Farmers along the River Conwy have begun fencing waterways and altering livestock access as part of a project aimed at improving water quality and enhancing wildlife habitat.
This work is being carried out along the Afon Ida River, a tributary of the Afon Conwy River, and the Lodz Conwy Project is working directly with peasant farmers to make practical changes on the ground.
The project, led by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and National Trust Cymru, focused on farms adjacent to rivers, where the risk of contamination during grazing is highest.
Funding from the Nature and Climate Emergency Fund helped five National Trust tenants build a 3km riverside corridor and install alternative livestock drinking systems.
Fences have been installed to prevent animals from entering the river, reducing damage to the river bed and limiting the input of nutrients from feces that could impair water quality.
The changes are intended to protect waterways while allowing livestock to access clean drinking water away from rivers and allowing farms to continue productive grazing.
Trees and shrubs are allowed to be planted within fenced corridors to help stabilize banks, reduce erosion, and slow runoff during heavy rains.
These tree-lined roads also help connect fragmented forests, improving movement and shelter for wildlife across farmland.
Some sections have been planted with hardwood trees by children from a local school in Isbiti Ifan.
The project also includes work on the Ida Meadow of Special Scientific Interest in Ti Uchav Ida. This meadow is rich in rare flowers and has been carefully managed by the peasants and their ancestors.
This is the only place in Eriri where melancholy thistle grows, alongside other rare species such as globe flower, wood bitter vetch and some orchids that support pollinators.
At Ti Uchaf Ida, the river is fenced off to allow ponies to graze the meadows and keep rushes and coarse grass in check, creating conditions for these rare plants to thrive.
Sarah Aubrey, Conwy City’s senior environmental officer, said: “This research is a great example of how collaboration can deliver real benefits for nature and agriculture.”
“By improving water quality and creating connected habitats, we are helping wildlife thrive while supporting sustainable land management,” she added.
National Trust Cymru’s Lodz and Conwy project manager Dewi Davies said partnership work was central to progress.
“Partnership work is at the heart of this project, enabling National Trust Cymru, Natural Resources Wales and tenant farmers to create healthier and more connected habitats across the Conwy catchment, while protecting water quality,” he said.
Discussions are currently underway with landowners and tenants further downstream to extend the riverside corridor to its confluence with the Afon Conwy River.
River restoration in the region is also supported through Fermio Burro under the Sustainable Agriculture Scheme pilot, working with farmers on measures such as canal fencing, natural flood management, upland grazing, forest creation and regenerative agriculture.
The Lodz Conwy project forms part of the Welsh Government-funded Water Capital Programme, which supports river restoration and water quality improvements across Wales.
