Biodiversity Matters II
SCRUB & FFRIDD HABITAT ACTION PLAN
True ffridd is that area of land between the enclosed fields and the open hill. Typically steeply sloping, these areas are often dominated by bracken or gorse and make an important contribution to our Welsh landscape. Although ffridd and scrub have little national or international importance they provide valuable habitat for a number of nationally rare species including the Ring Ouzel and the High Brown Fritillary and Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterflies.
- Large areas of ffridd have been agriculturally 'improved' in the recent past, albeit at a slower rate today; many also suffer from neglect.
Scrub & Ffridd Habitat Action Plan
- We will manage our Nature Reserves where scrub and ffridd is present to maintain a diverse age structure and species composition.
- Be proactive in helping to manage ffridd/bracken habitat on south-facing slopes for fritillary butterflies.
- Encourage landholders to manage scrub and ffridd habitat to benefit BAP species.
- Establish a network of ffridd Wildlife Sites and Private Nature Reserves.
Advice
- Provide management advice to landholders and commoners on the conservation importance of scrub and ffridd habitat and the wildlife they support.
- Promote agri-environment schemes to landholders.
Survey and monitoring
- Identify the highest quality ffridd and scrub sites as Wildlife Sites.
- Undertake specialist surveys for Ring Ouzel, Ashfordia granulata gastropod, Climbing Corydalis Weevil and fritillary butterflies.
- Monitor the most important scrub and ffridd sites on a 3 year rolling programme.
Lobbying
- Lobby for no overall loss of scrub and ffridd habitat in Montgomeryshire.
- Champion wildlife-friendly farming by influencing NAW policy, UK policy and wider CAP reform.
- Lobby for sufficient incentives to be made available for scrub and ffridd habitats to ensure achievement of relevant BAP targets.
