Close Shepherded Grazing at South Stack Cliffs

Close shepherded grazing at South Stack Cliffs The RSPB’s South Stack Cliffs nature reserve covers 359 hectares on the north west coast of Anglesey, the majority leased from the Isle of Anglesey County Council (IOACC). The principal habitats are maritime heathland Gareth Fisher and grassland, dry Welsh Reserves Ecologist heath, improved and semi-improved grassland, and coastal cliffs. Much of the reserve is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Special Protection Area (SPA). As well as the important habitats on the reserve, key species include breeding choughs and seabirds, Dave Bateson and silver-studded blue Site Manager butterflies. The area also has at South Stack red list vascular and lower plants including spotted rock-rose, spatulate fleawort and ciliate strap-lichen. The problem In 2008, a statutory condition assessment of the heathland and the vegetated coastal cliffs concluded that the habitats were in unfavourable condition, at least in part due to the lack of appropriate grazing. At the time, local circumstances meant that our ability to graze large areas Guy Rogers (rspb-images.com) Rogers Guy The heathland and vegetated coastal cliffs at South Stack were classed as being in unfavourable condition. At least in part, this was due to the lack of appropriate grazing. We’re working to put that right. of the reserve was very limited, a Welsh organisation that and management on the supports grazing projects to heathland was restricted to benefit wildlife. They were put targeted burning and cutting onto the mountain for 40 days, which could be problematic. with close-shepherding taking them up onto the mountain in the morning and bringing them The solution back to overnight pens in the In 2009, an agreement was set evening. The first season went up between the RSPB, the well, and in subsequent years IOACC, and the Countryside the flock was increased to 100 Council for Wales (CCW) to in 2010, and then gradually up instigate a trial close-shepherded to 200 in 2013, usually starting grazing project for five years. each grazing period with lower It focused on the area around numbers and increasing slightly Holyhead Mountain in the second half. Additional in the northern part of the breeds were introduced, reserve, amounting to just including Scotch blackface, Welsh over 190 hectares. In the mountain, torwen, torddu, and autumn of 2009, 50 Hebridean Manx loaghtan. By the end of the sheep were leased from PONT, project the majority of the sheep were owned by the shepherd, RSPB could enter Glastir Entry with some leased from PONT and subsequently Glastir and one other livestock owner. Advanced, and through this agri-environment scheme In principle, the shepherd allowed we are aiming to increase the sheep to roam and choose the grazing period to 80 days where they wished to graze, close-shepherding with about while generally keeping the flock 200 sheep. We will try to target together. The different breeds used where the sheep are grazing a the habitat in different ways, with little more, to increase their the Scotch blackfaces readily going impacts on the vegetation. into tall, rank heather. The torddu would also do this but to a lesser extent, and the Hebrideans were Conclusions Although the benefits to the least likely to do this. General habitat have been limited so far, observations indicated that on the we consider the project to have heathland the sheep preferred been a success. Grazing livestock grazing around recently managed, on Holyhead Mountain has regenerating heather areas. In historically been difficult, but we each year a small GPS unit was have successfully established the attached to the horn of one of the principle of having animals on the sheep and the data downloaded at land, and it has generally been the end of each day. well received. Furthermore, the project established a good working Analysis of the data showed partnership between ourselves, that the sheep had a preference the IOACC, CCW/NRW, PONT, for three main areas, two of the Anglesey Grazing Animal maritime grassland and one of Partnership, and neighbouring dry heathland. In 2013, Natural landowners, with each party Resources Wales (NRW) followed helping to facilitate the project, up some baseline monitoring from and all benefitting from being 2009 and concluded that the level involved. Together we have set of grazing wasn’t sufficient to up a basis to better manage the make a significant change to the habitats and bring them towards vegetation. At the end of favourable condition. 2012, the original agreement was relinquished so that the The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International, a partnership of nature conservation organisations working to give nature a home around the world. The RSPB is a registered charity in England & Wales 207076, in Scotland SC037654. Cover image by Andy Hay (rspb-images.com). 120-0164-15-16.

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