From valley floor to mountain top, a major project to reverse nature’s decline in Nant Ffrancon, Eryri, gets underway

Led by National Trust Cymru and funded by nearly £1m from the Nature Networks Fund, delivered by the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Welsh Government and in partnership with Natural Resources Wales, the #NNF5 Natur i Bobl Nant Ffrancon project aims to restore nature on a landscape scale.

From the mountain tops of Cwm Idwal to the bottom of Dyffryn Ogwen and everything in between, the highly designated valley ^[1] is facing severe ecological decline. Habitats have become fragmented and some of Wales’ most threatened species including ring ouzel and twite are at risk of vanishing.

Working collaboratively with local communities, tenant farmers, volunteers and partner organisations, on land cared for by the Trust in the valley, a mosaic of over 1635 hectares (4040 acres) of habitats, which is an area over 51 times the size of Llyn Ogwen ^[2], will be restored and conserved. 

Priority habitats ^[3] including upland bog, montane heath, rivers and wildflower grasslands will benefit from targeted, practical interventions such as grazing.

Ecological surveys and frequent monitoring will map the impact of works on Nant Ffrancon’s recovery, using species such as pine martens and otters and plants such as aspen and juniper as indicators of the valley’s health as the project progresses. 

At the heart of the project will be Hwb Natur Ogwen (Nature Hub) which will be a central point for nature recovery, learning and community action and engagement. Facilities will include a native tree and plant nursery and space for skills training, hosting schools and community events.

Bringing together those who live, work and spend time in Nant Ffrancon, the project will help shape the future management and activities that reflect local knowledge, needs and aspirations, helping to build local connection and stewardship of the natural heritage in the valley. 

Simon Rogers, Natur i Bobl Nant Ffrancon’s Project Manager for National Trust Cymru, said: "Nant Ffrancon is one of Wales' most special landscapes, but like many places, it faces significant challenges from habitat loss and declining biodiversity. We are at a tipping point, and we need to act now.

“Natur i Bobl Nant Ffrancon gives us an exciting opportunity to work alongside local communities, farmers, and partners, to restore and join up habitats that are better for nature, support threatened species and create a more resilient future for the valley. 

“By building on previous and ongoing nature restoration work in the area, and placing people at the heart of nature recovery, we hope to create a lasting legacy where wildlife, farming and communities can thrive together and where wildlife can flourish for generations.”

Tlysau Mynydd Eryri (Mountain Jewels of Eryri) ^[4], a conservation partnership project led by Plantlife Cymru securing the futures of some of our rarest alpine plants in Wales, is just one of the projects Natur i Bobl Nant Ffranon will provide a legacy for. For example, the project will build on the innovative use of GPS livestock collars to manage grazing more precisely. This technology is currently being used at Blaen y Nant, a traditional upland farm cared for by National Trust Cymru which the conservation charity is looking to re-let next year.

Another initiative underway that complements the new project is an ongoing partnership with Natural Resources Wales focused on peatland restoration and reconnecting Afon Ogwen with its floodplain ^[5]. This will further enhance Nant Ffrancon’s natural environment, reversing decades of loss and helping to rebuild ecological and climate resilience. 

The Natur i Bobl Nant Ffrancon project, which will run until early 2029, will directly contribute to the conservation charity’s' ambition to create 250,000 hectares of nature-rich landscapes, both on Trust land and off it in the next decade. Addressing the catastrophic decline in nature across Wales, England and Northern Ireland.

Anyone wanting to learn more is invited to attend Diwrnod Cymunedol Nant Ffrancon (Nant Ffrancon Community Day) on 3 October at Blaen y Nant farm. The day will feature a fun run, live music, informative talks and a range of activities, providing an opportunity to get involved in the project and help shape future plans.

For further information see: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/carneddau-and-glyderau/natur-i-bobl-nant-ffrancon-project

The #NNF5 Natur i Bobl Nant Ffrancon project was awarded funding through the Nature Networks Fund (NNF), delivered by the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Welsh Government and in partnership with Natural Resources Wales.