9
David Morgan recalls the days
when Coast Path walkers and
sheep vied for space on a
narrow strip of land
bordering his farm and the
clifftop.
Thick gorse had smothered the
headland to such a degree that
man and beast were confined to a
path little more than a foot wide.
You can see this clifftop
conservation work for yourself if
you walk the section of the
Pembrokeshire Coast Path
National Trail between Skrinkle
Haven and Manorbier beach.
You may see some of David's
horses and sheep, and you can
also look out for the rare red
billed, red legged chough, which
nests in cracks in the cliffs and
feeds in the short, flower-rich
maritime grassland on the coastal
slopes.
Mr Morgan is delighted with the
benefits the scheme has brought to
his farm, the wildlife and to the
public who cross his land.
"This scheme has something for
everyone. We could never have
achieved what we have without this
level of support,'' he says.
To find out more about how the
National Park Authority can help
landowners to manage and
conserve their land,
call 0845 345 7275.
The area wasn't fenced so the sheep
would wander onto the path.
This was before David signed up
to the Pembrokeshire Coast National
Park Authority's Conserving the
Coastal Scopes scheme, a European
Union scheme which has since been
renamed as Conserving the Park.
One of the benefits for David of
joining the scheme is the help he is
given to control gorse along the
clifftop. Once a year a team of
National Park staff burn the gorse.
"Various bits are burned in rotation.
This has created more grazing and it
also means that the sheep can come
off the footpath,'' says David, who
runs a flock of 300 commercial ewes
at Hill Farm, Manorbier.
A small herd of horses, supplied
through the National Park Authority,
grazes this area to further control
the gorse.
"For several years we had four
Welsh Mountain ponies here that
we had got to know very well. We
now have three Fell ponies and a
Shetland and they are just as
friendly. They do a great job of
suppressing the gorse, the sheep
wouldn't be big enough to break it
up, and they are a lovely sight for
walkers,'' says David.
The headland looks more
attractive now that it is properly
managed and it has become a
haven for different breeds of birds
and butterflies.
"The headland used to be a solid
green block because it was impossible
for us to manage it. We had given up
trying to put sheep in there but now we
have more of the land back,'' says
David.
He was keen to sign up to the
Conserving the Park scheme because he
is passionate about the environment
and wildlife.
The aim of the scheme is to
reinstate the network of wildlife-friendly
corridors and to manage and enlarge
the key wildlife habitats that make up
the circulation system of the countryside
within the Pembrokeshire Coast
National Park. This gives species the
chance to establish larger, more
sustainable populations, and creates
new ones too.
There are 130 sites in Pembrokeshire
in the scheme, covering over 2000
hectares.
Geraint Jones, the Authority's Farm
Conservation Officer, said: "By working
in partnership with farmers and
landowners like David in the National
Park, we can help to maintain and
enhance a rich mosaic of habitats,
allowing wildlife to thrive."
Clifftop
conservation
brings benefits
all around
Clifftop
conservation
brings benefits
all around
Horses provided through the
Conserving the Park scheme help
control gorse on David Morgan's
clifftop fields � and walkers love
to see them.
Below: Aerial view of Manorbier
Skrinkle
Haven
Often hunting overhead are
peregrine falcons and kestrels,
while skylarks fill the air with
their distinctive song as they nest
in the grassland where bramble
and bracken once dominated.
Sea cliff grassland plants such
as thrift, spring squill and sea
campion add vibrant colour in the
spring and summer months, and
the purple heather illuminates a
chilly autumn walk.
There are several walks on
our website in this area. Visit
www.pembrokeshirecoast.org.
uk/walking, choose Walks in the
Park and then search through
the walks in the South category.
On another block of David's
land, which runs down a deep
valley skirting the sea, bracken
has been partially cleared through
a managed clearing programme.
It was important that the bracken
wasn't completely taken out
because it provides shade for a
mass blanket of bluebells that
appears in the spring - and it
attracts a variety of butterflies
too.
Walk the Coast Path at Manorbier
Families love to explore Manorbier Castle
and bring a little bit of history to life.
Opening times: Daily from 6th April to 30th September 2009
10.00am to 6.00pm. Every weekend in October and half term.
Admission: �3.50 adults, �1.50 children, �2.50 senior citizens
Excellent local transport: Bus no. 349 Tenby-Haverfordwest
stops at the gate. Train station 3/4 mile away.
Dogs admitted on a lead � Convenient parking � Toilets
Gift Shop � Quality coffee and tasty light bites
Castle Tel. 01834 871394
www.manorbiercastle.co.uk
Manorbier
Kestrel
�StevenRound
�VisitWalesCrownCopyright2009

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