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Newborough Forest from Llanddwyn Island


Newborough Forest

Where is Newborough Forest?

What's the problem with the forest?

Why have water tables fallen?

 

Little do people know that fierce debate about the future of Conifer plantations on sand dune systems. Atlantic sand dunes systems have suffered a fall in water levels since the 1960's and one of the reasons cited for the fall at Newborough is the Forest. However there are other factors at Newborough which are affecting flooding other than the forest especially rainfall.

My concern is that after the forest is felled, any rise in water levels following a period of above average rainfall will lead to the conclusion that it was the removal of the trees that was responsible for the rise. Forest clearance at Newborough will then be used as a example of successful raising of water levels and then used as a justification for the removal of trees from wetlands without regard for the hydrology.

Since April, 2005 I have been recording the water levels in the warren and forest, adding additional wells and analyzing the results. I don't have all the answers but it is apparent that :

  • the the water levels respond to rainfall, variations in the water balance can explain the perceived drying out of the warren.

 

  • and responses of all wells to the water balance is very variable and not significantly different between the forest and warren.

 

Records and Research

My Research

 

Spreadsheets

 

Maps

Other Research

 

Betson M, Connell M & Bristow C. (2002). Groundwater modelling of Newborough Warren: A report for the Countryside Council for Wales , Volume 5, Hydrogeology, The Impact of Forestry on Coastal Geomorphology at Newborough Warren/Ynys Llanddwyn NNR, SSSI, pSAC.

Betson, M. and Scholefield, P. (2004). Review of evapotranspiration of herbaceous and afforested dune land ecosystems: The implications for the water balance in Newborough Warren National Nature Reserve, Anglesey, Wales . Report to the Countryside Council for Wales , ADAS Consulting Ltd., Wolverhampton , UK.

Burden R.J. May (1998) A hydrological investigation of three Devon sand dune systems; Brauton Burrows, Northam Burrows and Dawlish Warren. PhD Thesis, Plymouth University.

 

Copyright © Martin Hollingham