Beddw is a holding of 37 acres of upland grassland and woodland. Tree planting and natural tree regeneration, stream restoration and reduction in grazing have created a wildlife rich mosaic of meadows and wood pasture. 

The ancient woodland, now protected from sheep grazing is beginning to regenerate, with new young oak’s sprouting amid the bluebells.  Areas where the ground flora of bluebells, Wood anemone and bracken indicates that the area was previously woodland are being restored to native woodland, through a combination of natural regeneration and planting.  14 acres of ancient woodland and scrub at Beddw have been designated as a Local Wildlife Site, after surveys by Toby Fountain from Herefordshire Wildlife Trust. 

Advice from Sarenta King, Radnorshire Wildlife Trust’s farm advisor has helped enable restoration of heavily grazed upland grasslands. Over grazing causes soil compaction, crushing the structure of the soil, so there are no air and water pockets within it. Reducing the grazing pressure is enabling the soil structure to recover, it is now holding more water, reducing the water that flows to the downstream village and allowing the recovery of wetland plants along the stream, providing new wildlife habitats.

Beddw’s owners want their land to hold more water, which will reduce downstream flooding and in the future they’d love beavers to help them create these wetland habitats.  

“We are fortunate to live here and allow this unimproved patch of land to regenerate and become a place of safety for local wildlife.”