Hafod y Llyn: notable features to celebrate and expand

June-August, 2019 Compiled by Sabine Nouvet

Property Ecologist for Snowdonia and Llyn

Hafod y Llyn is notable for its species rich grasslands and meadows, wooded riparian corridors, and its grazed, open scrubland. But the farm also has value in its pools and bogs, old trees, beautiful landscape, and amazing soil. It should be promoted as a farm rich in biodiversity as well as agricultural potential, and it provides the National Trust in Snowdonia with a unique opportunity to deliver on an exciting form of nature friendly farming.

Species-rich and open habitats: Within the Glaslyn River valley, Hafod y Llyn offers a unique haven of species-rich and open habitats. It is surrounded by extensive oak woodland and enclosed by a notable river (Glaslyn River SAC, Meirionnydd Oakwood SAC, Hafod Garegog NNR).

Typical fields at Hafod y Llyn: Good = biodiversity hotspots in an otherwise contiguous woodland landscape. Bad = hedges and field margin trees are scarce, and will not increase due to the presence of Himalayan balsam which

requires perennial grazing and/or weeding.

East side of the farm: Scrubby, soft, diverse boundaries around natural fields: The east side of the farm is characterised by semi-natural fields dissected by grazed wooded hillocks. It also has more hedges and/or woodland boundaries. These have a “neglected” feel, which is very good for nature: overgrown and developing scrub on these field edges provide very important habitat for invertebrates (e.g. flowers on blackthorn scrub in early spring, blackberry flowers in late summer). This side of the farm delivers high diversity of semi-natural habitats through grazing. There is a risk that it loses diversity (species and habitats) if ungrazed.

Note the birch saplings in this photo demonstrate how recent grazing has been very light = future tree cohort is developing, but at the risk of shading out interesting bog enclaves.

A typical field on the eastern half of the farm, showing a mosaic of scrub, wet grassland, and woodland. The grassland is species poor, but not dominated by soft rush. It is ideal for rough grazing, but is at risk of rush encroachment if it gets heavily poached. Some of the grazed field includes trees, while most of the woodland viewed is stock excluded. Notice the standing deadwood and the young tree regeneration.

Rare examples of grazed and open scrubland:

Very few examples of grazed scrub are found in this part of the Glaslyn valley. Hafod y Llyn has two. Parcel 3, pictured above, left, is the largest unit. It provides interesting habitat and contrast to the grass and rush pastures around it and should be kept open through annual pulses in grazing and periodic gorse clearance. Notice the patch of young alder (circled) developing in at the far end of Parcel 4; the only example on natural regeneration along the rivers on the farm.

Wooded riparian corridors: The Glaslyn and Nantmor rivers run along the boundaries of Hafod y Llyn. They are notable for the rich diversity in wildlife using them, from sea lamprey to otters. Almost all the river banks are wooded and have a rich underground flora, however there is no regeneration due to ongoing light grazing.

Flag iris, skullcap, and other flowers abound on the riverbanks. Otter spraints and tracks can be seen at many points. Fallen deadwood is left in the lazier part of the river.

Grazed woodlands:

Both riparian woodlands and wooded “islands” within fields are common on the farm. The mature trees are dominated by oak, and provide cavities for nests, shelter for livestock and other wildlife. At night, the farm is alive with the sound of Tawny and Barn owls, bats, foxes, and badgers.

Greater spotted woodpecker nest (with a hungry chick) in an old oak

Regeneration of trees is occurring on the edges of these grazed woodlands, and bramble scrub is developing under the canopy (circled), both due to recent removal of livestock. It will be important to protect some of these saplings in the future.

Open grown trees: like hedges, these are a rare feature on the farm and should be promoted in the future. These trees provide good connectivity between woodlands.

In Fields 19, 20, 21, it is evident that these trees are favoured by livestock for shelter. We have also noticed that soft rushes do not grow under the shadow of these trees, hence the ambition to establish agro-forestry practices in one

rush-dominated field (field 22).

Species rich meadows: unimproved and semi-improved examples of meadows are present on the farm. The semi-improved meadow (Field 20) produces good silage/haylage annually for Hafod y Llan and has a good cover of herbs. The unimproved fields (Field 10 and 17) are exceptionally diverse and hold some locally rare species but are not productive enough to cut for hay or silage. Several adjacent fields have been earmarked for expansion of these species-rich habitats (Fields 19, 21).

Unimproved meadows at the SW corner of the farm (Fields 10 and 17) are at high risk of flooding and grow over sandy soil. Notable species include Michaelmas daisies (left) and whorled caraway (right), both locally rare.

The semi-improved silage meadow at the NW corner of the farm (Field 21) has very high herb cover (up to 80%) and good diversity, including eyebright, red clover, and yellow rattle. Light applications of fertilizer and lime have been

used in the last 10 years, based on regular soil testing.

Species rich watercourses: The southern boundary of Field 17 is marked by a beautiful riverbank rich in herbs and grasses, including water horsetail, bullrush, purple loosestrife, and forget-me-not.

Livestock at Hafod y Llyn have always had access to the river, but low numbers and extensive grazing allows for diverse plant communities. Notice the opposite riverbank is less diverse due to year-round grazing.

Bogs and ephemeral pools/scrapes: they are also important habitat for amphibians and invertebrates, especially in the spring. They require annual pulses in grazing to keep vegetation

open and short.

Some of these pools were created by winter feeding and overgrazing in the past, but they harbour small and interesting plants such as small sedges and spike rush.

Recreational access: This farm has an “East Side” and “West Side” thanks to the main farm track and the Welsh Highland Railway, which dissect it. A footpath also runs along the southern boundary and is used by a few locals on foot and bicycle.

The footpath could potentially be linked to Hafod Garegog and made into a circular route.

Barn Owl: barn owls nest in the old Beudy, next to Hafod y Llyn house. This is a Schedule 1 protected species and any work on the barn would require special consideration for this enigmatic animal. The barn is also used by bats as a night roost.