Habitat enhancement work in Cwm Marteg
Cwm Marteg Project Officer Darylle Hardy has been collaborating with Environment Agency Wales and Forestry Commission Wales on projects to improve wetlands in Cwm Marteg. Ditch blocking and damming has taken place on a wet clear-fell forestry site to slow and spre
ad the flow of water across the valley into the hollows and dry ditches formed by former forestry workings. Over winter volunteers will help the habitat enhancement by planting willows and alder so that we can achieve a lovely wetland mosaic of trees, rushy marsh and pools.
On two smallholdings in the Cwm Marteg we have been restoring old, now dry meanders of the river. Both have been cleaned out and joined up with existing oxbow pools, and one now takes the flow of a diverted ditch and
links up with wetland by the river. Many thanks to the Environment Agency, Forestry Commission and especially the landowners for their support in restoring these wetland habitats.
