Clocaenog Forest covers an area of 4,166 ha of which approximately 50% is designated to Lower
Impact Silvicultural Systems (LISS). The forest also hosts the Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) area (www.forestry.gov.uk/fr/INFD-94LCMR), established in 2002 in collaboration with Bangor University and Forest Research. Clocaenog is an upland site, ranging from 300 m to 500 m above sea level and underlain by Silurian slates and shales. The species composition is dominated by Sitka spruce (61% by area) and Norway spruce (11% by area).
The management priorities are conservation (maintenance of red squirrel and black grouse habitat), and timber production. Public usage is relatively limited. Substantial pockets of windthrow were sustained during winter 2013/2014, providing challenges and opportunities for Dave Williams and his team in Natural Resources Wales. These formed the basis for a major part of the site visit.