Dowrog Common Nature Reserve, located outside of St Davids, is a 101 hectare SSSI and part of the north Pembrokeshire Commons SAC. The reserve has received funding through the EU funded LIFE project called Quaking Bogs. This project aims to restore peatland, quaking bogs and their wider supporting wetland landscapes to favourable conservation status. Quaking bogs – so called because when conditions are right the ground ‘quakes’ underfoot.

In Pembrokeshire, this project will be delivered in partnership by Natural Resources Wales, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales and The National Trust.

Peatland is the most valuable land resource in Wales as it stores 30% of land-based carbon. Covering about 4% of Wales, it is estimated that 90% of Welsh peatland is in a deteriorating condition and emitting greenhouse gasses that contribute to climate change.

A large amount of the habitat on Dowrog Common has been assessed as ‘unfavourable’. Such conditions are often caused by the land being over-grazed by animals. In some cases, insufficient grazing has led to important plants being smothered by dominant or invasive species. Both issues occur on the reserve although there are still parts which are favourable. To help improve the condition of the site, there is a real need to enable a better grazing regime. This will be delivered through the improvement of fencing and the redesign of compartments on site.

Over the past few years there have been issues of livestock escaping onto neighbouring land or into other compartments. The growth of scrub has also caused a decline in populations of the rarer lesser butterfly orchid along with a number of the 350 species of other flowering plants that the site supports. Improving the habitat will also provide refuge for a large number of invertebrates such as dragon and damselflies, species of moth and a hope to re-establish the marsh fritillary that has been lost.

Over the winter, work was done by contractors to flail fence lines, especially along the reserve’s boundary and to push back encroaching scrub. As most of the reserve is extremely wet during this time, some sections will be done when drier. The map below shows where the new fencing is to be erected and the type of fencing required. There is a move away from standard polywire electric fencing to high tensile wire which is more secure and will carry charge better. This will be supported by wooden stakes every 40m with plastic electric fencing posts between at every 5m for internal fencing, yet boundary fencing will be 3 strands of barb wire. This specification has been agreed with all partner organisations and the Pembrokeshire Commons Officer. Boundary fencing will be permanent in nature yet the electric fencing still temporary. All fencing passing through the common is temporary and will have stiles installed to allow movement over them for visitors. The internal fencing will be double fenced for biosecurity reasons and will facilitate better grazing management and rotation of livestock across the common.

Fencing will start in May once the ground has hopefully dried up and facilitates access. The fencing will follow established fire breaks on the common so will not involve scrub removal during this time, having little or no effect on nesting birds. Where scrub may be needed to be cleared to facilitate better the lines, a nesting survey will be undertaken beforehand. There may be a few orchids and other wildflowers that will be disturbed during this time yet the rest of the reserve holds excellent numbers and the new grazing regime will only help improve populations on the reserve.

There are also plans to dig some scrapes to the southwest of the main Dowrog Pool, to open this area up and enhance the open water features of the common. Along with this is a move to reconnect the leat to the pool and allow better flows of water into it, keeping it wet and a valuable habitat for the important aquatic species dependent on it, as shown in the map below.

Should you require any further information, please contact Nathan Walton, Reserves Manager West and Wildlife Trust Officer for Pembrokeshire at n.walton@welshwildlife.org.