Case Study Proposal: Anglesey and Llyn Fens LIFE Project (Anglesey and Llyn Fens SACs

The relationship between Natura 2000 sites and agriculture /farmland. Innovative Agri Environment Scheme development and application within NATURA sites to improve the integration of agriculture and the environment.
MemberState / UK
Contact details of proposer / Justin Hanson, Anglesey & Llyn Fens Life Project Manager
Countryside Council for Wales, Maas-y-Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DN
E-mail:
Telephone: 01248 38 2563
NATURA Site summary
Conservation objectives etc. / The Anglesey Fens SAC comprises 7 wetland sites occurring in valley-head or basin contexts. The Lleyn Fens SAC comprises an additional 4 wetland sites on the LlynPeninsula, 50km south-west of the Anglesey Fens area (see annex 1 for more detail of UK protection status and land ownership tenure)
The Anglesey fens SAC supports the most ecologically significant and extensive concentration of rich-fen habitat in Wales (Jones et al, 2003) and western Britain as a whole (Ratcliffe, 1977). Some of the individual sites support particularly large expanses of rich-fen habitat that are ‘among the habitats [in Europe] that have undergone the most serious decline’ (Commission of the European Communities, 1991) The Anglesey fens support the second largest area of calcareous fen in the UK (Jackson & McLeod, eds, 2000), amounting to 56% of the Welsh and 19% of the UK SAC resource.
The objective of the project is to bring 751 ha of fen within the Corsydd Mon/Anglesey Fens SAC and Corsydd Llyn/Lleyn Fens SAC into favourable or recovering condition through measures aimed at tackling the factors adversely affecting their condition and by delivering more sympathetic management.
Specifically it will:
  • address each of the factors responsible for the currently unfavourable condition of the Annex I fen features of these sites
  • direct and facilitate change within the project area catchments as part of tackling the causal factors of unfavourable condition.

