Issue 14 Spring 2011

MONMOUTHSHIRE MEADOWS

Aim - To conserve and enhance the landscape by enabling members to maintain, manage and restore their semi-natural grasslands and associated features.

Dorth with the Trakmaster bought The ponies did a great job with a grant from the Countryside munching down the rough Council for Wales. If you need grassland there and hopefully Contents brambles mown please let us many flowers will benefit from the know although work should not grazing and reduced competition. now be carried out before the As I write they are now grazing 1. From the chair late summer or autumn as many on some lovely pastures on Far 2. Woodland Management? birds such as Long-tailed Tits are Hill, Trellech. We tried to cut 3. Hay Making and Seed already nesting. these last July but because of the rain in late July and August were Collection We have also been busy unable to remove the cut 4. Natural Assets Project applying for more funding from material. 5. Shrill Carder Bee Meadow CCW for a second hand baler 6. Pesticides and honey bees 7. GWT Landowners Morning 8. Bistort Day 9. Little Mill Farm Hopes and Dreams 10. Diary

Membership To join contact Pam Lloyd on 0600 860 924 or [email protected] or Bill at williamhoward142@btinternet.. com

Photo Terry Walters of SAMFAL

From the Chair The ponies will help remove the and also from the Welsh Grazing Stephanie Tyler rank growth for the benefit of a Scheme PONT for the costs of host of plants including keeping our two Exmoor Ponies Harebells. healthy, of ensuring fields are This will be very brief because I stock-proof and of transporting I have also written a brief article have written elsewhere of some them from site to site in a horse- asking what you, our members, of the work we have been doing box. I am delighted that PONT would like from MMG and how recently, for example clearing has agreed to give us over £900 we can better help you. Are we brambles and scrub around for these purposes. We were failing you or have we been grasslands with our Trakmaster pleased to be able to help the helpful? machine for the Shrill Carder Bee Shirenewton and Mynyddbach We would welcome your views. in the south of the county. We Fields Association SAMFAL over have also been mowing We are planning an Open Day on the winter months by loaning brambles at members’ fields at th them the ponies for almost 10 June 12 when at least four Penallt, Trellech and Craig y weeks. members’ fields will be open to www.monmouthshiregreenweb.co.uk/monmouthshiremeadows www.monmouthshiremeadows.co.uk Page 1 of 6

Issue 14 Spring2011 you all and to the general public flowers, butterflies and moths. A kind). We don’t want to undercut so please keep a note of the date new member Richard Cornock local contractors. in your diaries. has offered to carry out such We also have a Tracmaster Spring is here so please enjoy work but would like the cut timber power scythe, which cuts through the grassland flowers from the in lieu of payment. brambles, bracken and coarse inconspicuous and diminutive If any member wants to take grass undergrowth. It is quite Field Woodrush and Spring advantage of this offer please slow but is useful for small areas Sedge to more showy Cowslips contact Richard on 01291 and tidying up corners. and Green-veined Orchids. 421568 or email him - [email protected] At the moment three volunteers We look forward to soon meeting operate the tractor and the all new members who joined scythe. We do need more MMG since last autumn and to Hay Making and Seed volunteers to work the machines seeing their fields. Collection Bill Howard so if you would like to have a go Are we fulfilling your we will organise training. expectations? This year we are keen to make hay for members. We have a This year we plan to harvest Massey Ferguson 135 tractor, a seed with the seed harvester When members first join mower, a tedder for turning the which we share with Gwent someone visits them to look at hay and the mini bailer, which we Wildlife Trust. GWT will collect their land, prepare a plant list and are trying to sell and replace with the seed and we hope to get give advice but unless we hear an old fashioned conventional some money from CCW to pay more from you we don’t know if bailer, which makes square GWT for the seed collection. you need more help. bales. If you want us to cut your They will operate the machine to collect the seed but we will have There is a list of contractors on our website and a list of ‘dos and don’ts of grassland management’ which may help some of you. Some members benefit from the MMG machine cutting their brambles, from our tractor and bailer cutting their grass for hay, by lending our own Exmoor Ponies to graze down grass or through PONT, having access to other grazing animals or also borrowing our knapsack sprayer and Asulox for bracken control. However, there are some of you who do not contact us for help. Does this mean that you are happy? Would you like another visit for a Photo GWT survey or for any advice or help to dry, clean and package it. So if as with bracken control? Have field for hay please let Bill you want some seed to increase you used the contractors list or Howard know by phone the botanical diversity of your do you know other people who 01291 689 447 or by email meadow please let us know. should be on it? williamhoward142@

btinternet.com.

