Carngafallt

Ancient wood pasture with veteran trees and oak-dominated Celtic rainforest are globally significant for lichens especially. A walk through the woodland at any time of year brings different experiences from the dawn chorus in spring and early summer, to the wonderful colour change in autumn, to the sounds of ravens and red kites overhead in winter. The moorland is at it's best in late summer when the heather is in full flower and the views are stunning; it is a long hike up to the moorland, but worth the effort for the intrepid.

The ancient wood pasture and Celtic rainforest is one of the rarest and most important habitat on site particularly for lichens, dead wood invertebrates as well as the classic woodland birds. Management here aims to restore and create the more open light conditions of wood pasture which is vital for much of this priority wildlife, especially the lichens. The veteran trees are an ecosystem in themselves, supporting a cornucopia of niches and a diversity of fungi, lichens, invertebrates and birds and therefore keeping the trees open grown and well lit is vital.

Management is focused on removing thickets of young saplings while planning the next generation of trees, reducing the extent and density of the bracken on site and managing grazing to create the right ground conditions.

We manage our upland heath and mire for the benefit of birds such as hen harriers and whinchats, as well as for the condition of the heath and its associated plants themselves. We aim to improve the heath’s structure by supporting mixed and selective grazing, carrying out heather cutting where appropriate to create a mix of age structures, controlling invasive species as necessary.

Our partnership with our farming tenants is an important one. We work with our tenants to manage our hay meadows and other grassland habitats for the benefit of their rich plantlife, invertebrates and birds. This involves beneficial farming practices such as the traditional making of hay and by carefully managing the use of grazing and fertilizers.

We are constantly learning more about the site which helps inform our future management. We have a five-year system of monitoring and surveys, targeting priority habitats and key species – such as the greater butterfly orchids.

Carngafallt is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to it's importance for wildlife.