Welsh heathlands' beef is new Trust delicacy

by Moyrah Gall

 
 Springtime at Southwood on Thursday April 11th: 

Great, but where and what is Southwood ?

Southwood is part of the Heathland Beef Initiative (HBI). The HBI 's primary purpose is extensive grazing of semi natural habitats and this is led by Conservation Grazers. Cattle have been found to provide an efficient grazing service, gorse and bracken present little problem to the hefty Welsh Black steers.

Southwood Estate is a National Trust area between Roch and Newgale in N Pembrokeshire which reflects the importance of the cliff land wildlife and contains some of Britain’s beautiful coastal heaths and maritime grasslands. 


The cliff land also supports a high density of nesting chough and peregrine falcon.
The estate land requires to kept open so aggressive species such as the bracken and gorse is kept in check. As a result the turf is maintained at a shorter height by the grazing stock this allows coastal heath species to diversify, such as the chough which will feed easier by getting to insects.

Southwood Farm

 Sited on the estate is Southwood Farm, a 19century home farm. This is where a series of events have been introduced throughout 2013. The first event, 'Springclean', starting April. offers the opportunity to help out with restoration features of the building, conservation hedge boundary repairs and a quiz trail for the younger.

An evening talk delivered by the area warden is also on the cards later in April at the National Trust  St Davids shop, nationaltrust st-davids-visitor-centre