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A wide landscape view of an expansive upland area of grassland, blanket bog, lakes and small patches of scrub. There are a couple of sheep in the mid foreground. The sky is largely blue with some white clouds.

Mynydd Waun Fawr 13th September 2024 © MWT/Tamasine Stretton

Mynydd Waun Fawr Landscape Vision

MWT has been awarded funding to produce a landscape vision for the Mynydd Waun Fawr area, shown on the map below. This area is a biodiversity hotspot but the future land-use is very uncertain, so a strategic vision, including practical site-based delivery, is urgently needed. To create this landscape vision, we have been carrying out surveys and working with landowners, land managers and other interested parties, to identify appropriate options and opportunities for ecological restoration and improving connectivity.

Mynydd Waun Fawr Landscape Vision project boundary shown in read outline overlaid on an Ordnance Survey map at 1:250,000 scale

Update 4th June 2025

A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the community consultation in February and March. A copy of the summary report from this consultation, including all the results from the online survey, can be downloaded below. 

Overall, there appeared to be a strong desire to help wildlife and tackle climate change, whilst ensuring that any restoration work was supported by local people and does not jeopardise local culture and identity. There was a strong desire to help Curlew.

Achieving balance is key to the success of any landscape project in the Mynydd Waun Fawr area. This means carefully integrating wildlife and environmental goals, farming needs, cultural heritage, and community priorities. Striking the right harmony ensures that the natural beauty and biodiversity of the landscape can thrive, while also supporting the livelihoods and traditions of those who have lived and worked there for generations.

A balanced approach involves collaboration and mutual respect among all stakeholders, from landowners and farmers to conservationists and policymakers. It’s about finding solutions that respect the past, address current challenges, and look toward a sustainable future. By embracing this equilibrium, projects can foster shared ownership and long-term success for both people and nature of Mynydd Waun Fawr.

What we know

This remote part of Montgomeryshire still retains large areas of habitats supporting a diverse range of wildlife. A number of the habitats known from the project area are considered to be threatened enough to warrant protection in law. Section 7 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 identifies the following as priority upland and heathland habitats in Wales to maintain and enhance biodiversity:

* Upland Heathland

* Blanket Bog

* Upland flushes, fens and swamps

* Inland rock and scree habitats

Not only are these habitats valuable for the wildlife they support, but they perform myriad ecosystem services, most notably carbon storage in the large expanses of peatland. The area is also a large catchment area for many rivers, meaning that activity undertaken within the area impacts much more widely.

From the data we already have, we know that this area supports a great diversity of plant, animal and fungi species, a not insubstantial number of which are at risk of extinction.

What we will be doing

We will:

  • Survey the project area to identify biodiversity hot spots (both habitat and species).
  • These surveys will also be used to identify areas suitable for ecological restoration, and areas where this restoration may restore ecological connectivity.
  • We will work with landowners and land managers to identify options and opportunities which would be supported.
  • We will use all of the above to identify a landscape vision, giving a practical site based delivery plan for the whole project area.
A landscape view showing a blue lake with irregular banks and another in the distance behind. Around the lakes is green-yellow-orange vegetation (grassland, scrub and bog). There is a blue sky with some white clouds.

Llyn Newydd and Llyn Hir on the Mynydd Waun Fawr plateau near Llanerfyl, 10th August 2024 © Tamasine Stretton

A wide landscape view. There is green grassland in foreground with yellow flowers. In the middle distance is a wetland with a few small scattered willow trees. Beyond the view stretches towards a long level hill. The sky is grey clouds.

Bryn Mawr and Mynydd Waun Fawr 13th June 2024 © MWT/Tamasine Stretton

A small area of blanket bog (wetland), which is largely green vegetation, dotted with white cottongrass and hummocks of heathers. In the distance are a couple of small hills and some trees. The sky is grey clouds.

A small area of blanket bog with abundant cottongrass, 13th June 2024, © MWT/Tamasine Stretton

Looking over an area of blanket bog with dense patches of white cottongrass. The bottom two thirds of the image shows this largely green wetland, then there is a band of trees and a few wind turbines. The sky is scattered clouds with patches of blue sky.

An area of blanket bog rich in cottongrass at Carreg-y-Bîg, 25th June 2024, © MWT/Tamasine Stretton

A largely green view with light grey clouds. There are patches of brown and green gorse, long green rushes and short green grass, in the foreground. In the background is a mixture of wetland, trees and grassland. There is a small hill on the right which is a mixture of bracken and trees.

Pen Coed ffridd 23rd June 2024 © Tamasine Stretton

A wetland (bog) dominates this image. Areas of light green Sphagnum are interspersed by grasses, heathers and white cottongrass. In the distance on the right hand side is a bracken covered slope, and there are some distant hills and mountains beyond.

An area of blanket bog at Pen Coed 23rd June 2024 © Tamasine Stretton

A wide landscape view. In the foreground, taking up two thirds of the image, is a tussocky wetland of green and brown grasses, with a few scattered small trees. In the distance is a green grassed hill with some trees and in the far distance is a long mountain range.

Bryn y Fawnog 30th June 2024 © Tamasine Stretton

Three people in waterproofs carrying rucksacks looking out at a wide landscape view of fields and hedges and a mountain beyond.

Surveying at Blaen-y-cwm 22nd July 2024 © Dominique Carpenter

An upland lake reflecting a sky of scattered clouds. The lake is surrounded by grassland and wetland habitats in hues of green and yellow-brown. In the foreground, is an area of gorse scrub covered in yellow flowers.

Llyn y Grinwydden 10th August 2024 © Tamasine Stretton

A wide landscape view of an expansive upland area of grassland, blanket bog, lakes and small patches of scrub. There are a couple of sheep in the mid foreground. The sky is largely blue with some white clouds.

Mynydd Waun Fawr 13th September 2024 © MWT/Tamasine Stretton

Logo Nature Networks Fund 3 non-lottery Welsh Government

This project is funded by the Nature Networks Programme. It is being delivered by the Heritage Fund, on behalf of the Welsh Government.

Want to know more?

 

Contact Tammy Stretton, Conservation Officer

email: tammy@montwt.co.uk