Hafod y Llyn Project update - October 2023

• The trial is run in three fields Ffridd Ganol (1.4ha), Ffridd Uchaf (1.4 ha) and Cae Terfyn 1.5 ha. 

The mechanical and grazing strategies across the plots within the three fields is shown below:

• Baseline data for Soilmentor was collected. Soilmentor app is designed to help you learn about your farm's soil health and biodiversity in the field. Soilmentor makes it simple to record the results of simple soil health tests at GPS mapped sites, or with across-field sampling, and record biodiversity you've noticed to monitor your farm's progress over time.
• This included carrying out the VESS methodology which showed that all three fields displayed similar soil characteristics. When analysing the soil profiles a noticeable compaction layer below 127mm was discovered in all the fields. 
• Ffridd Ganol and Ffridd Uchaf grass species mirror each other with a high proportion of the sward being rushes/weeds and undesirable grasses. Cae Terfyn had little or no grass species with rushes covering more than 90% of the field with the remaining 10% being bare earth.