The western part of the bog was drained during the 1940’s, and although these ditches were blocked by the then Dyfed Wildlife Trust in the 1980’s, the area still suffers from being too dry. These conditions are exacerbated by scrub encroachment, which shads out and outcompetes specialized bog communities, but also through evapotranspiration continues to dry out the bog.

Last year through funding from NHLF we were able to get local contractors with specialist wetland equipment in to clear and treat much of the encroaching willow and birch scrub. They also cut a large area of the over stood purple moor grass. Purple moor grass is a deciduous grass, meaning that it dies off each winter. However it is too tough to break down in a single season and becomes a ‘thatch’. Each year when it grows anew, it grows on top of the old debris, and becomes larger and more dominant. It forms large tussocks that eventually outcompetes everything else and the sphagnum moss, an essential building block of bogs, disappears.

The western bog was re fenced at the same time and now we have cattle on there for the first time for decades. The cattle are going to be an important tool in helping us to manage the regenerating vegetation. They should nibble the willow regen and keep it in check, whilst also opening up in between the purple moor grass tussocks. This will allow bog species like sphagnum moss and others to recolonize, whilst favoring wetter conditions to develop.

HNLF also funded us to set up dipwells across the site to learn more about the hydrology within our reserve.

We have also now entered into a management agreement with NRW, this will enable us to get funding from them to protect the special features of the site for the next 5 years. NRW are funding us to continue the hydrological monitoring. This will help develop our understanding of the way water moves off the bog, and should inform us how to hold water on the bog for longer, re wetting areas and creating conditions suitable for bog species.