Pori Natur a Threftadaeth (PONT) works to develop, promote and deliver practical grazing and land management for the benefit of nature, landscape and cultural heritage by working with farmers, organisations, communities, and graziers. PONT has experience of managing livestock grazing across many different sites and situations.

PONT staff offer practical solutions to address barriers that prevent the introduction of livestock grazing onto sites. Barriers may be a lack of knowledge on livestock or grazing systems or more practical issues such as infrastructure, dog management, water provision and access.

 

LAND MANAGEMENT AND GRAZING ADVICE

PONT works with farmers, graziers, organisations and communities to advise and implement management of land including nature friendly grazing, public liaison and access work.

PONT has the skills and experience to take on the overall management of nature reserves and other sites where the main requirement is controlled grazing.

Coastal grazing with cattle

Preparation of capital works specifications and site supervision

PONT staff can write specifications for a wide range of infrastructure, capital works and habitat management activities.

PONT can manage the tendering process, appoint contractors and supervise site works to ensure that they are carried out to the required standard.

Consequences of responsible coastal grazing is good ecological impact

Preparation of management agreements

PONT staff are experienced in negotiating and preparing Section 16 management agreements working closely with NRW staff and Land Agents.

PONT staff are experienced in working with the agreement holder, visiting the farm regularly to ensure that they understand the agreement and are helped to achieve the desired results.

PONT staff can also draw up grazing licences and other agreements.

Ponies make excellent conservation grazing animals

Farming network

PONT staff have an in-depth agricultural knowledge which can help with liaison and communication and the ability to draw on members of the farming community
to provide livestock for sites.

White cattle grazing at Dinefwr Park in Llandeilo

Evaluation, management and surveys

PONT Services in this area include:

  • Undertaking ecological field survey, monitoring and assessment
  • Livestock assessment and survey e.g. semi-feral pony surveys
  • Guiding the development and delivery of monitoring methodologies
  • Developing and presenting evidence to varied varied audiences including statutory bodies

Grazing cattle on land at Meirionnydd

Heathland management

PONT staff can develop plans to manage heathland and establish heathland bedding production and use.

PONT has worked for several years to establish heathland bedding as a cost effective and sustainable way of using the arisings from heathland vegetation management.

Grazed coastal heath habitat, habitats such as these can attract funding

Community engagment

PONT services in this area include:

  • Engaging communities with the management of their local sites including training and supporting Stockcheckers
  • Organising and facilitating events, workshops and seminars.
  • Undertaking local consultation and produce reports to support funding applications
  • Working to address local issues with grazing e.g. those resulting from dogs and livestock

Grazed landscape around Carreg Cennen Carmarthenshire

Support for Agri-Environment Schemes

PONT staff can assist with grazing requirements for agri-environment schemes.

PONT is experienced in developing payment for outcome schemes and can advise on scoring, monitoring and management for a range of habitat and landscape features.
PONT can advise and support the development and practical implementation of payment for public goods schemes

Marketing

PONT staff can assist with grazing requirements for agri-environment schemes.

PONT is experienced in developing payment for outcome schemes and can advise on scoring, monitoring and management for a range of habitat and landscape features.
PONT can advise and support the development and practical implementation of payment for public goods schemes

Training

PONT delivers a portfolio of training courses which can be held anywhere in Wales.

Courses include:

  • Conservation Grazing,
  • Working with Farmers,
  • Grazing for the management of different types of habitat,
  • Managing Dogs in the Countryside and the
  • LANTRA accredited Stockchecker course.

PONT will consider other courses and can organise and run conferences on behalf of other organisations with similar aims.