymru gan Lywodraeth Cymru a'i weinyddu ar ei rhan gan Gyfoeth Naturiol Cymru.
Mae gan y Deyrnas Unedig gyfradd isel o dir coedwig o'i gymharu â rhannau eraill o Ewrop ac felly mae crefftau lleol ac NWFP yn brin. Mae'r gwaith o gasglu mwyar, cnau ac ati yn weithgaredd hamdden ac yn cael ei wneud gan ychydig o bobl sydd â diddordeb. Mae casglu madarch yn cael ei adael i'r rhai sy'n neilltuol o wybodus amdanynt.
Mae rhai busnesau bach yn ymchwilio cyfleoedd eraill, megis mêl o flodau gwyllt a chasglu mwyar yn lleol, yn enwedig lle ceir mynediad at goetir addas a chefnogaeth drwy raglenni a weinyddir ac a ariennir yn lleol. Ceir diddordeb mewn 'fforio am fadarch' fel y gall pobl ddod yn gyfarwydd â mathau o fadarch, a diddordeb hefyd mewn datblygu rhwydwaith 'marchnad ffermwyr' lle gellir gwerthu jamiau cartref. Mae Cymdeithas Perai a Seidr Cymru yn ymchwilio brandio afalau Cymreig ar gyfer cynnyrch seidr. Mae dyddiau gwasael ac afalau'n cael eu marchnata mewn digwyddiadau lleol a rhanbarthol. Ceir marchogaeth ceffyl a gweithgareddau awyr agored mewn rhai ardaloedd (megis beicio mynydd, byw yn y gwyllt, neu gyfeiriannu).
Nid oes dealltwriaeth dda ynglŷn ag NWFP yn yr ardal hon, ond mae'r posibiliadau ar gyfer datblygu ar lefel gymunedol yn sylweddol.
