Environmental impact assessment: a torturous process in Wales

摘要

The Maes Mynach story begins withan undermanaged 72ha cattle farm near Cynghordy with a mixture of improved and semi-natural grassland, bracken banks and a small area of wetland habitat. The farm is in an enclosed valley surrounded almost entirely by conifer plantation. Following its acquisition by a forestry investor in late 2015 an initial 24ha of afforestation was carried out under the Glastir Woodland Creation (GWC) scheme that winter. A large section of the proposals had to be postponed due to the late timing of Welsh Government confirming GWC eligibility (October) surpassing the opportunity to pre-spray the large tract of the farm that was dominated by bracken.