Anglesey farmers encouraged the restoration of traditional field boundaries

Farmers and land managers on Anglesey are being encouraged to take advantage of grants to maintain, improve and restore traditional field boundaries.

Isle of Anglesey County Council’s Countryside and Area of ​​Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) team has received funding through the Welsh Government’s ‘Sustainable Landscape, Sustainable Places’ programme.

The grant provides up to 70% funding for the restoration/construction of dry stone walls and hedges, up to a maximum of £4,000 per applicant.

These traditional boundaries are an integral part of Anglesey’s landscape, an important feature of the historic environment and vital to its wildlife.

Field boundaries made of stone or hedges provide livestock with shelter from extreme winter conditions or from the heat of the summer sun.

They also provide a year-round habitat of their own by creating a safe haven for small creatures, as well as a wildlife corridor between important habitats.

Hedgerows are of particular importance for biodiversity and the natural environment.

They provide a food source for wildlife and benefit the environment by improving air quality, storing carbon and helping to mitigate the effects of heavy rainfall by slowing water penetration.

Financing

Owen Davies, Isle of Anglesey County Council AONB Community Warden, said: “This scheme is a great opportunity for land managers to pay particular attention to restoring their property boundaries.

“The program has already supported many successful projects, so I am excited to see what can be achieved in this final year of funding.”

Future funding decisions from the Welsh Government are expected in the second half of the year.

Leisure, Tourism and Maritime portfolio holder, Councilor Neville Evans, explained: “This is an innovative plan that will benefit Anglesey’s natural environment and support our overarching biodiversity plan.

“I would encourage all eligible farmers, landowners and land managers to submit an expression of interest by contacting the County Council’s Countryside and AONB Unit.”

For more information or to express an interest, please contact the County Council’s Rural and AONB department: (email protected) / 01248 752463.

The closing date for expressions of interest is Friday, May 24, 2024.

Successful applications will be selected based on a range of criteria, with priority given to ‘living’ boundaries such as hedgerows due to their higher ecological value, as well as boundaries that fall within the Anglesey AONB.