WIREDGOV

Natural Resources Minister Carl Sargeant has visited Snowdonia National Park to see how a Welsh Government Nature Fund project to restore areas of peatland has come to fruition.

The Welsh Government awarded £132,000 to the Snowdonia and Hiraethog Peatland Restoration led by Snowdonia National Park Authority to restore areas of peatland, a priority habitat in the Conwy Valley, Berwyn and Migneint & Llŷn Peninsula.

The funding is also contributing to the establishment of a strategy for the future restoration of peatland in North-West Wales. 

There are 4 main elements to the project:

• Treating unwanted invasive vegetation to enable appropriate grazing. Doing this work will create better conditions for natural moorland habitat;  
• Blocking artificial drainage ditches to create better conditions for peatland; 
• To produce  a strategy for the future protection of peatlands within Snowdonia and the surrounding area to be able to share with other organisations and local communities;
• Promotional work amongst local communities, including the production of a video to go alongside the project and work with local primary schools.

Carl Sargeant said:

“Snowdonia National Park Authority has made a significant contribution in helping to support the development of the Nature Fund and in leading this important project.

“I am particularly keen that we engage and include young people in taking forward this work and Snowdonia National Park has taken an approach that is innovative, refreshing and has clearly worked well. I am pleased to see that other organisations, local schools, and small businesses have also played key roles in the delivery of the project.”

Rhys Owen, Snowdonia National Park Authority’s head of Conservation, Woodlands and Agriculture added:

“Restoring areas of peatland is of paramount importance to the Authority. By working in close partnership with the National Trust and local farmers, we hope that future flooding problems will be alleviated, and the area’s important biodiversity will be improved. In doing so, the future children and grandchildren of the pupils from the schools of Ysbyty Ifan and Pentrefoelas will benefit from the carbon stored on the Migneint."