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HELPING YOU TO HELP WILDLIFE ON YOUR FARM |
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Using past practices for a better future |
01.11.2005 |
Author: Gwyn Thomas
Farm: Blaen y Nant, Nant Ffrancon |
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Aims:
After working for other farmers for 27 years, Gwyn's dream was to farm for himself and bring back the balance that existed between nature and farming during his upbringing. He became a hill farming tenant of the National Trust 12 years ago, determined to farm his 321 hectares with wildlife firmly in mind. Sustaining wildlife and the landscape is particularly significant as Gwyn's farm forms part of Snowdonia National Park and is designated SSSI, encompassing habitats such as woodland and wetland. |
Management:
Committed to using the same systems that have been employed for hundreds of years, Gwyn decided to farm organically ten years ago. He reintroduced Welsh black cattle after an absence of 64 years and now keeps over three quarters of the farm stock free during the winter. He has also reduced sheep numbers from 1200 to 300 - a number very similar to what it was in 1754. With the farm's organic status and reduced grazing, species rich pasture and moorland have been preserved, providing habitats for birds like the ring ouzel to forage and nest in. The UK ring ouzel population decreased by approximately 60% between 1990 and 1999, with loss of heather for nest sites a possible contribution to it's decline.
Gwyn's organic, extensively grazed system also provides suitable conditions for a range of other species that can forage in the insect-rich grassland and dung. The diverse sward structure also produces nesting cover for snipe in the wetter pastures of the farm, and the reduction in grazing reduces the risk of nest trampling.
Combining conservation with farming practice, Gwyn makes traditional silage and grows swede and turnip fodder crops. As well as the agricultural benefits such as reduced feeding costs, twite and other seed eating birds benefit from the seeds of the weeds that grow within the brassicas. Work such as this is crucial on Gwyn's farm as Nant Ffrancon and the Ogwen Valley are the last bastions of the twite - their decline due to loss of seed food - and even there, there may be fewer than 15 pairs remaining. Twite also make use of the tall, mature heather for nesting and the seed heads from the thistles Gwyn leaves for them to feed off in early autumn.
Gwyn also grows cereal crops for organic winter feed, which he rotates every three years. Not only does the crop produce a better quality cattle feed, whole crop silage is another source of weed seeds for birds. Inspired by times when a herbalist planted in the area in the 1700's, Gwyn also combines a couple of pounds of herbs into the crop. Cows and calves are housed in the winter and their manure stored and spread in the fields - a simple, old fashioned system. Light on their feet, Gwyn uses Shetland ponies to graze the rushes during the winter and keep poaching to a minimum.
In the eighth year of his Tir Gofal agreement, Gwyn has used the scheme to restore and recreate such habitat - as well as rebuilding dry stone walls; planting wildlife corridors alongside the river, enclosing woodland areas and planting 2-3000 saplings each year. Otter holts have also been built and barn owl boxes erected.
Problems encountered
Gwyn doesn't feel there's enough done to better the general public's understanding of farming and how it works. Gwyn is passionate about educating others and often visits local schools and welcomes the pubic and school groups onto his land. He's created on farm educational facilities and a Nature Trail Guide with the help of 'Cae' (an environment development fund). |
Achievements:
With all this in place, Gwyn has noticed flora flourishing, especially young saplings and heather on the mountains. He has also observed an increase in wildlife, benefiting from the increased cover and food. Key species presently found on the farm include otters, water voles, mountain hare and bats. There have been 64 different species of bird recorded such as twite, ring ouzel and barn owl.
When asked about future changes, Gwyn is happy with the way things have turned out, believing a balance between farming and wildlife has now been achieved.
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©2010 Farm Wildlife |
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| Images ©RSPB, except Greater Horseshoe Bat ©Bat Conservation Trust |
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