Landscape Solutions Grazing Project

Due to current COVID 19 restrictions our Landscape Solutions Grazing Project has been pushed back in many aspects with things being postponed and rescheduled. However, our grazing animals are still working hard to maintain our sites, they are often considered the most effective and sustainable way of maintaining habitats ensuring a rich variety of wildlife and promoting biodiversity.

We have had a small herd of soay sheep grazing on the butterfly glades at Loggerheads Country Park, some Belted Galloway cattle at Aberduna Nature Reserve, our conservation Carneddau ponies have also been busy at Aberduna Nature Reserve, before recently moving on to Moel Findeg. The project uses traditional native breeds of livestock which are bread for their hardiness, the prefer to eat the more dominant plant species, this leaves space for a variety of other species to become established. The cattle and ponies also create ground disturbance which provides new habitats for reptiles and invertebrates, they also create safe spots for new seedlings to flourish.

Over the recent snow, although these animals are very hardy and used to living out in all weather conditions, we like to provide some hay to keep them going until the snow has melted.

Sutainable Development Fund

Established in 2001, the Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) supports innovative, sustainable projects in the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The fund supports projects that work to enhance and conserve natural beauty, wildlife, culture, landscape, land use and community within the context of the goals and sustainable development principles in the Well-being of Future Generations Act, and the priorities set out in Valued and Resilient: the Welsh Government’s Priorities for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Parks.

Do you have a project worthy of support? Does your project;

1. Explore innovative ways of contributing to the opportunities and challenges set out in Valued and Resilient.
2. Build capacity in local communities, and develop and support community-based projects promoting sustainable development objectives.
3. Generate greater awareness and understanding of sustainability amongst residents and visitors, and facilitate positive behaviour change.
4. Deliver and promote the purposes of the AONB and the objectives as set out in the AONB Management Plan.

If so, we would like to hear from you.

Eligibility 

Local Authorities, voluntary, community, and partnership groups are eligible to apply for funds as long as the proposed project meets the scheme’s priorities. Projects should be located within or should directly benefit the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB.

Private businesses or individuals may also apply on the same basis provided they are able to demonstrate a clear benefit to the wider community and AONB.

Sudd

SDF was used to support the setup costs of an innovative community apple juice project aimed at utilising unused apples sourced from the AONB and Vale of Clwyd. Sudd Afal Cwmni Buddiant Cymunedol (community interest company) was set up with Companies House and registered as a food distribution company with Denbighshire CC. An open meeting was held in the Gold Lion, Llangynhafal in June 2019 to launch the project and gauge local interest. Posters were distributed to local shops/pubs and community noticeboards asking for any unwanted apples. Social media was also used to publicise the project and source unwanted apples.

Graigfechan Eco-Connectivity Project

SDF support was used to increase community involvement in management of the local natural environment primarily around Graigfechan in the western part of the AONB. The aim was to help drive forward the longer-term goals of improving eco-connectivity and habitat permeability between 3 nature reserves. Two community groups – Grŵp Gwyllt and Llanfair Fyw – were involved in managing the local Reserves and sites of biodiversity interest during 2019. Regular volunteer events helped deliver important conservation action, including construction of an otter holt on the Dwr Ial, invasive plant removal at Pant Ruth, and planting wild daffodils in Pwllglas. A particularly beneficial outcome for the scheme was a negotiated extension to the Graig Wyllt Nature Reserve to include the special features of mature woodland and limestone grassland. The extension to the Reserve helps secure enhanced protection for significant biodiversity interest within the AONB.

Taste North East Wales

Blasu/Taste was a 3-year collaboration project testing new approaches to developing the economic value of the food and drink sector. In particular, the project developed collaboration between food producers, the hospitality trade and consumers through shortening the supply chain, it explored new ways to promote local food by allowing customers into producer’s kitchens and online hosting of events, as well as providing capacity building for producers/hospitality through focused workshops and training.

Ysgol y Foel Decarbonisation Project

Through decarbonisation Ysgol y Foel embraced the opportunities of the green economy, reducing its running cost and generating new funding lines through energy generation, thus enhancing its long term economic viability, a common challenge across primary schools within the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley.

For more information about the fund please contact Ceri Lloyd ceri.lloyd@denbighshire.gov.uk.

Please note funding is limited and applications will be assessed by an independent panel.

Increase in off-road activity during lockdown

We have seen an increase in reports of off-road activity in the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) since lockdown began, with people travelling to use routes where there are legal rights of way for off-road vehicles. However, there has also been an increase in incidents on areas where vehicle access is prohibited. This can cause irreparable damage to some of our most sensitive habitats and wildlife.

At present, while Wales remains in a Tier 4 lockdown, off-road travel for enjoyment of routes with legal rights for vehicles is classed as non-essential travel.

North Wales Police are stopping and fining people.

If you see any off-road activity you think is illegal, please report to North Wales Police via 101 or online using the live chat or reporting forms.

Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB Volunteer Award

Its congratulations to the Llanferres Art Group, also known as the Country Park Painters, who have won the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB Volunteer Award for 2020. The group made Loggerheads Country Park its permanent home in 2005 and have since made a significant contribution to the social activities at the park and in the AONB more generally.

They have promoted art in the park, have held exhibitions and been tireless fund raisers for local causes. Each year the group managed to sell many paintings and visitors to the park are invited to vote for their favourite painting, the artist with the most votes then gets to choose the charity for that year. Some of the charities that the group have supported over the years include Cancer Research, Diabetes Research, Llanferres Church, Help the Heroes, African Water Aid, Support Dogs and Hope House Hospice.

Group leader, Pat Armstrong said that the group were delighted with the nomination and took great pride in being an integral part of the park,   and felt so fortunate to be able to meet there, and the Team at Loggerheads always made the them so welcome.

During the pandemic most of the group were still managing to paint, but it was not the same as painting in the Park and they were all looking optimistically to a time when they could safely continue with their weekly get togethers, and produce their next exhibition. The Loggerheads Team said that they had also missed their regular visits to the park and were looking forward to a welcoming them back when it was safe to do so.

Congratulations to these popular and deserved winners.

All images were taken pre-covid

Llantysilio Mountain restoration gets off the ground!

Works to restore the fire damaged Llantysilio Mountain will shortly be getting under way. Staff of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty undertook a number of trials in 2020 to test ways to get moorland plants re-established on the mountain. Following the success of the trials, a larger scale approach will literally be getting off the ground in March.

The Council's Moorland Field Officer Graham Berry has been helping to organise the works which are being funded by the Welsh Government and lead by Natural Resources Wales. “Heather will be cut on Mynnydd Llantysilio as part of annual moorland management with one difference, the cuttings will be bagged and airlifted by helicopter to some of the worst fire damaged areas of the mountain on Moel y Gamelin and Moel y Faen.”

Just over 1ha of heather brash will be spread as a mulch, stabilising the soil and creating conditions for moorland plants like heather and bilberry to recolonise. A further 68ha of the mountain will also be sown with an upland grass seed mix to create a nursery crop for moorland plants to recolonise.

This year’s restoration works will only cover half of the most damaged part of the mountain and further work is planned in the future. This approach has been successful on fire damaged moorlands in England and it is hoped that over time the vegetation will re-establish to benefit wildlife, farming and local communities alike.

For health and safety reasons, members of the public are kindly requested not to venture out on to the Llantysilio mountain when the helicopter is airlifting the bags of heather.

Photo Credit:  Airbourne Solutions

Mad March - controlled burning season comes to an end

It’s that time of year when we are coming to the end of the controlled burning season (1^st October – 31^st March) when land managers can burn heather, gorse and grassland as part of their management. As we move in to March, the ground conditions can improve, making it suitable for a burn, however this often gets pushed to the end of March when there is a flurry of burning activity across the County’s moorland.

Because of the extraordinary year brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, the emergency services are under immense strain with fewer staff due to sickness or isolation, not to forget the increased pressures faced by our NHS. For this reason, we ask that landowners and farmers please reconsider any planned heather or gorse burning this March and postpone to next season.

If you are planning a controlled burn, you must adhere to the Welsh Government’s Heather and Grass Burning Regulations (2008). Here is a quick check list of what you need to know:

• Are you permitted to burn?
  • Check management agreements on land and subsidy cross compliance (GAEC).

• You must have a Burning Management Plan or Licence to burn.
  • NW Fire & Rescue Service can assist with this for FREE call 01931 522006.

• Inform NW Fire & Rescue Service Control Room on 01931 522006
  • notify in advance of the location, date, time and extent of proposed burn.
  • notify them at the end of the day when all fires have been extinguished.

• • Inform neighbours and community 24hrs before planned burn.
    • inform DCC officers if burning in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

• No burning between sunset and sunrise.

• Burn no more than 10 ha (24 acres) in any single burn.

• Do not burn up hill on steep slopes.
  • Burn no more than 0.5 ha (1 acre) on slopes of more than 45^o in any single burn.

• Have 3 or more people present and suitable equipment to control the fire.
  • 1 person per 5-10m of fire front and control the flanks to desired width.

• • Wind speed should be no more than 15mph (force 4)
    • Check wind direction and ensure there is no risk to people, property, and wildlife.

• A fire must not be started which is likely to injure, interrupt or endanger road users.

• If a fire gets out of control contact the fire and rescue service immediately on 999.

• • Fire must be completely out before you leave it.
    • check next day to ensure fire has not reignited.

• It is illegal to leave a fire unattended or to have too few people to control it.

Any person who contravenes any provision of the Burning Regulations commits an offence under section 20(2) of the Hill Farming Act 1946 and may be liable to a fine not exceeding £1,000.