Stanley introducing the meeting

Wildland in Wales
benefits, opportunities and examples - , 8th April, Machynlleth

Welcome, introduction and scene setting: emerging ideas and opportunities for wildland in Wales (Stanley Owen)

Thank you all for coming to this meeting on wildland. We are openly using a term, “wildland”, which, like most “wild” words, can invite reactions ranging from enthusiasm to nervousness, even hostility. There is potential for misconceptions here, so I would like to describe briefly what the network is about, and what we might mean by “wildland”.

The Wildland Network has as its aims:

1. To promote the recognition and appreciation of wildland: we are making the point that there is this resource and that we need to value it.
2. To protect and conserve the qualities of wildness: which matches the aims of other environmental organisations. Wildlife, wild landscapes, wild rivers, these all merit protection.
3. To promote the establishment of complete ecosystems on a large scale: this is a contentious one, but we acknowledge this to be a long-term aim, albeit one we would like to see us progressing towards by stages.

How do we fulfil these aims? Through research, advice and education. Our most public work is the series of meetings or workshops we have held since launching the Network in Leeds last May. This year again we are holding a series of three such meetings.

These aims are ambitious, but there are plenty of groups working on a range of issues relevant to wildland, from education to biology. And plenty of projects putting the ideas into practice, though not always under the banner of “wildland”. We see the role of the network as drawing together people and ideas, whilst promoting the concept of wildland.

So, what do we mean by “wildland”? Perhaps the feeling of wildness is subjective. Indeed, there is no universal definition, but various governments and organisations do provide their own. In all these definitions, there are several themes contributing to wildness. The consistent ones are:

• a large area;

• remoteness, characterised by distance from roads and perceived lack of other people;
  absence of buildings and infrastructure;

• naturalness of vegetation;

• and the presence of wild animals.

Occasional themes include: the ruggedness of the terrain, land unmodified by humans, and having an intact ecosystem.

Given these themes, we are in a position to map wildland. Dr Steve Carver of Leeds University has developed an interactive mapping tool for wildland, using various factors of wildness.

Do we have wildland in Britain then? Here, many areas considered wild have few obvious wild animals and are not composed entirely of natural vegetation. However, such areas are still perceived as wild, due to their remoteness, absence of infrastructure, etc., and are highly valued for these qualities. It is important for us to recognise what we have, and with pressures eroding the wildland resource, to take stock of the benefits that these areas give to society.

It is also important that losses of biodiversity are halted and reversed. Protecting small areas as reserves has not prevented the decline of most of our wildlife. Also, we are required under international treaty to look at restoring lost native species. Changes in farming and forestry now give us the possibility of creating more natural vegetation over large areas, and increasing the presence of wild animals where suitable. Special sites may require specialist management, but, by allowing natural processes to dominate, there will be gains for biodiversity in certain areas. Furthermore, I suggest that larger wild animals are more appealing to the public, as interest in the red kite shows. This provides iconic attractions for visitors, and raises the profile of nature in society.

Yes, large parts of these “wild” areas are privately owned by farming businesses, and farmers are unlikely to think of them as wildland, but rather as farmland. But let’s be clear: nobody would suggest that ‘rewilding’ programmes should be imposed on privately owned land. Farming is central to the rich traditions of the British uplands, and, after all, it is important to maintain local food production. But we believe there is room for both. Farm subsidies are increasingly directed towards environmental services, such as enhancing the landscape or wildlife habitats. We would like to see some of this public money going towards promoting wildland qualities, where the landowner can and wants to pursue this aim.

Other opportunities to promote wildland are presented by public land, managed by the Forestry Commission. Certain areas of this public land are ready-made large wild areas. On newly felled sites, establishing native habitats generally has a lower cost than replanting with conifers. Some large natural areas for wildlife and recreation on public land could in fact be the most effective way to promote wildland qualities.

In the Mabinogion, the well-known collection of traditional stories of Wales, is the saga of ‘Yr Helfa Fawr y Twrch Trwyth’ or ‘The Great Wild Boar Hunt’. King Arthur and his followers assist Culhwch to win Olwen as his bride by fulfilling a number of apparently impossible tasks. The climax of the saga is the pursuit of the infamous wild boar over the landscape of Wales and beyond, culminating in the demise of the boar and the recovery of the golden comb and scissors the boar kept in his hair.

In the same story, the heroes make inquiry of several animals, each unimaginably old. Throughout the legends and folk tales of Britain, we have references and central roles for wild animals. Eagle, stag, owl, salmon, beaver, wild boar, wolf and bear are all featured. Indeed the word for bear in our ancient tongue is ‘arth’, which is surely the root of the name ‘Arthur’. Our native animals have not just ecological significance, but a profound cultural significance. To reconnect with these animals, through story and through direct contact, is to reconnect with our cultural roots. While some of our animals are missing, our land and our culture are surely incomplete.

Peter Taylor explores this human aspect of wild nature in his book Beyond Conservation: A Wildland Strategy. It is essential reading for anyone with an interest in wild nature, with some detailed science as well as strategy for wildland.

Derek Gow, a consultant with a great deal of experience in species reintroductions, will be giving us an overview of the role of the beaver in the ecosystem, and looking at the potential for reintroduction in Britain.

We will hear from three examples of large-scale habitat restoration projects in Wales. These are just some of an increasing number of ongoing and proposed projects in the country. As an example, Barbara Jones, upland ecologist with CCW, describes the work at Cwm Idwal National Nature Reserve in Snowdonia as follows: “although not under the title of a ‘wildland’ project, is almost that in all but name.  Grazing has been removed with the aim of restoring the arctic-alpine and tall-herb vegetation, but also to allow natural processes to take place in terms of vegetation development.   This is a long-term experimental project to see what happens, without intervention to plant trees or reintroduce other species.  It is a heavily used site, for education and recreation, but I don’t think this is incompatible with a wildland approach.  It does mean that we have to use different terminology however, hence the labels attached to the work in Cwm Idwal (and other places) don’t refer to rewilding.”

The examples presented today will be from Richard Farmer of the RSPB, who will be talking about their work on the Vyrnwy Estate. Julian Bray of the Environment Agency with Dave Farmery of the Forestry Commission will be talking about their riparian habitat work in Dyfi Forest. And Keith Jones of the National Trust will talk about Nantgwynant on Snowdon.

Environment and Community consultant Rick Minter will introduce us to the afternoon’s theme, “The benefits of wildland”. We are also pleased to welcome Jeremy Wright of Powys County Council who will talk to us about a proposed initiative for economic regeneration of the Cambrian Mountains area, capitalizing on the wild character of the Cambrians. If successful, it will be a model example of wildland providing economic benefits.

After this will be an opportunity for all of us to contribute in the workshops on the benefits of wildland.

To conclude, we want to be clear that the Wildland Network is not campaigning for the rewilding of farmland or the reintroduction of large carnivores. Some of you might be disappointed to hear this, others reassured. But, it is easy for sensitivities here to lead to a polarization of views. To reiterate then, our role is to provide a forum for discussion about wildland, where different groups can get together and share ideas and experience.