Encourage Conservation Grazing

Further expand and invest in the RCT Conservation Grazing project. Develop best biodiversity practice for all RCT Council grazing licences, promote through the Living Landscapes project and support other conservation graziers.

Protect grasslands from tree planting

Seek engagement with Natural Resources Wales and Welsh Government - raise the profile grassland conservation in RCT as a means to protect important sites and grassland types from tree planting.

Mowing for Wildflowers

Continue to maintain the RCT Council cut and collect machinery capacity and increase the hectarage included in the scheme year on year. Share best practice and support other landowners, especially in the public sector, to 'cut and collect' their grass. Promote through the Living Landscapes project.

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Follow the Butterfly

Continue to promote and raise awareness of the fundamentals of grassland conservation and management with the public, companies, organisations and decision makers through the 'Follow the Butterfly' campaign. Provide opportunities for community participation in 'Grab a Rake' and on Living Landscapes Project sites.

Work with land managers

Work with PONT Cymru to support farmers/ land managers in the creation and maintenance of species-rich grasslands e.g. by supporting a market for produce from conservation grasslands.  

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Pollinators in horse pasture

Work with the British Horse Society and PONT Cymru to promote good practise around horse grazing. 

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Healthy Hillsides

Maintain grasslands in ffridd habitats and protect them from burning, such as through Healthy Hillsides project.

Sewage Sludge and Digestor Liquor

Seek discussions with NRW about preventing damage to semi-natural grasslands from the use of the liquor produced through anaerobic digestion, sewage sludge consenting and other novel fertilizers.

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Grasslands in Schools and Colleges

Promote wildflower grassland management in RCT Schools i.e. change to cut and collect management around playing fields to create short flowering lawns and meadow patches.

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Raking Not Seeding

Raise awareness of the importance of management over seed sowing, and the threat to native wildflowers from introduced seed. Campaign for funding to support awareness raising and management instead of seeding. 

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NRW Grassland Management

Support NRW to undertake grassland restoration and management within the Welsh Government Woodland Estate.

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Natural Regeneration

In restoration and/or landscaping schemes promote the natural regeneration of grassland habitats through the reduction of soil nutrients to more natural levels, protecting the local seedbank and fungal resource, and through conservation management.

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Start a Meadows Group

Start a meadows group for RCT (and neighbouring counties) to support meadow creation, restoration and management of grasslands.

Living Landscapes Project

Continue to develop the network of appropriately managed species-rich grasslands, grass verges and open spaces across the County Borough as part of the RCT Living Landscape Project.

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Waxcap Maps

Create a waxcap map to inform appropriate management of these grasslands and help protect them from inappropriate tree planting. Encourage participation in waxcap surveys by promoting the WaxcApp.