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pounds 4,000 grant for restoration of priority heathland habitats

Posted on: Tuesday, 13 April 2004, 06:00 CDT

Forestry Commission Wales, in partnership with Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) and the Gwent Wildlife Trust, has been granted pounds 4,000 to begin restoring priority heathland habitats in the Wye Valley.

The aim of the project is to recreate heathland habitats in what were forestry plantations at Broadmeend in the Wye Valley in order to safeguard precious plants, shrubs and wildlife. According to the Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP), only a few areas of lowland heathland remain in Gwent and the LBAP aims to re-establish 44 hectares of heathland of which the work at Broadmeend will contribute 30% to this restoration target.

Lowland heathland is generally found below 300 metres in altitude and contains plants such as heather, dwarf gorses, and cross-leaved heath. Areas of good quality heathland have an ericaceous layer of varying heights and structures, some areas of scattered trees and scrub, areas of bare ground, gorse, wet heaths, bogs and open water. The presence and numbers of characteristic birds, reptiles, invertebrates, vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens are important indicators of habitat quality.

David Rees, conservation manager FC Wales, said, 'Lowland heathland is a priority for nature conservation because it is a rare and threatened habitat. In England only one-sixth of the heathland present in 1800 now remains. This project will enable FC Wales to contribute to maintaining and enhancing this habitat as well as adding diversity and structure to the wider forest ecosystem.'

This work also will benefit other rare species , such as the nightjar and turtle dove. Within the wider context of the Wye Valley this type of work should create a diverse structure in the area to encourage the turtle dove to breed. The turtle dove is a summer migrant, confined largely to the south and east of England, although there are records of its presence in the Wye Valley and Trellech area. Since 1972 its population has fallen by 60%.

Forestry Commission woodland at Broadmeend borders Cleddon Bog, which is both a Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a local nature reserve. Over recent years there has been much discussion and concern due to the deterioration of the bog as it is the only remaining representative in Monmouthshire of a rare 'Valley Mire' habitat.

A hydrological study, carried out in February 1995, indicated that there is now a reduced water intake to the bog, thought to be due mainly to the afforestation of the area around the bog.

Following several meetings over the past 18 months between FC Local Area Manager Richard Gable and Wildlife Ranger Adrian Thomas, with representatives from CCW, MCC and Gwent Wildlife Trust, the first phase of works began this year at Broadmeend.

A young pine plantation has been removed which will promote heathland restoration and should increase the water run-off into the bog, thus helping maintain it.

In this two-stage process the FC Wales's 'flail' machine, managed by their Wales Silvicultural operations unit, mulches the trees and scrub, reducing the overall volume by nearly three-quarters. Secondly this mulch is 'scraped' off the site using a small bulldozer, to allow the natural habitat to flourish by giving the heather a chance to regenerate without competition from invasive plants such as bramble and bracken.

A large proportion of the woodland adjacent to Cleddon Bog comprises of plantation age Corsican pine and Scots pine planted in 1996 and 1998. .

For further information please contact Local Area Manager Richard Gable on 01291 627412

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