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Dexter and Shetland cattle grazing at Cartersford nature reserve, Gower. Photo Paul Thornton<\/p>\n Dexter and Shetland cattle grazing at Cartersford nature reserve, Gower. Photo Paul Thornton<\/p>\n
Richard Youle, Local Democracy Reporter<\/p>\n
Thousands of native trees are being planted to restore land devastated by what was described as one of the worst cases of illegal felling investigated in Wales for decades.<\/p>\n
Around 1,400 young trees have already been planted at the 43-acre Cartersford site in Gower, with another 6,000 expected to go into the ground over the coming months.<\/p>\n
The land is now owned by the Gower Society and managed as a nature reserve by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales.<\/p>\n
Volunteers have spent the past 12 months removing invasive Himalayan balsam, installing fencing and planting trees, although some losses are expected following the summer drought.<\/p>\n
Rubble has been removed from a field, crushed, and then incorporated back into the soil, which has since become grassed over.<\/p>\n
Tree stumps left in what was a pond at the site at Lower Fairwood will be removed and the pond restored.<\/p>\n
The reserve has meadow and grassland habitat while cattle co-owned by site manager Paul Thornton visit from time to time and graze.<\/p>\n
\u201cCattle-grazing is really important for species-rich grasslands,\u201d said Mr Thornton. \u201cThey maintain the diversity of the sward structure (grassland area) and wildflowers.\u201d Their warm bodies and dung, he added, attracted invertebrates.<\/p>\n
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An aerial shot of the location felled by Thomas Jeffrey. Image: Gower Society<\/p>\n
The site\u2019s former owner, pensioner Thomas Jeffrey Lane, was prosecuted by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and fined for cutting down around 2,000 trees at the protected woodland in 2019 without the appropriate licence and then failing to restock them. A court heard he\u2019d bought the land for his daughter to run a pony-trekking and alpaca-walking business. He claimed the trees were rotting and dangerous.<\/p>\n
An NRW officer said at the time it was one of the worst cases of illegal tree-felling the organisation had investigated in 30 years.<\/p>\n
Aerial photos provided by the Gower Society at the time showed the land before the trees were chopped down and after.<\/p>\n
The society later bought the site and leased it to the trust last year.<\/p>\n
The fencing \u2013 supplied by a local business \u2013 is keeping sheep out and cattle in and protecting the tree whips in newly-created corridors.<\/p>\n
Some of the native trees were provided by local nurseries. Mr Thornton said 1,400 have been planted and a further 6,000 or so will be added in the coming months.<\/p>\n
Otters<\/p>\n
There is evidence of otters at a stream bordering the land, plant species are being recorded, and volunteers are carrying out dormouse surveys. It\u2019s hoped the project will improve habitat connectivity in the wider area.<\/p>\n
Money to help the restoration has come via the Welsh Government\u2019s local places for nature challenge fund.<\/p>\n
Mr Thornton said he managed around 30 Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales sites in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot and two in north Carmarthenshire.<\/p>\n
The former tree surgeon and charcoal-maker is constantly learning about Cartersford, which isn\u2019t open to the public. \u201cThe other sites I know quite well \u2013 this one is throwing up new things all the time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Heather Falconer began volunteering for the trust when work began at Cartersford, which is close to where she lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve learned a lot \u2013 I\u2019ve found out about different habitats, how to make fences, and a method of planting trees so they can survive drought,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe other people who work here are really nice. I definitely feel a connection to the land. You notice the changes and see wildlife coming in. It\u2019s very rewarding.<\/p>\n
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