Hafren Forest triptych
The Hafren Forest comprises a large area of predominantly spruce plantation on the Eastern flanks of the Pumlummon range of hills in Mid Wales. The plantation is owned by Natural Resources Wales, whose management schemes are becoming increasingly nature-friendly. On felling the existing conifers, riparian corridors have been allowed to regenerate with native broadleaf species including birch, willow and alder and, as a result of this, the population of many birds has increased dramatically, the Willow Warbler being one particular case.
It's easy to think of wind as being the enemy of the sound recordist, but a walk on a breezy day can be an exhillarating experience and one which I've tried to capture here. This recording is in 5 sections with crossfades between each and follows a circular walk up Afon Hore, through the plantation and returning along the banks of Afon Hafren, the River Severn.
1. On the bank of Afon Hore, about 1km from its confluence with the Hafren (Severn).
Willow Warbler's lilting song, bee buzz.
2. As gusts of wind whip through the spruce high above, we hear the slow creaking of a goat willow, salix caprea as it rocks gently from side to side. Bees forage in the undergrowth and a Robin sings close by.
3. Further up the trail, the song of a Cuckoo reverberates through the plantation while Chaffinch and Robin sing close by. I think I detect a Coal Tit in here too.
4. Hafren streamside scrub with Willow Warbler, Robin, Blackbird "clucking" and song.
5. Evening on the bank of Afon Hafren where the river tumbles gently over its stony bed. A Willow Warbler sings close by and we hear the repeated phrases of a Song Thrush, the periodic high-pitched trill of a Wren, and a distant Blackbird's free-form song...
Download full length recording:
30 min, 61MB, .ogg format
Recorded: 2025-05-14 @ 1400...2000LT
Location: approx 52.47, -3.71
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