Measurable Environmental Benefits

 

Pontbren’s work is already yielding exciting results. Many changes to the birds and mammals have been noted by the farmers themselves, who naturally take a keen interest in their environment. Several organisations are helping monitor the benefits of Pontbren’s farming methods, including Coed Cymru, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the Countryside Council for Wales, The University of Wales at Bangor, Imperial College London, and the Hawk and Owl Trust.

These are some of the achievements that have been identified:

• Otters have returned after an absence of 30 years.

• Britain’s most endangered mammal, the water vole, has been sighted.

• Pontbren is now home to three birds on the UK Red List of species of highest conservation Juvenile Lapwing at Pontbren: copyright Pontbren Group 2007

concern (Hen Harrier, Skylark and Linnet) and nine birds on the Amber List (Barn Owl, Lapwing, Snipe, Kingfisher, Curlew, Red Kite, Cuckoo, Stonechat and Woodcock).

• There have been measurable increases in many other species of birds, small mammals and beetles.

• Seeds for the newly planted trees are gathered from the farms, guaranteeing local provenance and grown in Pontbren’s own tree nursery, saving hundreds of road miles over imported tree stock.

Juvenile Lapwing at Pontbren: copyright Pontbren Group 2007

• Cut wood, wind-fallen trees and hedge trimmings are chipped and used as winter bedding for animals, saving road miles over imported straw (previously bought in from as far as Lincolnshire).

• Peat free compost is produced at Pontbren, for use in the tree nursery. So far this has replaced 4700 garden sized bags of peat, and will continue to save a further 500 bags every year.

• The 120,000 new (native) trees planted to date can absorb 219 tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum: enough to offset 701,000 miles of driving.

• Pontbren contributes to a thriving local community. 33 craft jobs have been protected, and seven local businesses supply materials.

Hedge management: copyright Pontbren Group 2007