Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire Update

The Nature Networks Fund 2 Grasslands Project funded work has occurred on a number of sites within Ceredigion. Namely, Rhos Glen Yr Helyg, Rhos Marion and Rhos Fullbrook.

All of these Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales  (WTSWW) Nature Reserves have benefitted from new and replacement fencing, nearly 4.5km combined with new gates and stiles also installed. This work has enabled the reintroduction of necessary grazing on Rhos Marion whilst also improving better management of grazing on the other sites.

Public access on all of these reserves has also been improved allowing better opportunities to traverse the reserves than before. Habitat work at Rhos Glen Yr Helyg has also been funded by the grant with large areas of rank, tussocky grassland flailed and removed from site to promote growth of wildflower species whilst also enabling better management opportunities for grazing livestock.

In Pembrokeshire, a field at WTSWW's Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve has had 520m worth of fencing installed to again improving habitat management through the use of grazing ponies.

Wildflower meadows adjacent to the Welsh Wildlife Centre have been cut by a contractor with all arisings being removed so as to reduce the nutrient load on these areas and promote the growth and spread of wildflowers.

Nathan Walton, Reserves Manager West and Wildlife Trust Officer for Pembrokeshire said, “I am extremely grateful for the funding that NNF has provided which is enabling key projects to be delivered on our nature reserves, further enabling key and necessary management regimes of these sites for the habitats and species they hold host to.”
 

Brecknock Update

The NNF Resilient Grasslands project on our Brecknock Nature Reserves has enabled us to combine traditional skills and practices with new innovative techniques, such as the use of drone photography to enable accurate mapping and monitoring of vegetation types, in the management of the reserves.

Duncan Ludow, WTSWW's Reserves Manager (east) said, "The use of both new and traditional land management approaches will enable us to manage these important nature reserves for the benefit of wildlife, and for future generations to enjoy and appreciate.“

South Gower Nature Reserve Update

The importance of the management of our South Gower Cliffs Nature Reserves by scrub clearance and conservation grazing has been highlighted by the discovery of the scarce plant, Goldilocks aster, at a location where it was though the population was lost. The last time Goldilocks aster was recorded at this location was over ten years ago despite annual searches. 

During the last decade the gorse had grown vigorously, dominating and not allowing the flowering plants the cliffs are so important for to germinate or spread. Scrub clearance followed by grazing doesn’t just benefit the habitats by keeping the vegetation low either, this summer we have observed plants like Basil thyme exploiting opportunities presented by the ground disturbance from livestock’s hooves. Chough have been seen exploring feeding opportunities in cow pats.

The NNF Resilient Grasslands project has funded equipment to enable WTSWW to ensure that our designated reserves are receiving the management they need.

WTSWW's Nature Reserves Manager, Paul Thornton says, “Without the support of the Nature Networks Fund we wouldn’t be able to enter into such successful partnerships with specialist conservation graziers. By being able to offer safe handling facilities and equipment to address welfare issues we are able to ensure we engage livestock keepers with the same passion for the habitats and species that we have. This pays dividends with the keepers assisting in habitat monitoring, being responsive to any stocking changes or movements required and consequentially, the success of the scarce plants and other species found on these sites."
 

The Nature Networks Fund is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales on behalf of the Welsh Government and in partnership with Natural Resources Wales.