Habitat / Species represented. / The habitat cover is predominantly wetland and mostly comprises herbaceous rich-fen. Annex I habitats that are the primary reason for the selection of the SAC are ‘Alkaline fen’ (H7230) and ‘Calcareous fen with Cladium mariscus and species of the Caricion davallianae’ (H7210). ‘Hard oligo-mesotrophic waters with benthic vegetation of Chara spp’ (H3140) are also a primary reason for site selection and will benefit from all of the measures proposed.
Both fen features sit within a wider supporting matrix of mainly topogenous fen and fen meadow. Substantial areas are suffering from management neglect and represent degraded successors to the Annex I types. Widespread drainage has contributed to this degradation trend. Project actions will reverse the trend of degradation and restore examples of both Annex I habitats.
Vegetation dominated by black bog-rush Schoenus nigricans mire ([M13] in the British NVC scheme of Rodwell (1991) forms the bulk of the soligenous element of this resource and this SAC supports the best quality and most extensive stands in western Britain (Wheeler, 1980b).
The stands of calcareous fen represent the second largest area of this vegetation in the UK and include vegetation strongly dominated by saw sedge Cladium mariscus. Cladium dominance appears mainly associated with lack of management, and many of the measures outlined in this project are aimed at securing a more open and species-rich vegetation commensurate with the core definition of this habitat in a UK context.
Additional species include several Annex II invertebrate species including Geyer’s whorl snail Vertigo geyeri (1013), Southern damselfly Coenagrion mercuriale (1044) and marsh fritillary butterfly Euphydryas aurinia (1065). All of these species will benefit from the measures outlined in this application for rich-fen restoration. Other nationally rare or scarce invertebrates recorded form these fens include the soldier fly Stratiomys chamaeleon and the leaf hopper Cicadella lasiocarpae
Agricultural systems
Does farming system conflict with conservation objectives or CAP support? / The fens used to be the life blood of the local community. Land was grazed during the summer months when water levels were low and productivity high, many farmers recall the “early bite” offered by the land kept “warm” under flowing spring water, and refer to instances of raising fat lambs on fen pasture. Peat and marl were dug in small quantities and used for land improvement, reeds and rushes were used as animal bedding and low quality feed; other herbs and plants were utilized within the community. Over the last 100 years, but especially the last 30 years, modern agriculture and livestock have been concentrated on the better quality/drained land and animals have been overwintered indoors. This has led to the abandonment of largest areas of fenland, and the deterioration of the habitatfrom both an economic and an ecological perspective. In particular, summer rush growth followed by die-back in winter has resulted in thick mats of rank vegetation which can smother smaller plants.
In addition, problems linked to both water quality and water quantity have had a huge impact on the healthy functioning of the fens. Drainage, sedimentation and nutrient loss, coupled with the severing of critical hydrological pathways on and around the fens have resulted in damaged and degraded habitat. In turn, this has resulted in the release dissolved organic carbon into water courses
Finally, the fens by their very nature sit at the bottom of sloping fields, which are usually outside of designated site boundaries and managed as part of agricultural businesses. Therefore, no matter how much resource is applied to the designated fenland, unless other factors within the catchment can be tackledin an integrated way, the SAC features will never reach favourable conservation status. Relevant site-specific factors includehabitat fragmentation and nutrient enrichment, whilst structural factors include the loss of skills and knowledge;lack of suitable livestock; poor access for management purposes and under-developed markets for those products resulting from sustainable land management. All of the solutions are catchment wide and involve conservation interests, the local community, local farmers and other elements of the local economy in working together
A significant reason that the project was successful in the bid for LIFE funding in 2009 was“the intention to work in partnership with the community and agriculture”. The project is scheduled to finish in 2013 and is now at its midpoint.
Major Challenges faced / Each of the challenges to be addressed represent a critical threat:
a)management neglect or inappropriate management on and adjacent to sites;
b)nutrient enrichment;
c)drainage;
d) successional change (leading to scrub development and other undesirable changes);
e) inappropriate management of land outside direct conservation management, leading to cultural enrichment and ecological fragmentation;
f)uncontrolled burning;
g)climate change;
h)ecological fragmentation;
i) lack of information about the importance of the project sites and the need for wetland conservation management.
a)Neglect and inappropriate management have led to ecological dereliction and the development of rank vegetation at the expense of Annex I habitats, and productive grazing. The following actions are designed to address this:
