Our Team
An independent company based in Carmarthen offering comprehensive forestry and ecological consultancy services and impartial advice across Wales.
Established in 1985, we are a team of experienced professionals who have worked with a range of clients including farmers, private individuals, estate owners, government agencies and voluntary sector organisations. We can help you achieve your project, whatever the size, in a cost effective and timely manner.
Dai Jones BSc MICFor – Managing Director
Dai took over as Managing Director following the retirement of Hugh Wheeldon who founded the company in 1985. After graduating from Bangor University with a degree in Forestry he went on to work in Scotland, Northumberland and North Wales before returning to South Wales in 1998 to take up a position as Forest District Manager for the Forestry Commission covering the Llandovery and South Wales Valley Districts.In 2014 Dai joined the team at HW Forestry Ltd bringing a wealth of experience of working with a diverse types of woodland found across South and West Wales. He manages an extensive portfolio of clients providing a range of services including harvesting, timber sales, restocking, new woodland creation, management and restoration of native woodlands, woodland valuations and sales.
Dai has been a member of the Institute of Chartered Foresters since 1996 and is a member of the ICF Wales committee and the CONFOR Wales Committee. In 2015 he became a co-owner of the company and manages the team from its base in Carmarthen.
Paul Hastings FDSc Arb, M.Arbor.A - Woodland Creation, Carbon and Tree Manager
Having completed his Foundation Degree in Arboriculture in 2004 at Myerscough College, Lancashire, Paul has ventured into many aspects of arboriculture and forestry. Predominantly working as a self-employed climbing arborist, Paul was passionate about adhering to impeccable arboricultural ethics and standards of craftmanship. This attention to detail in his practical job has now transferred to his role at HW Forestry Ltd where he is responsible for delivering treeworks contracts alongside the management and creation of woodlands planning schemes. Paul also has many years’ experience surveying trees for landowners, developers, councils, and organisations. This applied knowledge and experience continues and forms an important part of his role.Paul is a member of the Arboricultural Association at Professional level and the Institute of Chartered Foresters at associate level.
Vicky Richards – Finance Manager
Vicky joined our team in 2017. She is a fully qualified AAT licensed accountant and is currently part-qualified in ACCA.As Finance Manager, Vicky oversees the daily operations of our Accounts Department. She manages a range of financial services on behalf of our clients, including VAT returns and timber sales, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency.
Matthew Whitehead - Senior Forest Manager
Matthew Whitehead is our Senior Forest Manager with over 20 years experience in Public and Private sector Forestry within Wales. He graduated from university with a degree in Arboriculture and began his career with Forestry Commission where he undertook roles covering Harvesting, Forestry Planning and Woodland Management. Following this Matthew worked for a Large Sawmill as timber Buyer before returning to Natural Resources Wales as a Forestry Advisor for their commercial team. Prior to coming over to us Matthew worked as a Forest Manager in Wales for a private forestry Management Company.Matthew joins us in 2025 bringing his knowledge and skills from his previous roles to help manage our Mid and North Wales portfolio of clients providing a range of services including harvesting, timber sales, restocking, new woodland creation, management and restoration of native woodlands, woodland valuations and sales.
Matthew is a Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Foresters and a member on the CONFOR Wales Committee and the Plant & Equipment Work Group for FISA.
Gareth Edwards - Forest Manager
Gareth brings over 12 years of experience in both the public and private forestry sectors across Wales and England. His career began with the Forestry Commission and later with Natural Resources Wales (NRW), where he held several key roles including Supervising Harvesting Officer, Harvesting Manager, and Team Leader for the Harvesting & Sales team in South Wales. During his time at NRW, Gareth was responsible for ensuring that over 320,000m³ of timber was harvested and marketed annually across the region.Following his public sector experience, Gareth joined Euroforest as Forest Works Manager, a role he held for eight years. There, he managed harvesting operations and was responsible for selling approximately 45,000 tonnes of timber per year to sawmills. In addition, Gareth played a key role in silvicultural management, overseeing 30–40 lowland forestry portfolios in Herefordshire. His responsibilities included supervising new planting, deer management, squirrel control, and weeding operations.
With a strong background in operational forestry, timber marketing, and estate management, Gareth brings a wealth of practical knowledge and leadership to his current role as Forest Manager.
Tim Williams - Managing Director of HW Forestry Ltd and Timber Purchaser and Logistics Manager at Western Bio Enterprises
With over 21 years of experience in the forestry industry, he began his career working on ground preparation and civil projects for the Forestry Commission before moving into harvesting and haulage, where his real passion lies. Having previously owned and operated his own harvesting business, he brought his expertise to Western Bio Enterprises in 2022 to establish and lead the forestry and logistics arm of the company.Today, he oversees the harvesting and haulage of more than 60,000 tonnes of timber annually, taking pride in managing large-scale operations while embracing the daily variety and challenges the role brings.
Away from work, he enjoys outdoor pursuits including hunting, shooting, and fishing, and can often be found on a harvester undertaking smaller jobs, where he feels most at home.
Why Choose HW Forestry Ltd
We are a long established independent company offering a full range of forestry, woodland creation and ecological services across Wales. We can help manage your woodlands, harvest and sell your timber, restock or plant new woodland. We can also help with ecological surveys and monitoring and help you gain access to grants that may be available to help achieve your project.Please get in touch if you would like to meet us to discuss your plans.
