Conservation grazing

 Pawb, hello.

The use of livestock, particularly native livestock, is recognised as probably one of the best methods to manage a wide range of habitats not only in the UK but across the world.

As we longer have any "mega-fauna" species in the UK, the use of domesticated livestock has grown in popularity to manage land. At Llyn Llech Owain we have, over the years used Exmoor Ponies, Welsh Mountain Ponies, and Dexter cattle to graze the section of the park which is part of the Cernydd Carmel Special Area of Conservation.

 This past week the summer cohort of Welsh Mountain Ponies has arrived, later than planned but finding reliable graziers is a bit of a challenge such is the demand for conservation grazing livestock. There is certainly plenty of forage for them to eat, bracken to trample and young saplings to browse. They will stay on the site for a few months before being taken off and resting the site before perhaps bringing in some Dexter cattle for late Autumn grazing- all weather dependent.

This past week also saw the announcement of the Green Flag awards, in recognition of green spaces which are audited by an independent panel and judged on the quality and purpose of the management of the competing green spaces.

Three of our Country Parks have been awarded Green Flags again this year, Pembrey Country Park, Llyn Llech Owain Country Park and Mynydd Mawr Woodland Park, a deserved well done to the teams and volunteers who have helped win this international mark of quality.