Mynydd Waun Fawr Landscape Vision

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

MWT has been awarded funding to produce a landscape vision for the Mynydd Waun Fawr area, shown on the map below. This area appears to be a biodiversity hotspot but is also the focus of a collection of proposed energy generation projects, so a strategic vision, including practical site-based delivery, is urgently needed. To create this landscape vision, we will be 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.

What we already 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.

Habitat

Heathland and moorland

These wild, open landscapes stretch over large areas and are most often found in uplands. Although slow to awaken in spring, by late…

Habitat

Blanket bog

Bleak, treeless and often shrouded in low cloud, blanket bog can seem a desolate habitat. However, the wildness of the huge, empty…

Habitat

Upland acid grassland and rush pasture

These grasslands, occupying much of the UK's heavily-grazed upland landscape, are of greater cultural than wildlife interest, but…

Habitat

Upland spring, flush and fen

These tiny habitats, the source of our streams and rivers, are fundamental to the well-being of whole water catchments.

Habitat

Rocky habitat

Rocky habitats are some of the most natural and untouched places in the UK. Often high up in the hills and hard to reach, they are…

Habitat

Rivers

From otters to freshwater shrimps, all animals are dependant on an abundant and reliable supply of clean water. Rivers sustain the…

Habitat

Woodland

Our woodlands are a key tool in the box when addressing climate change for their carbon storage potential, but are less well known for…

Habitat

Lakes

Lakes come in many forms: some are splendid and clear, while others are more reminiscent of a murky swamp. Each lake is strongly…

Habitat

Purple moor-grass and rush pasture

This distinctive type of damp pasture is generally found on commons, as a component of lowland fen, or in undeveloped corners of…

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.

Species

Curlew

The eerie, 'cur-lee' call of the curlew is a recognisable sound of wet grasslands, moorlands, farmland and coasts. Its long,…

Species

Brown hare

The brown hare is known for its long, black-tipped ears and fast running - it can reach speeds of 45mph when evading predators.

Species

Small pearl-bordered fritillary

The small pearl-bordered fritillary is a pretty orange-and-brown butterfly of damp grassland, moorland, and open woodland. It gets its…

Species

Golden plover

From spring, look out for the beautiful, speckled gold-and-black breeding plumage of the golden plover. It can be found in its upland…

Species

Wall brown

The wall brown or 'wall' gets its name from the fact it rests on any bare surface or wall! It can be found in open, sunny…

Species

Short-eared owl

The short-eared owl, or 'Shortie', is an unusual owl because it prefers to be out and about in the daytime. It is most easily…

What we will be doing

The project runs until March 2025. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

How you can help

Engagement with the local community is key to the success of this project. Whether you are a resident or business within the project area, or have knowledge of the biodiversity value, we want to hear from you. Look out for local events, and please do share the project widely.

Want to know more?

Contact Tammy Stretton, Conservation Officer

email: tammy@montwt.co.uk

Mynydd Waun Fawr Landscape Vision

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