Ceredigion Biodiversity Enhancement Scheme

We have found that many landowners are keen to adopt conservation measures on some or all of their land but they are isolated and lack the confidence to embark on this process alone. We want to work more closely with them to help develop a biodiversity 'mosaic' across the wider backdrop of 'ordinary' countryside and more intensively managed farmland. This mosaic will also help to link up richer conservation areas in the longer term. Our new pilot project will run over 2003-2005 and is now in full swing. It focuses on Ceredigion and we have a core network of enthusiastic landowners, farmers and smallholders working with us to restore pockets of biodiversity across the county.

Forty-one participants have now entered over 300 ha of land into the scheme – well on the way to our first-year targets. After attending workshops at Denmark Farm, they will begin long-term planning for biodiversity on their own sites. The Trust will help them with a series of site assessment visits, beginning in July 2003. Restoration work will then commence according to jointly agreed site plans.

If you are a Ceredigion landowner with a desire to bring wildlife back to your site but need help, do contact us, no matter how large or small your site, whether it is farmed or not and however knowledgeable you are about wildlife. Our scheme is highly flexible and can be tailored to suit individual sites and personal circumstances. Our scheme must not duplicate state grant aid schemes such as Tir Gofal, but it can complement them. So if you are in or about to enter a state grant aid scheme, still contact us. You are most welcome to join the network and participate in planning workshops and training events, even if not entering land into the scheme at present. The more participants, the greater the benefit to all involved.