More than 60 people learned more about adding value to timber during an open day at Cilrhedyn Woodland Centre in the Gwaun Valley recently. The event at the centre, which is run by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, was sponsored by CALU (Centre for Alternative Land Use) and organised by the authority in partnership with Coed Cymru. Visitors saw demonstrations of three sawmills, a Stenner bandrack, Double Slabber and a Woodmizer, which can cut a variety of timber, from large sawlogs to small diameter timber. The National Park Authority's Coed Cymru officer, Iwan Parry, who manages the Cilrhedyn Woodland Centre, said: "It is the small diameter timber we must concentrate on developing. Following clear felling during the First and Second World Wars we are left with even aged woodlands which have been neglected for a long time. "The biodiversity and economic value within these woodlands has declined and it is through positive intervention that we will bring these woodlands back into a sustainable condition. A crucial part of this process is to add value to as much of the timber being extracted as possible from firewood through to sawlogs." Other demonstrations included producing cleft oak stakes using a new tractor-mounted splitting machine developed at Cilrhedyn; a Dalen firewood processor run by Thomas Harris and a Farmi wood chipper demonstrated by Dyfan Evans and his woodland team. Cilrhedyn staff also gave a demonstration of charcoal production - Gwaun Valley timber is burned at the centre and the charcoal is bagged and sold locally at petrol stations. Visitors enjoyed Gwaun Valley Longhorn beef burgers as they viewed stands by the Forestry Commission, CALU, Coed Cymru, Woodsource Wales and Pembrokeshire Timber. Cilrhedyn Woodland Centre produces a range of green timber products including gates, signs and sawn timber. Cleft oak stakes, charcoal and wood chip are also available. Call 01348 881900 for more information.