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Thousands of Valleys trees felled to tackle disease

More than 150,000 disease-infected larch trees are being felled at Cwmcarn Forest Drive in the South Wales Valleys.

Heavy machinery has damaged the track, which could cost millions of pounds to repair.

The move has been in the pipeline for several months, with the area shut to visitors while the work is taking place.

Natural Resources Wales says it's vital to stop the spread of the virus and that there will be at least a two-year felling period.

We have to fell it now because if we didn't, we'd end up with forests of dead trees in years to come. And those trees would be worthless. So by felling it now we're actually able to recover some of the value of the timber, and put that back into what is the public purse, in effect.

– Andy Schofield, Natural Resources Wales
A rare goshawk is nesting in the area and there are concerns over her environment.

But local action group Friends of Cwmcarn Forest Drive are concerned that the attraction will never be re-opened, with NRW yet to confirm when the closure will be lifted.

There are also concerns because a goshawk - a rare bird of prey - is nesting in one of the trees with her chicks.

There's a strong feeling of frustration in the community really that something so precious has been taken away, in the way that it's been done. Everything's been taken away from up there - all the sculptures, the playgrounds, the barbecues. And it all seems so final.

– Rob Southall, Friends of Cwmcarn Forest Drive
The larch trees were planted as pit props for the coal mines in the 1950s.