Research at Pontbren

 

Pontbren Logo: Copyright Pontbren Group 2007Welcome to Pontbren, a group of 10 neighbouring small farmers and their families located in the heart of the Welsh countryside. The group is committed to farming at the highest possible standards of environmental management and animal welfare.

 

The Group’s approach is unambiguous and now well established. Substantial progress has been made, particularly with hedgerow and woodland restoration and pond creation. One unexpected On-farm research plots: Copyright Pontbren Group 2007consequence was observed during heavy rain when surface water running off grassland was absorbed immediately it passed under the fence into the newly planted woodland. A few simple experiments with spade and plastic pipe showed that remarkable changes had occurred. To quantify these changes the Countryside Council for Wales commissioned a survey by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and The University of Wales, Bangor. The results of their preliminary survey has been published (Bird et al 2003: see full reference below) They confirm the field observations and demonstrate significant differences in surface soil compaction, rooting depth and water absorption.





















In consequence of this work a consortium of public bodies (The Flood Risk Management Research Consortium ) is now undertaking a major piece of research on this site over the next four years. The main contractors are the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Imperial College, the University of Wales, Bangor and Nottingham University .

(Bird et al 2003) Pontbren: Effects of tree planting on agricultural soils and their functions CEH Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, University of Wales, Bangor.