Hill Grazings

Although the vast swathes of the post-glacial period forest have disappeared from Wales a number of woodland plants are still abundant in the hill grazings that replaced them.  Drifting through pastures of primroses and bluebells reminds you that past generations of farmers - and their animals – only modified the vegetation that surrounded them.  Today's upland farms impact the landscape in a much more tangible manner.

In certain parts of Wales, recent generations of farmers have been able to replace the vegetation by altogether new means - by ploughing steep, previously inaccessible slopes, reseeding with artificial grass mixes and fertilising. 

Much of the remaining open landscape on our hillsides represents the most abundant vegetation type left in Wales - upland acid grassland.

Much of this grassland would once have supported a diverse mix of heather moor, blanket bog or scrub woodland.  However, land drainage, and the appetites of so many sheep, helped bring about today's grassy hillsides. 

Mat grass is the most common species.  Sheep avoid this, as it is less palatable than other grasses and herbs.  Little wonder it covers such large areas of the hillside. 

Even so, nature seems to insist on colour. A scattering of the yellow flowers of tormentil, the creamy white blooms of heath bedstraw, and the soft pink, blue and whites of milkwort - paint the poorest grasslands.