Celtic birds

Mentioning the word forestry generally conjures images of rows of towering conifers, but at Crychen Forest there is much more than just plantation – check out the view! Found just southwest of the Brecon Beacons, Crychen is a mix of coniferous and deciduous woodland owned and managed by the Forestry Commission. It's still heavily worked for timber but with a sympathetic approach to wildlife. Mike Dilger meets David Rees, District Conservation Manager, who shows him something that's doing particularly well here. David takes him to see a redstart nest. The nest is in a fallen tree and has five chicks in it. The adult redstarts come back to feed the chicks. The male has spectacular colours. Redstarts are very much birds of the west - Wales and West of Scotland - almost a Celtic bird.