Do you need any The tractor can’t take steep Wild Life Sites woodland management slopes and the field should not

work? have stones or pot-holes in it. If the grass is too coarse and full of If you have a neglected weeds it is not worth making into A Wildlife Site is an area woodland or copse, some hay. We have to charge for using considered to be of particular coppicing or felling might help the machines so as to recover conservation value locally and wildlife. Such traditional our costs. The hay can be sold to that fulfils certain criteria. For management opens up the recover costs (if the weather is example, a field that qualifies as habitat to benefit woodland a Local Wildlife Site must have at www.monmouthshiregreenweb.co.uk/monmouthshiremeadows www.monmouthshiremeadows.co.uk Page 2 of 6

Issue 14 Spring2011 least eight well-distributed plant Monmouthshire’s Natural talks by Pippa Rayner of the species from an agreed list of Assets Project BBCT in November, this bumble ‘indicator’ species. Woodlands, Gemma Bode bee is one of two rare species wetlands, ponds and other found in South Wales. The other habitats all have their own list of is the Brown-banded Carder Bee species or features, a proportion Monmouthshire County Council Bombus humilis found at some of which must be represented if has secured funding to set up a sites in the Wye Valley AONB. the site is to qualify. A site is new project to help identify and Both species need a good supply designated as a Wildlife Site with support the management of of suitable flowers along road the full knowledge and co- Local Wildlife Sites in verges, along hedgerows and in operation of the owner. A panel Monmouthshire. This project will hayfields and pastures from late of experts from the Countryside build on the success of Gwent spring through to the autumn. Council for Wales, Wildlife Trust’s grasslands The Shrill Carder Bee has Monmouthshire County Council, project and the joint work strongholds in South Wales in Gwent Wildlife Trust and between the Trust and the Glamorgan and in the Cardiff to Monmouthshire Meadows Group Council to identify and encourage Newport area. In the Newport discusses each site and appropriate management of local area it was known to extend from approves its designation or wildlife sites. Once established a its core area in the Newports otherwise. Designation has very part time project officer will Wetlands Reserve across to few if any drawbacks. It may help provide management advice to Magor. Surveys by CCW in 2010 protect the site from adverse owners and land managers and found bees further afield at Five development but does not there will be a new small grants Lanes and at Leechpool near commit the owner to anything; scheme to support site Portskewett in the so-called indeed grants are more likely to management. The project will run buffer area. The target of CCW, be available to help with from late Spring 2011 until the BBCT and MMG is to improve management if you are an owner end of 2013 and will also support the status of the Shrill Carder of a Wildlife Site than a site not further survey work to help Bee and flower-rich grasslands so designated. identify new local wildlife sites. and extend the bee’s range The project is part of the Rural towards Shirenewton and other You may also hear of the Development Plan for Wales grassland sites on the Trellech designation Sites of Importance 2007-2013, which is funded by Plateau. As part of its for Nature Conservation or the Welsh Assembly Government commitments to CCW for the SINCs. These are similar to and the European Agricultural grant, the MMG undertook: Local Wildlife Sites in being of Fund for Rural Development. For high conservation value locally more information please contact *to organise a meeting in the but are planning tools for Local Gwent Wildlife Trust. buffer area of the carder bee’s Authorities and unlike Local range to generate publicity and Wildlife Sites SINCs are Shrill Carder Bee interest in the plight of the bee designated without the Stephanie Tyler landowners’ knowledge. Many woodlands are SINCs and so too The Monmouthshire are some of our important rivers Meadows Group (MMG) such as the River Monnow and in association with the Gavenny. Bumble Bee Conservation Trust Among MMG members there are (BBCT) received a grant 43 who are proud owners of from the Countryside Local Wildlife Sites and 18 who Council for Wales have candidate Wildlife Sites. A (CCW) to buy a candidate site is one that is Tracmaster machine to believed to fulfil the criteria but cut grass, brambles and that has not yet been discussed scrub. This was to be and approved by the Panel. used mainly in southern These sites are the ‘cream’ of our Monmouthshire to remaining species-rich enhance grassland grasslands and anyone who habitat for the benefit of owns such a site has a Help may the Shrill Carder Bee be available through grants – see Bombus sylvarum. As below special responsibility to many members will know from Shrill Carder Bee. Essex University manage it to safeguard the their attendance at one of the botanical interest. www.monmouthshiregreenweb.co.uk/monmouthshiremeadows www.monmouthshiremeadows.co.uk Page 3 of 6

