Conservation project wins top award/Prosiect cadwraeth yn ennill gwobr o fri

Conservation project wins top award

A CARMARTHENSHIRE conservation project has won a national award for planning excellence at an awards ceremony in London.

The Caeau Mynydd Mawr Special Area of Conservation-Supplementary Planning Guidance and Marsh Fritillary Project won in its category for ‘Excellence in planning for the Natural Environment’ at this year’s National Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Awards.

The project based in the Cross Hands Economic Growth Area, was submitted by Carmarthenshire County Council’s Planning Services, Rural Conservation Section.

Since it began in 2013 the project has been successful in mitigating the impacts of development in the Cross Hands area on the protected Marsh Fritillary butterfly and the habitat which supports it.

Funded exclusively by contributions from developers, the project is essential to the delivery of Carmarthenshire County Council’s Local Development Plan, securing sufficient habitat to support the butterfly in the area.

There are currently 24 sites in management, a total area of over 125 hectares, of which 42ha is owned by the project. The remaining area is in management agreements with other organisations and private landowners.

The project provides funding for work which improves the habitat for the butterfly such as mowing rank areas of grassland and reduction of scrub encroachment, as well as fencing and provision of water when reintroducing grazing to neglected sites. Devil’s bit scabious (the only larval food plant of the Marsh fritillary) has also been planted in several sites.

Although the focus is on improving habitat for the Marsh Fritillary butterfly, the project has much wider benefits, supporting a range of other species and providing a network of natural spaces amongst areas of development.

Speaking about the project, the judges’ said: “This is a down to earth, practical project that had substantial planning input and used innovative tools to deliver positive outcomes. Not only does it manage and create areas of suitable habitat for the protected marsh fritillary butterfly, but also enables economic development to a flourishing strategic economic growth area, providing opportunities for the wider community.”

Carmarthenshire County Council’s executive board member for strategic planning Cllr Mair Stephens, said: “Congratulations to the team behind the Caeau Mynydd Mawr Project for winning this national award, it’s another great achievement for the project which was also highly commended in the Wales Planning Award 2017.”

Prosiect cadwraeth yn ennill gwobr o fri

MAE prosiect cadwraeth yn Sir Gaerfyrddin wedi ennill gwobr genedlaethol am waith rhagorol ym maes cynllunio a hynny mewn seremoni wobrwyo yn Llundain.

Roedd y prosiect – Ardal Cadwraeth Arbennig Caeau’r Mynydd Mawr, y Canllawiau Cynllunio Atodol a Phrosiect Britheg y Gors – wedi ennill yn ei gategori ‘Rhagoriaeth wrth gynllunio ar gyfer yr Amgylchedd Naturiol’ yng ngwobrau’r Sefydliad Cynllunio Trefol Brenhinol eleni.

Mae’r prosiect wedi’i leoli yn Ardal Dwf Economaidd Cross Hands ac fe’i rhoddwyd gerbron y gystadleuaeth gan Adain Cadwraeth Cefn Gwlad, Gwasanaethau Cynllunio Cyngor Sir Caerfyrddin.

Ers i’r prosiect ddechrau yn 2013 mae wedi llwyddo i leihau’r effeithiau a gaiff datblygiadau yn ardal Cross Hands ar Fritheg y Gors, sef iâr fach yr haf sy’n cael ei gwarchod, yn ogystal â’r effeithiau ar y cynefin sy’n ei chynnal.

Mae’r prosiect, sy’n cael ei gyllido drwy gyfraniadau gan ddatblygwyr, yn hanfodol i’r gwaith o weithredu Cynllun Datblygu Lleol Cyngor Sir Caerfyrddin ac yn sicrhau bod digon o gynefin ar gael i gynnal yr iâr fach yr haf hon yn yr ardal.

Mae 24 o safleoedd yn cael eu rheoli ar hyn o bryd, sef cyfanswm o 125 hectar, ac mae’r prosiect yn berchen ar 42 hectar ohonynt. Mae’r ardal sy’n weddill yn rhan o gytundebau rheoli â sefydliadau eraill a thirfeddianwyr preifat.

Mae’r prosiect yn ariannu gwaith sy’n gwella cynefin yr iâr fach yr haf, megis drwy dorri’r glaswelltir sydd wedi gordyfu ac atal prysgwydd rhag ymledu, ynghyd â ffensio a darparu dŵr i’r stoc wrth ailgyflwyno pori i safleoedd sydd wedi’u hesgeuluso. Mae Tamaid y Cythraul (sef yr unig fwyd sy’n cael ei fwyta gan larfau Brithegion y Gors) hefyd wedi cael ei blannu mewn sawl safle.

Er bod y pwyslais ar wella cynefin Britheg y Gors, mae manteision ehangach o lawer i’r prosiect oherwydd mae’n cefnogi amrywiaeth o rywogaethau eraill ac yn darparu rhwydwaith o fannau naturiol ymysg safleoedd datblygu.

Wrth sôn am y prosiect, dywedodd y beirniaid:  “Dyma brosiect ymarferol sydd â’i draed ar y ddaear. Cafodd gyfraniadau sylweddol gan y maes cynllunio a defnyddiodd offer arloesol i ddarparu canlyniadau cadarnhaol. Nid yn unig y mae’n rheoli ac yn creu cynefinoedd addas ar gyfer Britheg y Gors, sef iâr fach yr haf sy’n cael ei gwarchod, ond mae hefyd yn galluogi datblygu economaidd mewn ardal dwf strategol ffyniannus ac yn darparu cyfleoedd i’r gymuned ehangach.”

Dywedodd yr Aelod o Fwrdd Gweithredol Cyngor Sir Caerfyrddin sy’n gyfrifol am gynllunio strategol, y Cynghorydd Mair Stephens: “Llongyfarchiadau i’r tîm sydd y tu ôl i Brosiect Caeau’r Mynydd Mawr am ennill y wobr genedlaethol hon; dyma lwyddiant gwych arall i’r prosiect hwn a gafodd glod mawr yng Ngwobrau Cynllunio Cymru 2017.”