Fferm Ifan Ecosystem Service Improvement Project

A collaborative farmer led project taking landscape scale action on land management to improve ecosystem resilience and the services they provide. Fferm Ifan is a cooperation of 11 tenant farmers based on the Ysbyty Ifan estate.  Fferm Ifan farmers seek to improve and manage natural resources in a more sustainable and efficient way. The project covers approximately 2,456 Ha and includes new targeted land management actions which will also deliver socio-economic benefits to the 11 farms and to the wider rural community Fferm Ifan live within. The farmers have grazing rights to the Migneint, one of the largest areas of blanket bog in Wales, which is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area. 

As part of the work the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) are providing guidance on catchment sensitive planting. They will be planting more farmland trees and hedgerows along streams to help protect riverside habitats, reduce soil erosion and alleviate flood risk downstream. Ditch blocking on the Migneint will continue and help raise the water table, store carbon and will also reduce flood risk in the Conwy Valley.

Fferm Ifan

The farmers are also taking part in grazing trials to encourage more biodiversity and wildlife in the peatland. As part of the grazing trials, cattle have been introduced to the Migneint for the first time in living memory and there are plans in place to restore habitat to encourage more lapwings and curlews to breed successfully in the area.

The group is also working closely with a number of partners including the National Trust, Snowdonia National Park Authority, RSPB, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bangor University and Natural Resources Wales in order to share ideas and learn from the expertise and experience of the partners.

An exciting element of the project will be looking into developing new markets for the non-food products of sustainable land management – clean, slow water, carbon storage and thriving biodiversity. The main aim of the group is to work together to ensure that the future generations of these traditional farming families can continue to thrive within this Welsh-speaking upland community.  
 

Project details

Funding amount:
EAFRD (WG RC_RDP Wales) contribution
£696352.00
Funding source:
Sustainable management scheme
Area:
Conwy
Completion:
Fferm Ifan Ecosystem Service Improvement Scheme
Fferm Ifan - The Migneint and Climate Change

Contact:

Name:
Arwel Jones
Email project contact
Project website:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLtugsaSY94

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