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Gwaun
Charcoal Helped Heat Up County Barbecues
Charcoal produced from
National Park woodland in the Gwaun Valley is
available for using on your barbecue. The Cilrhedyn Woodland
Centre, which is run by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
Authority, has started producing charcoal from regular kiln burns.
The new production,
believed to be the first in the Gwaun Valley for
over 50 years, continues an age-old tradition which locally spans
several centuries.
Celia Thomas, the Park
Authority’s Woodlands Officer, said
that
old charcoal hearths could still be identified in Gwaun woodlands. This
had been a thriving industry locally until the advent of coke in the
mid 19th century.
“Woodland was
coppiced every 25 to 30 years and the timber
used
for charcoal production. This form of woodland management ceased around
1850 and with it went a way of life that helped sustain the
countryside. This traditional management of woodlands produced habitats
that were perfect for species such as the dormouse and fritillary
butterflies, most notably the high brown. All of the populations of
these species have declined hugely over the past century, and finding
ways of ensuring that the woods and wildlife that depends on them can
continue to thrive is important if we are to see these declines
reversed".
Dewi Jones, Woodland
Supervisor based at Cilrhedyn, said that charcoal
production can play a useful part in this process.
“Making
charcoal is a very useful way of turning
‘waste’ timber into a product that can bring extra
income
back to the woods, enabling us to continue to look after some of
Pembrokeshire’s most special woodlands.”
Dewi added that the Park
Authority is looking for outlets in the area
to sell on the charcoal at trade discount. Anyone interested in
purchasing or stocking Cilrhedyn Charcoal should telephone 01348 881441
for further information.
Pembrokeshire Coast
National Park Authority
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