•Mowing and harvesting of rank vegetation by local contractors to enable the implementation of appropriate grazing management. Mowing and simultaneous harvesting of cut material are carried out using specialist machinery. Sensitive areas are hand mown and raked/baled. Cut biomass is used by neighbouring farmers as free bedding and low quality feedstuff. It will also be used together with stripped peat to establish and support a local composting social enterprise.
•Appropriate maintenance and restoration grazing will be secured and will involve introduction of suitable livestock, seasonal grazing regimes and optimal grazing intensities, and development of a sustainable local market. Local farmers have seized the opportunity for additional grazing once overgrownrushes have been cut or burnt away.In combination with annual grazing licences and utilization of Single Farm Payment appropriate grazing levels are offering a sustainable future for the fens.
• Encroaching scrubis cut back by local contractors, with hand-pulling and appropriate after treatment with herbicides.
b) Nutrient enrichment. Direct reductions in nutrient inputs will be achieved by the following actions and means:
•installation of one-off nutrient reduction facilities on land owned by the Countryside Council for Wales or via Capital Grant schemes negotiated with landowners on and around the project area
•installation of measures or removal of nutrient sources at locations before or where nutrients enter the project area will be delivered through CCW’s existing delivery mechanism (Section 15 of the 1968 Countryside Act)
•existing enriched substrates will be removed on 5 sites whilst grazing/biomass removal will be applied on all sites to remove nutrients.
c) Drainage. Improvements to hydrological regimes will be enabled by the following actions:
•drains will be blocked where this will have no impact on surrounding private land; raising water levels and reducing further damage to peatlandthrough shrinkage and oxidation as well as re-establishing the correct water level regimes required by Annex 1 habitats
•hydrological pathways will be restored through a programme of ditch blocking, infilling, diversion and re-engineering designed to create (as appropriate) diffuse surface and sub-surface flows both within and outside sites. This activity is essential to restore key groundwater supply pathways.
d) Vegetation succession will be addressed by all of the actions designed to tackle management neglect (see above) and also by:
•localised peat stripping/re-profiling and direct scrub control.
e) Inappropriate management of land outside direct conservation management will be addressed by:
•innovative and demonstrative use of management agreements;
• land purchase;
•a programme of engagement with agricultural and other stakeholders to raise awareness and establish partnership working;
f) Uncontrolled burning will be greatly reduced by the management neglect actions (see above) which will reduce fuel load and also by:
• mown fire breaks to reduce the likelihood of extensive fires.
g) Climate change. Increased resilience to climate change will be addressed by the following actions:
• creation and expansion of ‘stepping stones’ and ecological corridors on and between disparate sites
•reducing water loss caused by a high cover of scrub and tall vegetation.
h) Fragmentation. Historically, these sites sat in the centre of a complex of complementary habitats and low-intensity land use, but they are now remnants of much larger valley and basin mire systems. Improvements in site condition, coupled with favourable management activities within the catchments will re-build corridors and pathways between and on sites for Annex I and II habitats and species.
i) The following actions will address lack of information and understanding:
• demonstration events and open days
• publications e.g. newsletter (400), leaflets (5000)
•establishment of stakeholder groups for consultation and participative purposes
•establishment of project website.
Integrated management adopted /
  • Development of bespoke management prescriptions for capital works both on and off sites to reduce nutrient escape, sedimentation, scrub invasion etc
  • Development of local foodstuffs and goods on previously underutilised land
  • Development of a market to support the goods and services produced on previously unproductive land
  • Reversing years of dereliction with machinery or “restoration” grazing and the subsequent introduction of long term, productive sustainable cattle grazing
  • Use of local contractors to carry out works and extending the seasonality of some work types (eg road maintenance teams being kept on through the winter when they would otherwise be laid off)
  • Local farmers are using the significant amount of cut material produced by the project by as an alternative to straw
  • Development of a social enterprise to use excess peat and biomass produced by project actions
  • Use of CCW owned land by local farmers as productive grazing (so reducing CCW inputs into managing the land)
  • Increase in drinking water quality and tackling drinking water issues at catchment scale (rather than end of pipe solutions involving treatment works)

