Full Breakdown
Mountain Jewels of Eryri: Conservation Grazing in Wales’ Cwm Idwal
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Initiative
The “Tlysau Mynydd Eryri” (Mountain Jewels of Eryri) project is a conservation partnership led by Plantlife Cymru to protect some of Wales’ rarest alpine plants. The effort focuses on the Cwm Idwal valley, using targeted grazing to restore habitats for species such as aspen, juniper, woodcock and otter.
Funding and Partnerships
The scheme is financed with nearly £1 million from the Nature Networks Fund, administered by the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Welsh government. It is delivered in collaboration with Natural Resources Wales and local farmers, who operate the grazing livestock.
Monitoring and Community Involvement
Innovative GPS collars on cattle enable precise, real-time management of grazing pressure. Data are streamed to farmers’ apps, allowing adjustments to density, timing and location of grazing. The partnership also emphasizes education: school groups regularly visit the valley, and volunteers are invited to assist with monitoring and learn about the landscape.
Official Statements & Responses
Cwm Idwal Partnership Officer Rhys Wheldon-Roberts highlighted the importance of live monitoring for aligning cattle movement with ecological goals, noting that the technology makes grazing more effective for both livestock and nature. Rogers, a project spokesperson, said the work is intended to lay a long-term foundation, acknowledging that conditions will evolve over the next three years but aiming for recovery that endures for decades.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There are opportunities for people to get involved in monitoring, in volunteering, just learning about the landscape in general," said Wheldon-Roberts.” — Partnership Officer Rhys Wheldon-Roberts
- “What we're trying to do with this project is set a foundation for the future,” — Rogers
