Hafod 3rd November 2012

  

Our morning started like any other, piling into the minibus for the trip to the Hafod estate.  Situated about 12 miles, south-east, of Aberystwyth, at the top of the Ystwyth Valley, Hafod is thought to be one of the most picturesque landscapes in Europe.

Most of the estate was a conifer plantation managed by the Forestry Commission but areas are being cleared and either returned to Heather meadow or broadleaf woodland. Our job, working with the wardens of the estate, was to remove fast growing spruce from a high field.The highland cattle do a good job of keeping in check most of the time but pockets had started to get too large and needed the attention of ACV and its willing volunteers.

We set to work and made good progress in the field till lunchtime. After lunch the weather started to turn but we had a fire going by this point and burned the cleared trees. We even helped clear the dense vegetation in the area of an old scenic view point, overlooking a small waterfall, which feeds into the Ystwyth River.

All in all, it was a good day out and a fair amount achieved. Thanks to David for letting us come and work with him and his team.

Find out more about Hafod here: http://www.hafod.org/homepage.html

By Edward Bell