Issue 14 Spring2011

*to contact landowners in the these too early so that there will buffer area to try to persuade be late-flowering patches. GWT Landowners’ them to manage their fields for bumble bees and morning Glynis Laws *to undertake work with the Pesticides and honey Tracmaster to remove coarse bees More than 50 landowners and grass and encroaching bramble other interested folk came to and scrub on at least 10 sites. ‘Honeybees face a poisoned Llanishen Village Hall for Gwent spring’ was a headline in many Wildlife Trust’s morning of talks Our autumn meeting in papers after news that a new on managing land for wildlife. Shirenewton fulfilled the first kind of pesticide (neonicotinioid Gemma Bodé and Rebecca target and we have now pesticides such as imidacloprid) Price were on hand to offer contacted a wide range of may be killing off the world’s advice, and there was a chance landowners in the buffer area. A honeybees. to walk around the adjacent group of MMG members has also Scientists at the USA’s bee meadow with Chris Hatch, a local undertaken practical work at sites laboratory have claimed that ecologist, as our guide. at Five Lanes, Highmoor Hill, minute doses of these pesticides Rogiet and Shirenewton to try to manufactured by Bayer make Dave Jones talked about the enhance the value of open bees susceptible to disease and problems and pleasures of grassland for bees and plants. At are linked with the mysterious developing a wildflower meadow three sites at Rogiet we have sudden collapse disorder of on the smallholding near worked with other partner hives. These new generation Newcastle that he and his family organisations – Gwent Wildlife pesticides are widely used on moved to in 2001. Dave started Trust at Rogiet Poor Land and crops in the United States, Britain out with an intensively-grazed, the Minnetts Field and the Rogiet and around the world. artificially-fertilized, relatively Community who are Friends of The Bumble Bee Conservation species-poor field, with few birds. Rogiet Country Park and Wales Trust, Buglife and the Soil Progress towards the flower-rich Tidy Towns at Rogiet Country Association have all expressed haven for wildlife that Dave Park, a site developed on railway some concern about the attitude dreamed of was slow, even after ballast between the railway line that pesticides are judged solving the problems of finding a and M4 new bridge crossing. It innocent until proven guilty and farmer prepared to cut the hay may not sound very interesting these conservation organisations late, and acquiring a few but it has in fact developed a rich have stated that a precautionary Hebridean sheep for aftermath flora including such plants as ban would be wise. grazing. Viper’s Bugloss, a good bee flower. Unfortunately Bramble and Butterfly Bushes Buddleia threaten to take over and we have all been working together to knock these invasive plants back for the benefit of the grassland and its flowers. At Shirenewton we have worked on two days with the Shirenewton & Mynyddbach Fields Association (SAMFAL) members to cut grass and clear brambles on their lovely fields.

If you are a landowner in the Shrill Carder Bee or Brown- banded Carder Bee ranges then if you cut your fields for hay, please try to leave a patch of uncut knapweed and other flowers so that the bees can continue to find food. If you have any influence over hedgerow edges or indeed road verges, Llanishen –Landowners’ Day Photo Glynis Laws then again try to avoid cutting www.monmouthshiregreenweb.co.uk/monmouthshiremeadows www.monmouthshiremeadows.co.uk Page 4 of 6

