The remote valley is like a time capsule, preserving the memories and remnants of a crucial period of Welsh history.
Now, a large chunk of Snowdonia’s historic slate landscape has been acquired by the National Trust Cymru, which is looking for someone to manage it. The remote site lies in a Conwy valley in which the slate mining and farming heritage has been frozen in time.
Located on a 1,600-acre farm, it is home to three former slate quarries as well as tumbling mountain streams and heather-clad cliffs. And the landscape at Foel Marchyriau, Cwm Penmachno, is a “time capsule” of the area’s mining history, said the Trust.
Remnants are scattered across the hillside, including a water-powered incline once used to move slate up and down its steep slopes. Also on the farm are crumbling rows of quarrymen’s cottages, built at a time when north-west Wales was known as “the place that roofed the world”.
In addition, the landscape has striking evidence of Snowdonia’s post-medieval farming past, with sheepfolds, abandoned buildings and signs of peat cutting dotted across the site.
“The layers of human interaction with the landscape are fascinating,” said Trystan Edwards, the Trust’s general manager for Snowdonia. “From the old Roman road to the three slate quarries that helped the country to global acclaim.”
The site’s history is to be conserved and researched. However it was the farm’s habitats, not its abandoned mines, that mainly motivated its acquisition by the Trust late last year, North Wales Live reports.
To its east, the land adjoins the Trust’s Ysbyty Estate, also important for its natural and cultural value, which has 51 tenanted farms as well as the Migneint moorland of peat blanket bog. Its northern boundary borders the picturesque Carrog farm, a smallholding where the Trust has been working to remove man-made obstacles in a river to lower flooding risks.
Joining up the places will enable National Trust Cymru to carry out environmental improvements on a much larger scale. Mr Edwards said: “In many ways it is the missing piece in a jigsaw – it will enable us to join up several distinct sites and work with partners at scale across the landscape. There’ll be more space for wildlife, including a network of new hedgerows, and the ability to store huge quantities of water and carbon in the deep peat soils. Foel is a mesmerising place that is rich in history and has huge potential for nature to thrive - we’re really proud to be custodians of it.”
Foel Marchyriau lies near the head of a valley which marks the head of the Conwy river catchment. For more than a decade, the Trust has been working with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to slow water flows, re-wet upland bogs and reinvigorate habitats.
A key objective is to tackle climate change. By restoring degraded habitats – especially peatland – they will soak up large quantities of carbon. It’s estimated that the 1,600-acre site, once restored, could alone lock up more than 350,000 tonnes of carbon, equivalent to taking almost 80,000 cars off the road for a year.
Another benefit of re-wetting is to help the landscape absorb the effects of extreme weather, so reducing flooding in the valley.
In the 20th century, peat was cut to create drainage ditches in a bid to increase food production after the Second World War. Ditches of up to a metre wide – known as “grips” – now criss-cross the land. These will be filled in to stop further erosion and encourage carbon storage.
Sian Williams, NRW’s head of North West Wales Operations, said the farm’s acquisition will enable a more expansive approach to the catchment’s restoration.
“Foel offers the springboard to look at the landscape in a much wider sense,” she said.
“The timing is critical, as we need to deliver land management changes at pace in key areas.”
The land, previously used as pasture, will continue to be grazed by sheep and cattle. The long-term aim is to creates a “mosaic” of grass and heath lands, meadows and blanket bog. New hedges will be planted in the lower fields. Higher up, it’s hoped the hill land will become an ideal nesting place for threatened birds such as the hen harrier.
Foel Marchyriau is to be managed by National Trust Cymru and NRW, with support from Snowdonia National Park Authority and RSPB Cymru. Other landowners and members of the community will be also be involved, said the Trust.
To care for its livestock, and to work with local farmers on habitat improvements, a farm manager is to be appointed. The Trust decided not to let Foel as a farm tenancy because of the fundamental change to land use.
Mr Edwards said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who has a passion for conservation and upland Welsh farming skills. We are looking to appoint enthusiastic naturalist and an experienced shepherd to manage the livestock as well as observe and record plant life. Being a stone throw away from Cwm Penmachno, and surrounded by a strong agricultural community, we’ll be looking for someone who’s a people person and will integrate well into the Cwm.”
For more information about the role, head to www.nationaltrustjobs.org.uk and search for IRC112472.