Participatory approach e.g. Other stakeholders /
  • Project developed by partnership of CCW, EAW, Welsh Water;
  • Project Steering Group includes all farming unions, County Councils, Wildlife trusts, Environment Agency Wales, Welsh Water;
  • Project liaison group developed with local farmers representatives to aid project action and land management prescriptions;
  • Project launched in partnership with Farmers Union for Wales at largest CountyShow in Wales;
  • Project actions dealing directly with local communities involving support for local shops, farm produce, community centres, schools and community councils
  • Direct involvement with neighbours and all stakeholders in the catchment of the wetlands;
  • Open days held on sites to demonstrate machinery and discuss uses of cut material

Good practice resolving conflict / Conflict between Conservation management and agriculture took a few different forms:
  1. Relations with landowners adjacent to special sites had deteriorated with no apparent common ground. This project has demonstrated that farming and conservation can work together to achieve common as well as individual goals. A degree of compromise is possible through developing mutual understanding. It is relatively easy to demonstrate to conservation and farming interests that rank fenland cannot be grazed, and does not support designated habitat and species, but by working together both parties can derives benefits and additionality.
  2. Trust has been built up with landowners and Farming Unions through working together to utilize waste biomass, and by offering grazing to landowners with a historic interest in the land
  3. Developing a common understanding of issues affecting sites and farming. For instance, it is a commonly held opinion that farmers in the catchments around the Fens apply too much fertilizer to their land, so causing unnecessary loss of nitrogen and phosphorus into fenland systems of low nutrient status. Free soil testing and advice has identified that the modern farmer does not waste expensive goods and services, but through working together, the potential loss of nutrients can be managed to the advantage of both sides.
  4. A common understanding of what is required by both sides can achieve substantial gains. For instance, hedgebank designed to prevent sedimentation or nutrient run off into a fen can also act as stock shelter and greatly reduce the mortality rate of new born lambs in cold winds

Use of other instruments e.g. Agri environment funding / Previously derelict land can be brought back into favourable conservation status economic production. The land can then be used to activate entitlements under the Single Farm Payment system, so providing an incentive to graze the land in a way that promotesboth conservation, and food production
The new Glastir agri-environment prescriptions appear likely to provide significant benefits across the fenlands of North West Wales Fenlands owing to the inclusion of specific prescriptions covering both to peat and water management.
High demonstration value. /
  • Integration of agriculture and environmental management on, and adjacent to N2k sites;
  • A bottom up development of integrated measures to improve site condition and management; and socio-economic benefit within the local catchment;
  • Successful delivery of a joint project to implement measures that will achieve favourable conservation status;
  • Measurable and demonstrable improvements in site, habitat and species condition;
  • Demonstrable use of waste biomass from cutting back rank vegetation;
  • Demonstrable increase in use of grazing livestock use on N2k sites;
  • Demonstrable farming business integration and interaction with the project;
  • Change of stance within farming and conservation bodies to develop operational compromise at catchment level, and individual farm level;
  • Development of confidence and trust that conservation and farming can work together;
  • Successful delivery of a partnership project utilising local contractors;
  • Development of site linkages into the community and other wildlife sites

Cattle grazing of Cladium mariscus bed on Cors Bodeilio National Nature Reserve, part of the Anglesey Fens SAC. This habitat had been untouched by grazing animals for over thirty years. Controlled burning and cutting of the Cladiumbya bespoke a Wetland Harvester precededthe introduction of local grazing animals.

Annex 1 – Further information on land tenure, land use and the nature conservation status of the sites covered by the project

A. Corsydd Mon / Anglesey Fens

Surface area (ha): 467.19 ha

EU protection status: SCINATURA 2000 Code : UK0012884

Other protection status according to national or regional legislation:

Cors Goch SSSI and National Nature Reserve (NNR);

Cors Erddreiniog SSSI and NNR;

Cors Bodeilio SSSI and NNR;

Caeau Talwrn SSSI;

Waun Eurad SSSI;

Gwenfro and Rhos y Gad SSSI;

Craig Wen/Cors Castell SSSI;

Cors y Farl SSSI

Anglesey and Llyn Fens Ramsar site (UK140005)

Main land uses and ownership status of the project area:

on SAC / in Catchment
Farming / 20% / 70%
Tourism / 5% / 5%
Nature Conservation / 70% / 20%
Ownership of catchment area / private 85% / public 15%
Ownership of SAC / private 50% / public 50%

B. Corsydd Llyn/Llyn Fens

Surface area (ha): 283.68 ha

EU protection status:SCI NATURA 2000 Code :UK0030187

Other protection status according to national or regional legislation:

Cors Hirdre SSSI;

Cors Geirch SSSI and National Nature Reserve (NNR);

Rhyllech Uchaf SSSI;

Abergeirch SSSI.

Anglesey and Llyn FensRamsar site (UK 140005)

Main land uses and ownership status of the project area:

on SAC / in Catchment
Farming / 20% / 70%
Tourism / 5% / 5%
Nature Conservation / 70% / 20%
Ownership of catchment area / private 95% / public 5%
Ownership of SAC / private 90% / public 10%