Grazing on the Rocks

Bydd y prosiect Pori ar y Creigiau yn gweld Ymddiriedolaeth Natur Maldwyn, Clwb Golff Llanymynech, Helen Upson o’r fenter pori cadwriaethol Pori Bach, ac arbenigwr lleol ar loÿnnod byw, Dr Simon Spencer, yn gweithio gyda’i gilydd i adfer glaswelltiroedd sy’n llawn bywyd gwyllt prin ar Greigiau Llanymynech i’w ogoniant blaenorol.

Yn un o blith llond dwrn o gerrig brig calchfaen ar draws ffin ddwyreiniol Cymru, mae Creigiau Llanymynech yn noddfa ar gyfer y planhigion ac anifeiliaid prin sy’n gysylltiedig gyda’i daeareg a phridd unigryw. 

Mae’r bryn sy’n gartref i Warchodfa Natur Creigiau Llanymynech (sydd dan ofal Ymddiriedolaeth Bywyd Gwyllt Maldwyn ac Ymddiriedolaeth Bywyd Gwyllt Sir Amwythig) a Chlwb Golff Llanymynech - y ddau wedi’u lleoli’r naill ochr a’r llall i’r ffin rhwng Cymru a Lloegr - wedi’i ddiogelu fel Safle o Ddiddordeb Gwyddonol Arbennig (SoDdGA) oherwydd ei werth arwyddocaol i fywyd gwyllt, o loÿnnod byw a thegeirianau prin, i wenyn, ystlumod ac ymlusgiaid. 

Fodd bynnag, mae’r lle pwysig hwn angen ei adfer ar frys.

Wedi’i ariannu gan y Rhaglen Rhwydweithiau Natur, a’i ddarparu gan y Gronfa Dreftadaeth, ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru, bydd y prosiect cydweithredol dwy flynedd, Pori ar y Creigiau, yn gweld gwaith ymarferol ac ymgysylltu cymunedol ar dir y clwb golff yng Nghymru ac ar warchodfa natur Ymddiriedolaeth Bywyd Gwyllt Maldwyn gerllaw. Fel rhan o hyn, cynhelir arolygon bywyd gwyllt i ddod o hyd i ba blanhigion ac anifeiliaid prin sydd eisoes yno, er mwyn mesur gwelliannau a gyflwynwyd o ganlyniad i’r prosiect. Bydd gwaith megis clirio prysgwydd yn adfer y glaswelltir arbennig a bydd gosod ffensys yn galluogi i anifeiliaid pori ddychwelyd.

As part of this, wildlife surveys will be carried out to find out what rare plants and animals are currently there, to measure improvements brought about as a result of the project. Works such as scrub clearance will restore the special grasslands, and fencing will allow the return of grazing animals.

Meanwhile nature walks and talks for all ages, along with new interpretation signage, will raise awareness amongst the local community of the site’s importance for wildlife, while highlighting some of the key plants and animals which call Llanymynech Rocks home.

What’s more, the project will explore the potential for a mobile livestock herd for conservation grazing. Owners of parcels of land too small to maintain livestock often struggle to maintain traditional grasslands, habitats that have suffered drastic declines in the past 75 years. Pori Bach’s herd of Ancient Cattle of Wales thrive in these habitats and can help boost biodiversity through a co-ordinated local grazing plan. The breed is one of the newest additions to the Rare Breed Survival Trust’s Priority list, so long term security of a breeding herd is critical to their future as well. This project also plans to introduce goats to the Pori Bach team, where smaller nimble livestock are a better match for habitat and historic sites.

The Nature Networks Programme aims to address the nature emergency by strengthening the resilience of protected sites and enhancing ecological connectivity to create a more sustainable nature-positive environment. Llanymynech Rocks is a vital habitat link between North and Mid Wales, Powys and Shropshire. By restoring rare grassland here, the Grazing on the Rocks project will also enhance populations of threatened and endangered species in the surrounding area.