THE wild
plant restoration charity Flora locale is looking for farmers,
smallholders, advisers and land managers to help re-create
wildflower grasslands across Wales.
A programme of farm visits this summer will demonstrate
what can be done to restore part of the natural and farming
heritage.
Ivy Berkshire, project officer for the Wild Meadows of Wales
Initiative, says natural flower-rich grassland is under
threat from two extremes – intensive farming and the
abandonment of traditional grazing and haymaking.
“In spite of the current economic drive to maximise
food and fuel crops, I know that many farmers and landowners
are passionate about their role as stewards of the natural
heritage of Wales, and are keen to manage or restore their
wild meadows and other wildlife habitats on their land.
“This year’s programme of events will enable
them to meet other landowners and see meadows that are managed
for wild-plant diversity through grazing or haymaking –
or both.
“There will also be plenty of opportunity to discuss
the challenges faced by land- owners and farmers in maintaining
wildflower grasslands.”
Support from the Countryside Council for Wales and the Esmée
Fairbairn Foundation means that most of the events in Wales
are free of charge.
The central theme of restoring and managing wild meadows
features in Carmarthenshire on June 5 and 11, in Ceredigion
on July 2, Anglesey on July 10 and Powys on July 16.
Other events include two in Gwent – identifying plants
of wild meadows on June 10 and managing your land for wildlife
on July 9 – and pond creation and management in Ceredigion
on July 9.
Topics covered include grazing, haymaking, restoring flower-poor
grassland and wild seed collecting. Wild Meadows project
officer Ivy Berkshire will be available to offer advice.
This is the second series of events in Wales, and forms
part of the Flora locale Wild Meadows of Wales Initiative.
More about Wild Meadows of Wales events can be found on
the website www.wildmeadows.org.uk or from the project officer
wildmeadows.ivy@googlemail.com or call 07912 789003. |
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