ONE THIRD OF RADNORSHIRE’S WILDFLOWER MEADOWS DAMAGED SINCE THE EARLY 1990s

A survey by the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust of the remaining wildflower meadows in the county has shown how much damage has been done in recent years.

Experts from the Trust have been revisiting ancient meadows that were identified in the early 1990s as being of special value for their flora. Less than two thirds of the 58 grassland sites that they surveyed have survived intact into the 21st century. Almost a third have been damaged or partially destroyed, and a few have been lost altogether.

During the 1980s around one ancient wildflower meadow was destroyed in Radnorshire every fortnight. The rate at which these meadows were lost slowed down in the 1990s, after the abolition of agricultural improvement grants for drainage and re-seeding.

Grants to farmers under Tir Gofal and the former Environmentally Sensitive Area scheme have also given some protection. The benefit of these schemes is shown by the fact that a few of the surviving wildflower meadows have shown signs of enhancement.

However these grants do nothing to protect ancient grasslands from housing development, which is the most common cause of destruction today.

In recent years several interesting Radnorshire meadows have been lost as a result of development at Llanyre, Howey and around Llandrindod Wells. Other flower-rich sites are now threatened by housing at Crossgates and Newbridge-on-Wye.

The Radnorshire Wildlife Trust’s recent survey was partly funded by Countryside Council for Wales through their Partnership Programme grant scheme.

Julian Jones, Wildlife Trust Manager, thanked the farmers involved in the survey for their kind co-operation in allowing access onto their land. He said, ‘The wildflower meadows that we still have in Radnorshire survive thanks to the care shown by farmers for the environment. But, once destroyed, these meadows cannot be re-created, and we cannot afford to lose any more.’

The beautiful mountain pansy that still survives on the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust’s reserve at Gilfach, near St Harmon. Photo Jonathan Stone.

Wild thyme in wildflower meadows near the River Marteg at Gilfach. Photo Jonathan Stone.