Welsh beauty spot closed after blade shears off wind turbine
Daily Post| Bryana Francis and Steve Bagnall|Mar 2, 2026
A significant portion of Brechfa Forest in Carmarthenshire, Wales, has been temporarily closed after a wind turbine blade detached. Natural Resources Wales has implemented the closure as a safety measure while the incident is investigated by RWE, the wind farm's operator. The forest, which is popular among walkers, equestrians, and cyclists, will remain closed until it is deemed safe for public access.
A significant portion of Brechfa Forest in Carmarthenshire, Wales, has been temporarily closed after a wind turbine blade detached. Natural Resources Wales has implemented the closure as a safety measure while the incident is investigated by RWE, the wind farm's operator. The forest, which is popular among walkers, equestrians, and cyclists, will remain closed until it is deemed safe for public access.
Part of a popular Welsh forest has been shut as a safety precaution while the blade detachment is investigated
A substantial section of a well-loved Welsh forest has been shut to visitors following an incident where a wind turbine shed one of its blades.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has confirmed that portions of Brechfa Forest, in Carmarthenshire, would remain inaccessible for a week owing to the risk posed to members of the public.
The woodland, which attracts walkers, equestrians and cyclists, spans approximately 6,500 hectares of countryside near the village of Abergorlech and falls under the management of NRW, which oversees conservation efforts, timber operations and renewable energy initiatives.
NRW confirmed it had cordoned off …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]Part of a popular Welsh forest has been shut as a safety precaution while the blade detachment is investigated
A substantial section of a well-loved Welsh forest has been shut to visitors following an incident where a wind turbine shed one of its blades.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has confirmed that portions of Brechfa Forest, in Carmarthenshire, would remain inaccessible for a week owing to the risk posed to members of the public.
The woodland, which attracts walkers, equestrians and cyclists, spans approximately 6,500 hectares of countryside near the village of Abergorlech and falls under the management of NRW, which oversees conservation efforts, timber operations and renewable energy initiatives.
NRW confirmed it had cordoned off sections of the forest as a precautionary measure and stated the wind farm's operator, RWE, were examining the circumstances surrounding the blade's detachment from its turbine. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
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Whilst signage indicates the area will reopen on Friday, March 6, NRW stressed that the closure would continue until they could verify that the location was safe for public access. For the latest breaking news in Wales, subscribe to our daily newsletter here.
A statement issued by NRW on Saturday, February 28, read: "Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has temporarily closed access to parts of the forest around Brechfa Forest West Wind Farm as a safety precaution whilst the operator, RWE, investigates the cause of a blade detachment at one of the turbines.", reports Wales Online.
"The closure covers the area shown on the published map and restricts public access to the affected section of land.
"Ensuring appropriate measures are in place to keep visitors safe is our priority, and the closure will remain in place until it is confirmed that the area can be safely reopened.
"Further updates will be issued as more information becomes available." The North Wales Live Whatsapp community for top stories and breaking news is live now - here’s how to sign up
Photos posted online shows one turbine clearly missing a blade, but the reason for how this happened remains unclear.
A sign which has been displayed in the forest states that an area of the land would be closed from 12.01am on Friday, February 27, to 11.59pm on Friday, March 6, for the purpose of "avoiding danger to the public".
Local residents have raised concerns about their access to the historic forest being limited and events being cancelled as a result of this closure.