Issue 14 Spring2011

A turning point came in 2006 and to begin our program for this plants growing in the when seed gathered from year. The snowdrops were in full Churchyard. Pentwyn Meadows by GWT was flower and the bramble very Please watch local notice sown. Yellow rattle appeared much reduced at the Eastern boards, or the Beacon in early and reduced the vigour of some end. We built two bonfires to June , as we wish to choose a grasses, and there has been a burn scrub and bramble cleared weekend afternoon when both year-on-year increase in indicator last year and began clearing ivy, flowers and weather are good. species; five indicators were bramble and ash saplings from present in 2007, increasing to 10 the Western end where they are Little Mill Farm by 2010. As well as the pleasure causing considerable damage to Hopes and Dreams of the flowers, including orchids, tomb stones. The ivy is cut as Ann Eggleton and the sweetness of the hay, near the root as possible so that the meadow has increased the it will die and fall away from the numbers of butterflies and other stones. We do not pull this off as Back in 1989 in London you invertebrates, and has brought in it could be extremely damaging could not buy organic meat; swallows and other birds. to the surfaces, where we hope there was only one organic shop to be able to read, catalogue and in the whole great city; there To complement this story of an map all the tombs and their were no farmers’ markets, no individual meadow, Gemma inscriptions. Ash saplings were shops selling local food, no… no described the broader picture, cut and we will treat the roots … no … connecting us with the aims of with herbicide, so that no further The Wildlife Trusts, set out in My husband Michael and I damage to the tombs occurs. We Living Landscapes. Historically, decided we had had enough of began to clear the Bramble, the Trusts have focussed on removing all roots where the three hours’ daily commute establishing nature reserves for possible. and being at other people’s wildlife but these refuges may be disposal, and wanted to have a insufficient to preserve We were particularly delighted crack at producing our own food. biodiversity in the face of with the abundance of basal So we sold up and bought a pressures from climate change leaves of Bistort, which in early farm. That took nearly two and human development. June will carpet the yard with years! Remember Bank Rate at flower. At this time (either June 4 The priority now is to establish 17%? Everywhere we looked or 11) we hope to invite all connections between wildlife had suddenly got too expensive, interested members of the sites that will not only benefit just before we got there. Almost community to climb the hill and wildlife but will improve the by accident we were tempted share our customary tea and environment for people. In this cake with us. The site will be over the Severn Bridge to look at context, Gemma described the looking at its best and we will a tiny farm just north of detailed work that GWT have explain what we are doing and Monmouth - Little Mill Farm at been doing to map woodland and show how we think this could Newcastle. hedgerows in Monmouth that become an important part of provide habitat for dormice. We bought in April 1989. In Tintern’s natural and historic Dormice are particularly August we became the first Soil heritage, attracting local and dependent on continuous Association registered organic visiting people to a scientifically hedgerows for movement since farm in Gwent. For several years maintained site full of local wild they do not come down to ground we sold our lambs and steers in flowers with wonderful views over level. The map will inform GWT’s the Abbey, River and Village. the conventional markets priorities for planting new hedges We would simply like to show the (Monmouth for lambs, Ross for and woodland to connect existing community what we are doing steers) because though you areas of dormouse habitat. and possibly to attract some of couldn’t buy organic meat in

you to join our team (meeting for Monmouth any more than in Bistort Day a couple of hours on the first London, there were no Dr Caroline Howard Sunday afternoon of each month customers for it either. (More The voluntary conservation team during the Summer, when fine). often than not our lambs were who have been working to You may simply wish to show bought by Bill James of Raglan – restore the beauty of St Mary’s that you enjoyed the tea. There an expert judge of quality if ever Churchyard have completed their will be a raffle, and for children of there was one.) But gradually first working party for 2011. all ages: a bran tub, ice cream we spread the word, and by It was with great enjoyment that and games. There will be a prize 2000 we were selling all our we met on Sunday March 6 to for whoever can produce the best meat as organic direct to view results of our 2010 work photograph or the longest list of individual customers, ready www.monmouthshiregreenweb.co.uk/monmouthshiremeadows www.monmouthshiremeadows.co.uk Page 5 of 6

Issue 14 Spring2011 butchered and packed for the style selves, but with Climate freezer. This was hard work – The next few years saw the chaos and Peak Oil on a very especially the beef, which always farming enterprises reduced and near horizon there is clearly an came ready at Christmas, when reduced as Michael succumbed urgent need to change life-styles we had to find and alert at least to vascular dementia – just as from the old lavish buy-your- eight customers per animal, to debilitating and exhausting for way-out attitudes to something collect 25lb each of beef all on everyone as Alzheimer’s. much more basic, local, nearer the same day. The meat was cut Maintenance on the farm and the soil, and, frankly, far more up on a local farm in the buildings was abandoned, the enjoyable. That is what I am butcher’s spare time over two veg garden would have been aiming at in my last 20 years (or evenings – he cut, I split and overwhelmed by its neighbouring so I tell myself!) at Little Mill bagged and packed. It was cold pastures if my mother (by then Farm. work! living in a converted stable on The veg garden is happily being the farm) hadn’t nobly spent her In addition we discovered that resurrected, and I still have my 80s fighting back, and by the the farm was nearly untouched sheep, all born on the farm and time Michael finally moved into by modern chemicals. We had trusting me to take care of them. Gibraltar House in 2009 I didn’t rare wildflowers, flower-rich old But as new projects I am:- have the energy to walk a dog. hay-meadows, and dormice. *Installing a pellet-fired biomass Then over about 12 months, in All very bad news! But life has a boiler instead of the old oil-fired 2000-2001, three things way of kicking you when you one – nearly zero-carbon heating happened. Michael got his Old need it. After 12 months of slow *Having photovoltaic cells laid on Age Pension, Foot + Mouth recovery, I suddenly found my the barn roof – nearly zero- struck – we were caught up in sense of fun again – I joined a carbon electricity the South Herefordshire outbreak wildlife committee and the *Learning about chainsaws so I (one of the largest areas in committee of the Meadows can manage my own woodland Britain to be affected) – and Group, and I also heard about *Buying a horse and cart to haul Michael had a stroke due to high Transition Monmouth. Here were goods (firewood + hay) and keep blood pressure. We’d had the issues I could identify with, and the pasture in trim - nearly zero- guts knocked out of us by the which matched in every way carbon haulage struggle to hold on to our flock what I found I wanted to do on *Buying four piglings to weed the and herd while due to be culled the farm with my new energy orchard + a small paddock, and (we did succeed), we didn’t need and enthusiasm. Michael and I provide pork + bacon to make quite so much money, had never aimed at self- *In 2012, buying a Dexter cow to and Michael’s health was from sufficiency, being older and more supply household milk and quite then on precarious. realistic than our former hippy- a lot of beef

