Aigas Community Forest

A productive, working forest providing measurable social, economic and environmental benefits for local residents and visitors alike

Young Forester's Area

An option for a bit of fun.

In the forest you will shortly find eight slate plaques which each contain an image relating to the forest. Bring an HB  pencil or a crayon and a couple of sheets of copier paper and find  a plaque. These are easily accessed from the paths and marked by a small yellow star on the big map in the Information Bothy. Lay a sheet of paper on the plaque and run over it lightly and at an angle with a pencil or crayon. Whilst you are doing this you may see the red squirrels, dragonflies or other items depicted on the plaques.

There will be prizes for the best rubbings and the best letters of what you found amazing in the forest. Instructions for entering the competition will be announced once the plaques are installed in the forest which should be by mid May.

Giant Wood Wasps. The B52 of the wasp world but entirely harmless!

The giant horntail is a massive sawfly that is also known as the 'giant woodwasp' or 'greater horntail wasp'. A relative of the wasps, the female is black and yellow and has a long, stinger-like tail that is actually her ovipositor, which she uses to lay her eggs into wood, particularly pine. The larvae live in the wood of pine trees, where they spend up to five years developing. Found near pine woods, or places where pine timbers are used.

How to identify

The giant horntail is a black-and-yellow-banded insect that looks like a large wasp, so may be confused with the hornet or hornet robberfly. The female has a long ovipositor at the end of her body, which looks like a stinger. Despite its fearsome appearance, the giant horntail is harmless.

The Dipping Pond

This is our Dipping Pond which is relatively new and needs time to establish. Take care and don't push people as we don't want any accidents. There is a throw line on the staging if anyone goes for an unscheduled swim. When you have idenitified wildlife in the pond we will list them here. Look for Dragonflies around here. The older pond at the forest crossroads has a well established range of insects but no access platform yet. What to look for in ponds

Aigas Field Centre Naturedays

We are lucky to be working with the Aigas Field Centre and their Rangers and one facility they provide for younger naturalists is their Naturedays . Click on the link to explore the options.