The south Wales valleys are blessed with superb landscapes and a wonderful biodiversity.  However, during the early spring, hillside and grassland fires are all- too-common. They pose real dangers to people and property, place huge burdens on the Fire Service, denude the landscape, destroys wildlife, damages habitats and releases carbon into the atmosphere. Termed as ‘grass fires’ the habitats mainly affected are bracken slopes, and purple moor-grass marshy grassland. These are home to rare and declining species, including high brown and marsh fritillary butterflies, birds such as stonechats and whinchats and thousands of slow worms and common lizards. However, the problem comes when these habitats are not managed, and build up a thatch of dead vegetation, which when dry becomes vulnerable to fire in late winter and early spring.

​

Bracken slopes and marshy grasslands are of high biodiversity value, but their full potential is only realised when they are properly managed.  Management relies on the traditional methods of grazing (with hardy breeds of cattle and ponies) and, where the circumstances suit, cutting. Traditional breeds have been bred to feed on the rough grasslands of the valleys, they are large enough to physically break up the expanse of bracken and tussocks of purple moor-grass, and they are hardy enough to thrive on the sometimes-harsh conditions of the open hill. By controlling the bracken and rank grasses, the cattle and ponies allow a wide range of flowering plants to grow, create a range of habitat conditions, and prevent damaging uncontrolled grass fires. The re-instatement of this type of ‘conservation grazing’ is increasingly seen as the best and most cost-effective means of conserving and enhancing the biodiversity across Wales, as well as helping preventing fire damage. 

​

The Healthy Hillsides Project is a wide partnership project with South Wales Fire Service, NRW, Wildlife Trust for South and West Wales and RCT Council lead partners. A programme of works to demonstrate sustainable land management solutions to prevent grass fires and improve biodiversity, landscape and amenity access is in progress. This is co-ordinated by NRW with project officers working on the ground. In RCT sites at Clydach Vale, Penrhys, the Billy Wint, Llantrisant (where the Llantrisant Town Trust is a key partner) and Trehafod are all part of the programme. Key activities include awareness raising, bracken bruising, grass/bracken cutting and on some sites the re-introduction of conservation grazing.

​

One of the exciting elements of the Healthy Hillside approach is the multiple benefits, which can ensue. In addition to the biodiversity, and landscape improvements, and the reduced public safety and arson risks of ‘grass fires’, there are benefit to the local grazier community by generating grazing opportunities, the management can generate work for local fencing contractors, and promote the traditional management of the land. The work also creates recreational benefit by improving the public’s perception of grasslands and hillsides (instead of burning hills, people see cattle grazed wildlife rich habitats), ‘opening-up’ access areas for public enjoyment and encouraging an interest and enthusiasm for our local wildlife heritage, which can be enjoyed by all.  All this can be achieved by adopting land management methods, which based on traditional tried and tested methods, are the epitome of cost-effectiveness and sustainability.