*In 2013, planting up half of the orchard as a Forest Garden, a permanent planting on many levels of productive shrubs and food-plants around the apple trees There are other ideas. I might install a water-ram to pump the spring water supply constantly (and without electricity) up to the tank above the house – with the overflow I could have a fish-pond, or a spring-water swimming pool, or even a small Pelton-wheel to light the house when the sun doesn’t shine on the PV cells. I want to coppice my woodland for firewood and useful Little Mill Farm Meadows photo Ann Eggleton products. I want to plant a

www.monmouthshiregreenweb.co.uk/monmouthshiremeadows www.monmouthshiremeadows.co.uk Page 6 of 6

Issue 14 Spring2011 flower garden with nothing but native wildflowers (that will take For your Diary some planning). This is all very exciting for me, but there won’t really be much point unless I can share the knowledge I already have, and Our OPEN DAY hope to gain, with as many other Transition-minded souls as th possible. Sunday, June 12

Would you like to learn how to Sites to be announced soon grow veg? Would you like to learn about chickens, or pigs; or look at my pellet boiler? In ******* quieter mode, would you like to make your own bread, or jam, or chutney? I want to share all this BIOBLITZ DAY activity with everyone who has at Rogiet Countryside Park an interest. You don’t even have on Saturday, 4th June. to get your hands dirty if you don’t want to. Have a think Come along to learn moths, other insects, about it – and then email me and plants, etc with experts on hand to identify come and have a look! It’s plants and animals. [email protected]. Take Severn Tunnel road at traffic lights in Rogiet.

I look forward to hearing from Go over railway bridge and take first right. You you! drop down into Rogiet C.P.

Dyfed Permaculture Farm sharpening and repair of your looking at preparations for blade! mowing, with a detailed look at Trust – Courses 2011 Saturday 9th July 10am-4pm subjects such as scythe set up Cost £40 and free-hand peening. The The following courses are being second day will focus on held at Dyfed Permaculture Farm One Day Introductory Scythe mowing, looking at areas such Trust in South West Wales, led Courses as mowing techniques, tai chi by experienced mower and All you need to know to get you style mowing, blade selection, Scythe teacher Philip Batten. started using a scythe! The teaching and mowing with Sharpening and Peening course will look at set up, groups and hand hay making. Workshop mowing techniques, sharpening Weekend of 16th /17th July The key to relaxed, easy mowing and peening. Learn how to mow Cost £100 that is gentle on your body is a a lawn, cut a hay meadow, Camping space is available for REALLY sharp blade. control brambles and scrub and all courses if you are traveling Learning to peen and sharpen much more. from further afield. well will transform your mowing Saturday 28th May, Sunday We hand make hay by hand experience. Bring along your th th 25 June or Saturday 13 from July onwards, as weather blade to this hands on workshop August permits. Volunteers welcome to learn how to get it into the 10am-4pm Cost £40 to come for up to a week at a best mowing condition, with time to help and learn. expert help on hand. Two Day Intensive Scythe Subjects covered include in-field Course For more details email honing, setting up and using a This course, for the more [email protected] or peening station and an in-depth experienced mower or the phone Michelle on 07813 exploration of free-hand peening adventurous beginner, will 464990 blade repair allow us to go into more depth As far as we know, the only on all aspects of scythe use. course in Britain dedicated to the The first day will be spent www.monmouthshiregreenweb.co.uk/monmouthshiremeadows www.monmouthshiremeadows.co.uk Page 7 of 6