Natur i Bobl Nant Ffrancon

About the project

From the mountain tops of Cwm Idwal to the bottom of Dyffryn Ogwen and everything in between, the highly designated valley 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 will be restored and conserved.

Creating connections and shared stewardship

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, 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.

Providing a legacy 

Tlysau Mynydd Eryri (Mountain Jewels of Eryri), 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.

Some of the things we’ll do

• Priority habitats including upland bog, montane heath, rivers and wildflower grasslands will benefit from targeted, practical interventions.
• Ecological surveys and frequent monitoring will map the impact of works on Nant Ffrancon’s recovery, using species such as ring ouzel, 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.
• A new tree nursery will be set up as part of Hwb Natur Ogwen. 
• 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. 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 charities' 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.

 

Get involved

If you are interested in getting involved with the project through volunteering opportunities or want to find out more, email us at eryri@nationaltrust.org.uk

Thanks to our funders

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.