Winter Freshwater West
Sunday 20 January 2013
Freshwater West
Spring east of road Corse
Looking east
Outfall with culvert removed drains through pebble bank which is filling the outfall
Gupton from NEe
eastend
view of upperslacks looking south
Views from outside there is now no pedestrian access long may it be so
Saturday 19 January 2013
Frewshwater West update
Gupton Farm
Most of the Cawdor Estate in South
Pembrokeshire is in the ownership of the National Trust, one property
Gupton Farm and parts of Castlemartin Corse are to be taken inhand
and managed by the Trust.
Freshwater West, is undeveloped and
sought for wildness and solitude. The surfers and recent films made
there has led to intense visitor pressure.
The beach and the sand dunes are of
scientific interest one of the few relatively intact calcareous water
meadows.
The area was improved by drainage by
the Cawdors, the water levels managed for agriculture.
For most of my life with the outfall to
the beach (recently removed)the area has contained seasonal dune
slacks and winter flooding meadows with a calcareous alkaline soil.
With dune stabilisation by the National
Park the supply of wind blown ground up shell fragments, has not
replenished the “machair”.The high rainfall leaches the lime from
the sand which becomes acid the water draining into the streams is
alkaline, When there are wind blown shells the top two or three
centimeters are alkaline, which when combined with close grazing
produces a herb rich grassland home to a mutitude of flowering
plants.
The dune slacks and the watercourses
are flooded with alkaline mineral rich clear water, a haven for fish
invertebrates insects with a profusion of water plants.
The land was grazed when dry in
spring,in summer a hay crop was taken for winter feed after the
stock was taken off in the winter the land flooded, the silt
fertilised the meadows. The stock were not allowed to poach the land.
Now high stock rate with store cattle
in the winter, maize cultivation in summer can produce high nitrogen
run off and poaching to bare soil.
The Corse to the east of the road now
fenced off and now planted with permanent ley in my lifetime was
closely grazed herb rich sward, it must be returned to its natural
climax vegetation.
Reading a Consultants Report from 2007
the area has been changed by drainage not being maintained and by run
off from upstream ploughing filling the drains with silt.
It is now an offence under the European
Waters Directive to allow further degradation of historical waterways
used by migratory fish for spawning purposes
The steam has an annual run of elvers
in and mature eels out to sea. Lampreys are present (or were). The
future pressures on the land are critical, the desire by Surfers to
set up an International Surfing Center, to quote their words”surfers
will not walk far, they need car parks at the top of the beach cafes
and camping.”
Pembrokeshire County Council recognises
Global Warming and predicts the destruction of the present road by
rising sea levels, one proposed solution is to close the road from
the road to Angle to Castlemartin and restrict vehicle access to
householder access,.
The farm has to produce an economic
return to pay for Conservation, and to support local people.
The dune slacks and the seasonal
flooding historically have been a haven for waterfowl of
international importance.
At present there is no public access,
any public access with free running dogs will degrade this as it
has destroyed the sanctuary value of other sites in Pembrokeshire.
These are some of the competing
priorities, the debate about future use is too important to be left
to Pembrokeshire Politics, this area is of international importance.
Wednesday 16 January 2013
Freshwater West
Gupton Farm
Most of the Cawdor Estate in South
Pembrokeshire is in the ownership of the National Trust, one property
Gupton Farm and parts of Castlemartin Corse are to be taken inhand
and managed by the Trust.
Freshwater West, is undeveloped and
sought for wildness and solitude. The surfers and recent films made
there has led to intense visitor pressure.
The beach and the sand dunes are of
scientific interests one of the few relatively intact calcareous
water meadows.
The area was improved by drainage by
the Cawdors, the water levels managed for agriculture.
For most of my life with the outfall to
the beach (recently removed)the area has contained seasonal dune
slacks and winter flooding meadows with a calcareous alkaline soil.
With dune stabilisation by the National
Park the supply of wind blown ground up shell fragments, has not
replenished the “machair”.The high rainfall leaches the lime from
the sand which becomes acid the water draining into the streams is
alkaline, When there are is wind blown shells the top two or three
centimeters are alkaline, which when combined with close grazing
produces a herb rich grassland home to a mutitude of flowering
plants.
The dune slacks and the watercourses
are flooded with alkaline mineral rich clear water, a haven for fish
invertebrates insects with a profusion of water plants.
Reading a Consultants Report from 2007
the area has been changed by drainage not being maintained and by run
off from upstream ploughing filling the drains with silt.
It is now an offence under the European
waters Directive to allow further degradation of historical waterways
used by migratory fish for spawning purposes
The steam has an annual run of elvers
in and mature eels out to sea. Lampreys are present (or were). The
future pressures on the land are critical, the desire by Surfers to
set up an International Surfing Center, to quote their words”surfers
will not walk far, they need car parks at the top of the beach cafes
and camping.”
Pembrokeshire County Council recognises
Global Warming and predicts the destruction of the present road by
rising sea levels, one proposed solution is to close the road from
the road to Angle to Castlemartin and restrict vehicle access to
householder access,.
The farm has to produce an economic
return to pay for Conservation, and to support local people.
The dune slacks and the seasonal
flooding historically have been a haven for waterfowl of
international importance.
At present there is no public access,
any public access with free running dogs will degrade this as it
has destroyed the sanctuary value of other sites in Pembrokeshire.
These are some of the competing
priorities, the debate about future use is too important to be left
to Pembrokeshire Politics, this area is of international importance.
Saturday 12 January 2013
Gupton Farm National Trust
The meeting was well attended,the National Trust had put invitations through the door of every property on the Cawdor Estate, and to a members of most bodies who have an interest. Two people wanted more commercial development with more car parking the rest required no or limited access to the SSSI, citing that it was the last refuge on the Pembrokeshire Coast with no pedestrian access.
We were the only people from outside the estate area. Decisions far too important must not be made without wider consultation.
We were the only people from outside the estate area. Decisions far too important must not be made without wider consultation.
Friday 11 January 2013
Castlemartin Corse Gupton Farm
SATURDAY 12012003 Stackpole Center 1400HRS
The National Trust is taking Gupton Farm in hand.
There is a consultation meeting.
The dune slacks and corse are shell rich machair
Much damaged by PCNP dune stabilisation which for 40 years has stopped wind driven replenishment.
The dune slacks have no public access and are the last undisturbed refuge in Pembrokeshire.
No further public access no further commercial development of Freshwater West
THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A CONSULTATION BUT WE HAVE ONLY FOUND OUT ABOUT IT TODAY
The National Trust is taking Gupton Farm in hand.
There is a consultation meeting.
The dune slacks and corse are shell rich machair
Much damaged by PCNP dune stabilisation which for 40 years has stopped wind driven replenishment.
The dune slacks have no public access and are the last undisturbed refuge in Pembrokeshire.
No further public access no further commercial development of Freshwater West
THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A CONSULTATION BUT WE HAVE ONLY FOUND OUT ABOUT IT TODAY
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)